Obs. [ad. L. venēficium, f. venēficus VENEFIC a. So OF. venefice, F. vénéfice, It., Sp., Pg. veneficio.] The practice of employing poison or magical potions; the exercise of sorcery by such means.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 349. Þe sixte werk of leccherie is venefice, þat is þanne done whan men usen experimentis to geten þis werk of leccherie.
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 72. By knots,… incantations, or other impoisonings, and venefices, to harme, endamage, or hurt any other.
1626. Sir J. Elliott, Def., in Rushw., Hist. Coll. (1659), I. 362. Nor did he apply the Veneries and Venefices of Sejanus to the Duke.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., To Rdr. I … fear them not at all; not their … incantations, venefices, malefices, &c.
