the offspring or child of a witch, especially in folklore; also, a term for someone believed to be cursed or of evil descent.
From 'hag' plus 'seed' (offspring), used in Middle English to describe children born of witches or those thought to carry supernatural corruption in their lineage.
Shakespeare used 'hagseed' in The Tempest to describe Caliban, showing how deeply this idea of witchcraft running in families through bloodlines was woven into literature and superstition.
Compound of 'hag' + 'seed,' denotes offspring of a malevolent female figure. Extends witch-hunt ideology by pathologizing descendants of women marked as dangerous or Other.
Avoid. If discussing supernatural genealogy, use neutral terms like 'offspring' or 'descendant.' If allegorical, be explicit about the metaphor.
["offspring","descendant","child"]
Witch hunts destroyed family lines and community knowledge. Labeling descendants as 'hag-seed' perpetuated generational persecution of women and their families.
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