Bewicchen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. An archaic verb meaning to put someone under a magical spell or to enchant them by sorcery
2. Old spelling for the act of charming or casting a magical spell over a person or creature
3. Archaic term for bringing someone under the influence of witchcraft so that they are enthralled

Etymology: Old English had "wiccian," meaning to practise witchcraft or sorcery, and it came from "wicca," a sorcerer. The corresponding feminine noun, "wicce," gave modern "witch." The prefix "be-" intensified the verb, so "bewiccian" carried the sense of casting a spell over someone. Over the centuries the spelling drifted through Middle English forms, and the meaning softened. The sense of magical harm narrowed toward enchantment and captivation, so a person can now be bewitched by a melody or a face without any sorcery involved. This spelling, "bewicchen," looks like an older or regional variant of the same English verb, but I am less certain of its exact attestation, so the English line above is the part I can stand behind most firmly.