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witch doctor

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
witch doctor
n. Anthropology
A sorcerer, prophet, or shamanistic healer, especially among African peoples. Not in scientific use.
witch doctor
n
1. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) Also called shaman medicine man a man in certain societies, esp preliterate ones, who appears to possess magical powers, used esp to cure sickness but also to harm people
2. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) a person who seeks out or hunts witches in some African tribal cultures
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.witch doctorwitch doctor - someone who is believed to heal through magical powers
conjure man, conjurer, conjuror - a witch doctor who practices conjury
necromancer, sorcerer, thaumaturge, thaumaturgist, wizard, magician - one who practices magic or sorcery
witch doctor
noun shaman, healer, sangoma (S. African) He believed the village witch doctor had put a curse on him.
Translations
witch doctor n → stregone m
witch doctor n → stregone m


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Yet at the kraal yonder," and he pointed to some huts about two miles away on the hillside, "lives a witch doctor named Zweete.
Nada The Lily by Haggard, Rider H. View in context
The witch doctor came and built a little fire before the infant, upon which he boiled some strange concoction in a small earthen pot, making weird passes above it and mumbling strange, monotonous chants.
The Beasts of Tarzan by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context
The balance of the day and evening was filled with preparation for a great hunt--spears were overhauled, quivers were replenished, bows were restrung; and all the while the village witch doctor passed through the busy throngs disposing of various charms and amulets designed to protect the possessor from hurt, or bring him good fortune in the morrow's hunt.
The Return of Tarzan by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context
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