"Czarowitch" is a rare English language spelling of the Russian word "tsarevich", meaning an heir to the throne of Russia. The word is pronounced /ˈzɑːrəvɪtʃ/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of "czarowitch" likely arose from early attempts to transliterate the Cyrillic alphabet of the Russian language into the Latin alphabet used in English. The traditional transliteration, "tsarevich", remained the more longstanding and recognized spelling.
Czarowitch is a term derived from the Russian language, combining two words: "czar" (meaning "emperor" or "ruler") and "witch" (referring to an individual who practices witchcraft or magic). The term czarowitch is primarily associated with Russian folklore and mythology.
In folk tales and legends, a czarowitch is often illustrated as a powerful and malevolent sorcerer, possessing supernatural abilities and using them for dark purposes. This character is typically depicted as a male figure, belonging to nobility or the ruling family, who has acquired extensive knowledge of black magic through rigorous training or by inheriting these abilities through bloodline. Czarowitches are believed to possess a wide range of powers, including the ability to cast spells, enchantments, and curses upon their enemies, shape-shifting into various forms, and communing with spirits and other supernatural entities.
Czarowitch is also used metaphorically, in a non-literal sense, to describe someone who holds absolute power and authority, operating with manipulative and dictatorial tendencies. It emphasizes the presence of an individual who rules with control and dominance, making decisions without concern for the welfare or input of others. The term may be employed to criticize individuals in positions of leadership who wield their power autocratically or undemocratically, disregarding the rights and well-being of those under their authority.
Overall, the term czarowitch encapsulates the concept of a malevolent sorcerer and authoritarian ruler, both in Russian folklore and figuratively in the realm of power dynamics and leadership.
The eldest son of the Emperor of Russia.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.