The Database of Semantic Shifts in the languages of the world

to thrust (into) → to practice witchcraft 1 realization Unique

ID	Relation type	Meaning 1	Direction	Meaning 2

ACCEPTED Realization 1
type		Polysemy
language		Latin
lexeme		dēfīgo, -ere
meaning 1	to fix by thrusting down into something, to stick (a weapon in someone)
direction	→
meaning 2	to bind with a spell, to bewitch	regis animum Iolciacis defigere votis to enchant king's mind by Iolcus spell (Appendix Vergiliana, Ciris 377)
reference		Glare: 500-501
comment		Related to a widespread Ancient Greek and Roman black magic practice. During this ritual lead or wax tablets inscribed with the victim's name or lead dolls were pierced through with iron nails or bronze pins. See Faraone, Obbink (eds.) 1991 (especially pp. v, 3-7, 230-231). This practice mentioned by Ovidius in Amores 3.7.29: Sagave poenicea defixit nomina cera 'Or the witch have pierced a name on wax?'. The verb defigo derived from figo, figere 'to drive in, to fix in, to insert (nails, stakes etc.)'. The ritual described in Ciris 366-377 do not include piercing. Thus we have an example defidere in general sence on charming. There was also a semantic influece of Ancient Greek verbs κατέχω and καταδέω both 'to bind' and 'to bewitch'.