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Hex (or Hexerai)
Hex (or Hexerai)General term for witchcraft spells among the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers of America, especially those of southeastern Pennsylvania. Beliefs in magic were brought to the area in the later seventeenth century and given focus in the Rosicrucian group that settled on Wissahikon Creek in Germantown. The group, generally referred to as the Woman in the Wilderness, dissolved in the early eighteenth century, but its members became practitioners of magic, astrology, and healing in the area and were the forerunners of the later hex meisters. The standard textbook of hex spells and folk remedies used by hex meisters, The Long Lost Friend or Pow-Wows, was published by John George Hohman of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1820. The book includes instruction for a variety of magic formulas to accomplish practical tasks, as indicated by some of the topics covered: "Against Mishaps and Dangers in the House," "Treating a Sick Cow," "To Stop Bleeding at Any Time," and "To Charm Enemies, Robbers, and Murderers." Many Pennsylvania barns are still decorated with "hex signs," known as hexafoos, originally placed to keep away evil spirits, but today largely a decorative addition. Sources:Hark, Ann. Hex Marks the Spot in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1938. Hohman, John George. The Long Lost Friend or Pow-Wows. N.p., 1820. Lewis, Arthur H. Hex. New York: Pocket Books, 1972. Sachse, Julius F. The German Pietists of Provencial Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1895. Reprint, New York: AMS Press, 1970. |
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"Hex (or Hexerai)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hex (or Hexerai)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403802164.html "Hex (or Hexerai)." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403802164.html |
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hex
hex witchcraft or one who works it. The word is of German origin, and beliefs connected with it spread from Europe to the United States, especially to the Pennsylvania Dutch country. The hex can be worked by either sex, but more commonly by a man, usually an amateur or professional hex "doctor." Such a person is thought to be able to control the forces of nature, cure sickness, and thwart the intentions of evildoers by means of magic formulas handed down from the Middle Ages and from Gypsy practitioners. The colorful, geometric hex signs found on Pennsylvania Dutch barns are meant to protect the animals within from malicious curses, spells, and the evil eye . |
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"hex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "hex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-hex.html "hex." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-hex.html |
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hex
hex1 / heks/ • v. [tr.] cast a spell on; bewitch: he hexed her with his fingers. • n. a magic spell; a curse: a death hex. ∎ a witch. hex2 • adj. & n. 1. short for hexadecimal. 2. short for hexagonal (see hexagon). |
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"hex." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "hex." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hex.html "hex." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hex.html |
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hex
hex a magic spell, a curse. The word comes (in the mid 19th century, as a verb) via Pennsylvanian German, from German hexen (verb), Hexe (noun).
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hex.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-hex.html |
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hex
hex Short for hexadecimal.
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JOHN DAINTITH. "hex." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "hex." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-hex.html JOHN DAINTITH. "hex." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-hex.html |
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hex
hex
•axe (US ax), Backs, Bax, fax, flax, lax, max, pax, Sachs, sax, saxe, tax, wax
•co-ax • addax • Fairfax • Ceefax
•Halifax • Telefax • Filofax • banjax
•Ajax
•pickaxe (US pickax) • gravlax
•gravadlax • poleaxe • toadflax
•parallax
•battleaxe (US battleax)
•minimax • climax • Betamax • anthrax
•hyrax
•borax, storax, thorax
•syntax • surtax • beeswax • earwax
•Berks, Lourenço Marques, Marks, Marx, Parks, Sparks
•annex, convex, ex, flex, hex, perplex, Rex, sex, specs, Tex, Tex-Mex, vex
•ibex • index • codex • tubifex
•spinifex • pontifex • Telex • triplex
•simplex • multiplex
•ilex, silex
•complex • duplex • circumflex • Amex
•annexe • Kleenex • apex • Tipp-Ex
•haruspex • perspex • Pyrex
•Durex, Lurex, murex
•Middlesex • unisex • Semtex • latex
•cortex, Gore-tex, vortex
•vertex • Jacques
•breeks, idée fixe, maxixe, Weeks
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"hex." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "hex." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hex.html "hex." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hex.html |
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hex
hex (hɛks) Computing hexadecimal (notation)
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-hex.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "hex." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-hex.html |
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