The belief in witches and their ability to cast spells was widespread, but with none of the hysteria that characterised the witch trials of the post-medieval period. By the 14c, the Church had come to reverse its earlier position, that witchcraft was an unreal delusion (and hence witches were to be pitied rather than persecuted), to one in which witches were equated with *heretics. [< OldEngl. wicce = bad, wicked] -
Cf. Chichivache
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.