The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter (2 page)

Can’t make heads or tales of all those British terms sprinkled throughout the
Harry Potter
novels? This box contains quick translations of British terms and customs that may be unfamiliar to you, and defines wizard terminology as well.

One of the best ways to enjoy the wizarding world is to get out and see the sights around the world. This box tells you where you can travel (real or imagined) to bring you that much closer to where the wizards are.

Want additional literary and mythological background for the wizarding world? This box brings you up to speed on how Rowling’s work ties in with mythology, folklore, Biblical tales, and other fantasy literature. It also includes some related information to enhance your understanding of the text.

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Discovering basic magic terminology

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Getting the lowdown on the most important characters of the wizarding world

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Exploring the history of some famous wizards

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Reviewing Rowling’s biggest influences

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Wizard:
This term has long been used throughout history, folklore, and written literature; it is synonymous with sorcerer, magician, and conjurer. The word can be applied to both males and females in the wizarding world, but it tends to be used to refer to a male magician. Derived from the word
wise,
in the Muggle world it also applies to any wise person or someone who is exceptionally skilled (as in, “he’s a computer wizard!”).

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Warlock:
Another name for a wizard; the two terms can be used interchangeably when discussing a male. (But not a female; a warlock is
always
male.) In the TV series
Bewitched,
males with magical power were always referred to as warlocks, not wizards. In the wizarding world, warlock is hardly ever used. The word is derived from the Middle English
warloghe,
meaning “traitor” or “liar”—apparently warlocks didn’t have the best reputations!

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Witch:
A female wizard, also historically called a sorceress. (A male possessing magical abilities is never, ever called a witch.) The word derives from the same source as Wicca (see the following bullet). Witches have long been stereotyped as being ugly, ill-tempered old women, even if they have transformed themselves to be beautiful to the observer. Witches have also reportedly (in folktales) made deals with the devil to obtain their skills. Witches in the wizarding world are simply female versions of wizards, and they do not bear any resemblance to those two stereotypes, unless you count Dark Witches.

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Wicca:
A religion characterized by nature worship and the practice of witchcraft. The term originates from the Old English
wicce,
meaning sorcerer. Although Wicca is never mentioned in Harry Potter’s magical world, those who attempt to ban the novels from schools often say they base their actions on the fear of their children turning to Wicca.

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Pureblood:
In the wizarding world, this term refers to a wizard born of two wizarding parents, who themselves were born of two wizarding parents, and so on. Only a few wizarding families are pureblood, meaning generation upon generation of wizards have never married a Muggle or anyone with a Muggle anywhere in the family. (At least, not that they admit to.) The term originates from
purebred,
which refers to a type of plant or animal (most commonly, a dog—for example, a Labrador retriever) that belongs to a single breed (also called a
bloodline
), generation after generation, without mixing with other breeds or with mixed breeds. Each breed shows specific characteristics; for example, Labradors are athletic, playful, loyal dogs who love to eat.

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Half-blood:
In the wizarding world, this is a wizard with one wizard parent and one Muggle parent, or anyone who has even one drop of nonmagical blood in his or her lineage. Most wizards are considered
half-blood
, a phrase commonly used to denote a relationship through a single parent—in other words, although you are fully related to your siblings, you are related to your cousins on your mom’s side only through half-blood (that is, only through your mother). The term is antiquated today. A similar—and terribly pejorative—term is
half-breed,
which refers to children of parents of different ethnicities, especially when one parent is Native American and the other is of European descent.

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Squib:
A Squib is a child born into a wizarding family who just doesn’t have
it
—no magical powers at all. By definition, a
squib
is a witty essay or lampoon, which is likely where the word originated: Squibs are considered a bit of a joke in the wizarding world.

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Muggle:
Someone without magical powers. The word’s origin likely comes from the British slang
mug,
which means a victim or dupe. Several years ago, Nancy Stouffer (no relation to the author of this book!), author of
The Legend of Rah and the Muggles,
sued J.K. Rowling over the term Muggle. The case was eventually dismissed.

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Mudblood:
A pejorative term for a Muggle-born wizard (that is, with two Muggle parents); it comes from the equally pejorative
dirty blood,
which is the opposite of pureblood.

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Magic:
What wizards do; using potions or spells to manipulate a situation, control an outcome, and/or overcome the laws of nature. Often spelled
magick
in folktales and literature. The word originates from the Greek
magikos,
or “of the Magi”; the Magi were wise religious men, three of whom were said to have visited the baby Jesus upon his birth.