What does bewitched mean?
"Bewitched" describes someone or something placed under a magical spell — literally in fairy tales and folklore, and figuratively in ordinary speech. In its dominant modern sense, it means deeply charmed, captivated, or fascinated: a person may be bewitched by another's beauty, by a piece of music, or by an unfamiliar landscape, suggesting an attraction so strong it feels irresistible, almost supernatural. The word derives from the verb "bewitch," combining the prefix "be-" with "witch," whose roots reach back to Old English. Its tone is literary and evocative rather than clinical, lending a note of enchantment to whatever it describes. Related forms include "bewitching" (often describing allure) and "bewitchment" (the state of being enchanted). Whether applied to cursed princesses or smitten admirers, "bewitched" conveys the idea of a will gently but completely overpowered by fascination.
Past tense and past participle of "bewitch": to cast a spell on; to enchant or fascinate irresistibly.
"The sorceress bewitched the entire court with a single incantation."
Most often used in the passive or figurative sense: 'he was bewitched by her.'
Under a spell; enchanted or captivating.
"The bewitched castle slept for a hundred years."
Frequently figurative in contemporary usage.
Before it meant 'spellbound,' the Old English root of 'witch' simply referred to a woman who practiced magic — and 'bewitched' has been casting its own spell on English speakers since at least Shakespeare's day.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bewitched
"Bewitched" is formed from the verb "bewitch," which combines the prefix "be-" with "witch." "Witch" descends from Old English "wicca" (masculine) and "wicce" (feminine), terms for practitioners of magic, and is related to the Old English verb "wiccian," meaning to practice sorcery. The verb "bewitch" emerged in Middle English and was well established by the sixteenth century, appearing in writers such as Shakespeare, who used "bewitch'd" in plays like The Tempest. Cognate forms appear in other Germanic languages, reflecting a shared West Germanic heritage.
Related word forms
How bewitched is actually used
The literal sense belongs chiefly to folklore and fantasy; in everyday modern usage the word is almost always figurative and carries a romantic or admiring connotation. It functions both as the past tense of the verb 'bewitch' and as an adjective.
Easily confused with bewitched
Besmirched means stained or sullied (a reputation, a name), while bewitched means enchanted or captivated.