Wicca is a word that may refer to pre-Christian spiritual traditions in the British Isles, their rebirth as codified by Gerald Gardner, and/or magical activity in general.
- Wicca is also an Old English term that refers to a man who practices these magical arts and/or spiritual traditions.
There are many theories on the origins of the term, all of which may be linked but are not mutually exclusive:
• In the Middle Ages, the Old English words Wicca (m) and Wicce (f) were shortened to Wicche for both genders. The basic verb "to know" is the source of these terms.
• The Indo-European root word wic or weik means "to bend" or "turn"; witches use natural forces to accomplish their objectives.
• Weiha, a Germanic word that means "committed to the spirits."
• Vigja is an Old Norse word that means "holy, numinous, adored."
• Indo-European root words wid and/or wat, which mean "to know" and "to predict."
The Russian ved'ma, Norse vitki, and Slavic vjestica are all terms derived from this source.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.