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In Slavic mythology, a vedmak (Belarusian: вядзьмак, вядзьмар; Bulgarian: вещер [ˈvɛʃtɛr] ; Croatian: vještac; Czech: vědmák; Macedonian: вештер [ˈvɛʃtɛr]; Polish: wiedźmak; Russian: ведьмак [vʲɪdʲˈmak] ; Serbian: вештац; Ukrainian: відьмак [ʋʲidʲˈmak] ) is a warlock or male witch, the female equivalent (witch) being vedma, but unlike the latter, the vedmak may also possess positive qualities. This role greatly focuses on the Shamanic aspects of Slavic Paganism.

For example, they treat people and animals. On the other hand, they are thought to be people connected to the devil, and are capable of bringing harm by sending illnesses, killing cattle, spoiling a harvest, etc. The word was also used as an insult. A vedmak can turn into any animal or any object.

Etymology

Vedmak stems from Proto-Slavic *vědět ("to know") and Old East Slavic вѣдь ("knowledge; witchcraft", compare the use of the term "cunning" in English folklore).

The Witcher

Under the influence of The Witcher fantasy saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, the term vedmak is sometimes also rendered as "witcher" in English in certain contexts. The word used for "witcher" in the original Polish version of the novels, "wiedźmin", was coined by Sapkowski himself as a neologism, while the word "wiedźmak" (cognate of "vedmak") is used in the books only as a derogatory term for witchers. "Ведьмак" is also the word used to translate "wiedźmin" in the Russian translation of the books.

See also

• Witch (etymology)
• European witchcraft
• Slavic mythology
• Krsnik (vampire hunter)
• Shamanism

References

1. Слоўнік беларускай мовы. Менск: Беларуская навука, 2012. ISBN 978-985-08-1365-7
2. Bilbija, Zarko G. (1955). Aspects of contemporary Ukraine. Human Relations Area Files. ISBN 9780598542106.
3. Словник української мови в 4-х т. — К. : Вид-во Академії наук Української РСР, 1958, том 1, ст. 235 // Dictionary of the Ukrainian language / Ref. with addn. own of material by B. Grinchenko: in 4 volumes — K.: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, 1958. Volume 1, Art. 235.
4. Wood Besant, Annie (January 1903). "Theosophical Review Magazine". Kessinger Publishing. p. 401.
5. Dworski, Lamus (5 March 2017). "3 'specializations' of spiritual leaders in Slavic Native Faith". Wordpress. Lamus Dworski. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
6. Ushakov's Dictionary
7. ^ Yefimova's Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian language, 2000.
8. Fasmer, M (1987). Dictionary of Russian language in 4 volumes (2 ed.).
9. Stworzyłem wiedźmina

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