dwimmer

English

Alternative forms

• dweomer

Etymology

From Middle English dwimmer, from Old English ġedwimor, dwimor (“illusion, delusion, sleight, magic”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdwɪmə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdwɪmɚ/

Noun

dwimmer (usually uncountable, plural dwimmers)

1. (obsolete) Magic, magic arts; sorcery; spell; occult art.
   • 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Two Towers:

     "It is ill dealing with such a foe: he is a wizard both cunning and dwimmer-crafty, having many guises."

   • 2010, W. R. Cooper, Oriana Oakley and the Primrose Path:

     “The Lych and his dark dwimmer spell have you resisted—even defeated, defeated for the present. But you have not destroyed. They shall return in time, I fear.”

   • 2011, John Henson, Broken Wings:

     The soldiers peered into the deep dark shaft In which lay the monk with tonsorshorn A victim of the sorcerous lady's dwimmer craft

Derived terms

• dwimmercraft

See also

• dwimmery