Obs. Forms: 1 wiʓ(e)l-, wiʓul-, wil-, 3 wiȝel, wihel, wiel. [OE. wiʓ(e)l str. n. (also in steorwiʓl astrology), whence wiʓlian vb. (cf. ME. biwiȝelien), wiʓlere agent-n., wiʓlung n. of action, corresp. to MLG., (M)Du. wichelen, † wîgelen, MDu. wijchelâre, wich-, MLG. wicheler; of obscure origin.] Sorcery, magic; a piece of magic; a deceit, delusion.
a. 1100. Aldhelm Gloss., vii. 165 (Napier 159/2), Diuinationis, wiʓles. Ibid., in Anglia, XIII. 33/162. Ceremonias, wiʓlum.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 11. He [sc. a devil] makeð þe unbilefulle man to leuen swilche wiȝeles, swo ich ar embe spac.
c. 1205. Lay., 19250. Ygærne wes mid childe:… al þurh Merlines wiȝel.
a. 1225. Ancr. R. 92. Þurh þet siliðe ȝe schulen iseon alle þes deofles wieles. Ibid., 300. His [sc. the devil’s] wiȝeles & his wrenches.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 139. Wið sume of mine wiheles ich wrenchte ham adun hwen ha lest wenden.
So † Wielare, a sorcerer, magician; a deceiver; † Wiele (whle) [OE. type *wiʓela], a sorcerer, wizard; † Wiȝelful a., magical; deceitful; † Wiȝeling, sorcery, magic.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 330. Drymen … and … wiccan and oðre *wiʓeleras, beoð to helle bescofene.
11[?]. Fragm. Ælfric’s Gram. (1838), 2. Augur, wielare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 106. Þe wielare, of sum derne þing … makeð a swote smel cumen.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., x. 38. Nes y never wycche ne *wyle.
c. 1205. Lay., 2880. Mid *wiȝeful his fluhte. Ibid., 21140. His sweorð … wes iworht … mið wiȝele-fulle craften. Ibid., 31659. Heo weore wiȝel-fulle.
a. 1000. Kent. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 71/3. Diuinatio, *wilung.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 102. Nu ʓe cepað daʓas and monðas mid ydelum wiʓlungum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 15. He scal wicche creft aleggan and wiȝelunge ne ȝeman.
c. 1205. Lay., 15791. Monies godes monnes child heo bicharreð þurh wiȝeling.
