What does hexer mean?
A hexer is a witch, sorcerer, or other practitioner of harmful magic, especially someone believed to cast a hex or curse. The word can also refer more specifically to a person who deliberately afflicts someone with ill fortune, illness, or misfortune. Its modern uses are relatively uncommon and tend to occur in folklore, fantasy, and other fictional contexts, where it has a darker and more specialized tone than the broader word witch. The term identifies the supposed agent of a curse rather than the curse itself, so a hex is the spell or harmful influence, while a hexer is the person associated with casting it. Hexer is an English formation based on hex, with the suffix -er added to identify the person who performs the role or action.
nounA witch, sorcerer, or other practitioner of witchcraft, especially one believed to cast harmful spells or curses.
- A witch, sorcerer, or practitioner of harmful magic.
- A person who deliberately places a hex or curse on someone.
"The villagers blamed the hexer for the blight that followed her arrival."
"The villagers blamed the hexer for the blight that followed her arrival."
"In the fantasy novel, an orphaned apprentice sought out the northern hexer for help."
The standard plural is hexers.
"The villagers accused the hexers of cursing their crops."
A hexer is the caster; a hex is the curse that follows.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hexer come from?
Hexer is an English agent noun formed by adding the suffix -er to hex. The base hex was borrowed from German Hexe, meaning witch, and came to denote both a witch and harmful magical influence or a curse in English. The resulting form emphasizes the person associated with witchcraft or cursing.
Related word forms
How hexer is actually used
The word is relatively uncommon in ordinary modern English and occurs more often in folklore, fantasy, and other fictional contexts. In some older or dialectal usage, it simply means a witch.
Easily confused with hexer
Hexe is chiefly a German term for a witch, whereas hexer is an English word for a practitioner of witchcraft or a person who places a curse.