Bewitchment
Bewitchment refers to the state or act of being under the influence of magic or enchantment, or to the act of casting a spell on someone. In everyday language, it also denotes a powerful attraction or fascination, as in being bewitched by a person, an idea, or a spectacle. The term derives from be- plus a word meaning witch, and has roots in medieval and early modern European folklore where witches, charms, and magical powers were part of people’s explanations for unexplained events.
In traditional belief, bewitchment could involve sending a spell, the casting of a charm, or the use
Modern scholarship treats bewitchment as both a cultural belief and a literary motif. Anthropologists and historians
Today, bewitchment is not recognized as a legal basis for action in most jurisdictions; it persists mainly