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Albus Dumbledore (HBP promo) 1

Albus Dumbledore - Former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot

Warlock was a very old term that had two meanings: to describe a wizard of unusually fierce appearance, or as a title denoting particular skill or achievement. It originally denoted one learned in duelling and all martial magic or was given as a title to a wizard who had performed feats of bravery (as Muggles were sometimes knighted). It was sometimes incorrectly used as interchangeable with the term "wizard".[1]

History[]

In The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Albus Dumbledore mentioned an old magazine called Warlock at War - this was written by Brutus Malfoy and was essentially concerning the war he felt was between pure-bloods and Muggles. The term here may have been used to draw on the fact that warlocks were skilled in warrior magic, as well as it being used synonymously with wizard. Also in the book, there was a story called The Warlock's Hairy Heart, which concerned a warlock engaging in Dark Magic. Dumbledore claimed this was to show that he was an accomplished wizard regardless of his darker inclinations.[1]

The Sunday edition of The New York Ghost published on 28 November 1926 reported a dispute by warlocks due to the Crystal Ball Regulation at the time.[2]

The Sunrise Early Edition of The New York Ghost published on 30 May 1927 had an article located on page 3, column 2 regarding Alaskan warlocks being suspected of contraband.[3]

Harry Potter saw some "wild-looking" warlocks in the Leaky Cauldron in 1993.[4]

Known warlocks[]

Fictional warlocks[]

Etymology[]

The Anglo-Saxon waerloga or "oathbreaker", which passed through a Middle English form of warloghe or warlach to become warlock, has two components, waer "covenant", and loga "betrayal". The latter is derived from leogan "to lie", and may consequently have commonalities with Loge/Loki, the Norse God of Mischief and betrayer of Asgard.

The word could possibly derive from the Norse word vardlokkur, meaning "Wise Man" or "Wise Wizard". More specifically, a man with the power of binding spirits by channelling or using tools such as runes and knot-magic, as well as a label for the Gate Keepers or Guardians who protected spiritual knowledge and wisdom.[13]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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