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{{Spoiler|PAS|MA|HL}}
{{Template:Spell infobox
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{{Spell infobox
|name=Dissendium
 
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|name= One-Eyed Witch Spell
|incantation=''Dissendium''(dis-EN-dee-um)
 
 
|image = Dissendium.gif
|type=[[Charm]]
 
 
|incantation = ''Dissendium''<br/>(dis-SEN-dee-um)
|hand=
 
 
|type = [[Charm]]<ref name="PM"/>
*Tap the one-eyed [[Wizards|witch]] three times with your [[wand]].<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]</ref>
 
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|hand = Tap target with [[wand]]<ref name="POA14"/>
*Brandish the wand at the object whilst incanting.<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]], Harry casts Dissendium at the locket by brandishing his wand</ref>
 
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|light = None<ref name="POA14"/>
|effect=Unclear; opens the secret passage way to Honeydukes behidn the one-eyed witch, cleaves things (possibly).
 
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|effect = Revealed secret passages,<ref name="PM">{{PM}}</ref> particularly the [[One-Eyed Witch Passage]]<ref name="POA14"/>
|image=[[File:Dissendium.gif]]
 
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|creator =
|light=White, blue
 
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Quote|At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person.|Description|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
'''Dissendium''' (dis-EN-dee-um) is a [[charm]] that has been known to open the secret passageway behind the statue of the Humpbacked Witch in Hogwarts straight into the cellar of [[Honeydukes]] in [[Hogsmeade]].
 
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The '''One-Eyed Witch Spell'''<ref name="WW">{{WW}} - [https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/a-handy-guide-to-the-lesser-known-spells-in-the-wizarding-world/ A guide to the lesser known spells in the wizarding world]</ref> (''Dissendium'')<ref name="POA14"/> was a [[charm]] used to open the [[One-Eyed Witch Passage]] in the third corridor at [[Hogwarts castle]].<ref name="POA14"/> The [[incantation]] ''Dissendium'' could be used to open secret passageways in general.<ref name="PM"/>
   
 
==Known practitioners==
 
==Known practitioners==
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*[[Garreth Weasley]]<ref name="HL DS">{{HL|'Dissending' for Sweets}}</ref>
*[[Fred Weasley]]
 
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*[[Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student]]<ref name="HL DS"/>
*[[George Weasley]]
 
 
*[[Fred Weasley]]<ref name="fg" />
*[[Harry Potter]]
 
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*[[George Weasley]]<ref name="fg">Seeing how he knew of the passage and where it led, it is more than likely he used it. And as one had to perform this spell to use it, he thus used the spell.</ref>
*[[Hermione Granger]]<ref> Hermione retrieved [[Harry Potter|Harry's]] cloak from beneath the One-Eyed Witch; she needed to have cast ''Dissendium'' to open the passage</ref>
 
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*[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="POA14">{{POA|B|14}}</ref>
 
 
*[[Hermione Granger]]<ref>Hermione retrieved Harry's cloak from beneath the One-Eyed Witch; she needed to have cast ''Dissendium'' to open the passage.</ref>
==Etymology==
 
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*[[Ivy Warrington]]<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref>
''Dissendium'' is a curious incantation with an shadowy etymology. At first it seems to be a phonetic spelling of the English word "descend" with a common Latin noun ending attached (-ium), however, this is not consistent with its known spell effects. It is also vaguely reminiscent of the word "dissident", meaning to be against the laws (a possible reference to its mischievous use when opening the sceret passage to Honeydukes).
 
 
The whole word could be derived from the English "Dissemble" which means "to conceal, to disguise the true nature or motives of"<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dissemble Dissemble, definition of]</ref>. This would seem off at first (since the spell seems to do the opposite - expose) but makes more sense when one considers the secretive context in which it was being used.
 
 
It could also come from Latin in three parts: the first part: ''dissocio'', which means to "part, separate, divide" in its verb form (just like the English verb that is derived from it - to dissociate)<ref name="HPL_Dissendium">http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/spells/spells_d.html#dissendium</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dissociate Dissociate, definition & etymology of]</ref>; ''en'', meaning "behold, look, here!"<ref name="HPL_Dissendium"/><ref>[http://www.the-orb.net/latwords.html Latin word list]</ref><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/en En, Latin to English translation]</ref>; and ''Dium'', which could refer to the sun (which shines light on things, exposing them; this is similar to the spell effects) and normally translates as ''day'' (or, more appropriately, ''today'') but can also be used as the command ''now''<ref name="HPL_Dissendium"/><ref>[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dius#Latin Dius, the various Latin noun forms of]</ref>. Altogether, therefore, ''Dissendium'' could hence read roughly as "part/separate here, now" or "part and behold!".
 
 
Finally, it could also be based n the Latin ''discessum'', "departed" (being the neuter perfect passive participle of ''discēdō'')<ref>[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/discessus#Latin Discessum, meaning & etymology]</ref>. "To depart" refers to deviation, the movement of something away from something else, including itself<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/depart Depart, definition of]</ref>.
 
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
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*While initially this appears to be a simple password for the statue, it was used in {{DH|F1}} in an attempt to destroy [[Slytherin's Locket]].
[[File:Dissend.jpg|thumb|Harry uses Dissendium on Slytherin's locket.]]
 
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*It is unknown what may happen if ''Dissendium'' is used on something else besides passageways; for example it caused a small explosion when it was used in a failed attempt to destroy the locket.<ref name="DHF1">{{DH|F1}}</ref>
*Whilst this at first seems to be a simple magical password (like "Mimbulus Mimbletonia", once a password for the [[Fat Lady]]); and "Acid Pops", one of the passwords for Dumbledore's office gargoyle in [[1996]]), it does appear to be an actual spell, given its representation throughout the franchise. For example, it is mentioned that Harry has to tap the statue of the crone with his wand while saying the incantation in order for it to open up and the name of the spell is also similar to the way other spells are named.
 
*In the first part of the [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', Harry Potter casts the spell 'Dissendium' in a fit of frustration at [[Salazar Slytherin's locket|Slytherin's locket]]. This would make sense, considering that if it does actually cleave things (as the name and usage suggest) then this could be considered a valid way to open or even destroying the Locket (which fits with its use in that scenes alongside spells like ''[[Reducto]]'' and ''[[Expulso]]'').
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*{{POA}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''
 
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*{{POA|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
 
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*{{DH|F1}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
 
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*{{LEGO|Y1}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
 
*{{PM}}
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*{{WW}} {{Mention}} {{1st ID}}
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*{{PAS}}
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*{{MA}}
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*{{HL}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
 
[[de:Dissendium]]
 
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[[de2:Geheimgang-Öffnugszauber]]
{{Stub}}
 
 
[[fr:Dissendium]]
 
[[fr:Dissendium]]
 
[[fi:Halkhios]]
 
[[fi:Halkhios]]
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[[ja:ディセンディウム]]
[[Category:Stubs]]
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[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Opening spells]]
 
[[Category:Opening spells]]
[[Category:Charms]]
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[[Category:Spells of known incantation]]

Latest revision as of 05:19, 29 May 2023

"At once, the statue's hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person."
— Description[src]

The One-Eyed Witch Spell[3] (Dissendium)[2] was a charm used to open the One-Eyed Witch Passage in the third corridor at Hogwarts castle.[2] The incantation Dissendium could be used to open secret passageways in general.[1]

Known practitioners

Behind the scenes

  • While initially this appears to be a simple password for the statue, it was used in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in an attempt to destroy Slytherin's Locket.
  • It is unknown what may happen if Dissendium is used on something else besides passageways; for example it caused a small explosion when it was used in a failed attempt to destroy the locket.[8]

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pottermore
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14 (Snape's Grudge)
  3. Wizarding World - A guide to the lesser known spells in the wizarding world
  4. 4.0 4.1 Hogwarts Legacy, Side Quest "'Dissending' for Sweets"
  5. 5.0 5.1 Seeing how he knew of the passage and where it led, it is more than likely he used it. And as one had to perform this spell to use it, he thus used the spell.
  6. Hermione retrieved Harry's cloak from beneath the One-Eyed Witch; she needed to have cast Dissendium to open the passage.
  7. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1