There is considerable debate, in both Wiccan and linguistic circles, about the origin of the words “Wicca” and “Wiccan”. Early in the revival of Wicca, it was claimed by many writers that “Wicca” derived from Germanic *wit- (“wise”), and thence originally from Proto-Indo-European weid-, having much the same meaning. In this case, “Wicca” could be roughly said to mean “the Craft of the Wise,” and many Wiccans do still refer to it as such.
However, later commentators contended that this derivation was improbable or even completely incorrect, tracing the word instead to Proto-Indo-European weik-4 or weig-, meaning “to bend, shape, or twist.” In this case, the word “Wicca” would more accurately mean “those who bend or twist reality” (by the use of magick).
Since the beginning of the controversy, opinions have flourished. As of 1985, the American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots cites the source of “Wicca” as weik-2, used “in words connected with magic and religious notions (in Germanic and Latin)”. This is not likely to stop the arguments about the word’s “true” derivation or meaning.
Here are various samples of such essays on the Web:
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