a. and sb. Obs. In 7–8 venefick. [ad. L. venēfic-us, f. venēnum poison: see -FIC. So older F. venefique, It., Sp., Pg. venefico.]
A. adj. Practising, or dealing in, poisoning; acting by poison; having poisonous effects.
1646. Gaule, Cases Consc., 27. So may it bee the Serpentine, the Venefick or Poysonous Witch.
1651. trans. Father Paul Sarpi’s Life (1676), 92. But it appears that science hath a venefick vertue of swelling many men.
1702. C. Mather, Magn. Chr., II. App. (1852), 212. They gave it under their hands that if we believe no venefick witchcraft, we must renounce the Scripture.
B. sb. One who practises poisoning as a secret art; a sorcerer or sorceress; a wizard or witch. So L. venēficus masc. and venēfica fem.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 173. Is it a matter of much artifice for veneficks, or witches, to forespeak their own purposed and laboured malefice?
