hex
UK[hɛks]US[hɛks]
v
To cast an evil spell on someone or something; to bewitch.
v
To bring bad luck to; to jinx.
n
A magic spell or curse.
Etymology
The word 'hex' entered American English in the early 19th century from the Pennsylvania German dialect, where 'hexe' was a verb for casting spells. This term traces back to the standard German 'Hexe' (witch). Its deeper ancestry lies in the Old High German 'hagazussa', a mythical creature often translated as 'hedge-rider', suggesting a being that straddles the boundary between the civilized world and the wild. Over centuries, the term simplified in form and traveled across the Atlantic, where it became a concise English term for a malevolent charm or the act of bewitching, retaining its core association with folk magic and misfortune.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is a direct borrowing from the Pennsylvania German verb 'hexe', meaning 'to practice witchcraft', which itself derives from the German 'Hexe', meaning 'witch'. The ultimate origin is the Old High German 'hagazussa', a compound term for a supernatural female being.
Examples
The old tale spoke of a crone who could hex an entire village's crops.
Some fans believe a controversial call hexed their team's chances of winning the championship.
He was convinced his string of bad luck was due to a hex placed on him years ago.