wand (less frequent magic wand; HP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, FB, QA, TB) 2.7.2.1 n.n. magical object made
of wood of variable measures and flexibility with a core of a magical substance used by wizards and
witches to cast spells NOTE used by wizards to perform magic, cast spells, and in duels can cause
pain, suffering and death; it has a core of a magical substance such as unicorn hair, phoenix feather,
dragon heartstring; often regarded as a symbol of power SEE ALSO Charms; Elder Wand; wizard
Examples:
„Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more
power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it – it‟s really the wand that
chooses the wizard, of course.‟ (HP 1); „Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the
stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand (= the hand with which a wizard or witch
uses their wand) step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan
Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve–‟ (HP 3); Malfoy stared at Dumbledore. „But I got
this far, didn‟t I?‟ he said slowly. „They thought I‟d die in the attempt, but I‟m here ... and you‟re in
my power ... I‟m the one with the wand ... you‟re at my mercy ...‟ (HP 6)
COLLOCATIONS raise/ point/ wave/ draw/ flick/ lower/ hold/ pull/ clutch sb‘s wand
IDIOMS
to yank sb‘s wand: to play a joke on sb by making them believe sth untrue; to tease sb: „Arthur and
Fred –‟ „I‟m George,‟ said the twin at whom Moody was pointing. „Can‟t you even tell us apart when
we‟re Harry?‟ „Sorry, George –‟ „I‟m only yanking your wand, I‟m Fred really –‟ „Enough messing
around!‟ snarled Moody. „The other one – George or Fred or whoever you are – you‟re with Remus.
(HP7) NOTE this idiom is possibly a creative take on the conventionalised idiom ‗pull sb‘s leg‘ in
that the lexical unit ‗leg‘ was replaced by ‗wand‘ and ‗pull‘ replaced by ‗yank‘ so that it could fit in
the image of literally taking a wand from sb‘s hand as a joke.
wand of elder, never prosper (saying): used to mean that wands made out of elder shall bring bad luck
to its owner: „Come to think of it,‟ Ron added, „maybe that story‟s why elder wands are supposed to
be unlucky.‟ „What are you talking about?‟ „One of those superstitions, isn‟t it? “May-born witches
will marry Muggles.” “Jinx by twilight, undone by midnight.” “Wand of elder, never prosper.” You
must‟ve heard them. My mum‟s full of them.‟ „Harry and I were raised by Muggles,‟ Hermione
reminded him, „we were taught different superstitions.‟ (HP 7) NOTE this idiom is a wizarding
superstition commonly used in family circles.
where there‘s a wand, there‘s a way (saying): used to mean that in a difficult situation if one has a
wand at one‘s disposal one is likely to succeed: Harry opened his eyes. He was still in the library; the
Invisibility Cloak had slipped off his head as he‟d slept, and the side of his face was stuck to the
pages of Where There’s a Wand, There’s a Way. He sat up, straightening his glasses, blinking in the
bright daylight. (HP 4) NOTE this idiom is possibly a creative take on the conventionalised idiom
‗where there‘s a will, there‘s a way‘ in that the lexical unit ‗will‘ was replaced by ‗wand‘ as a
reference to the power of wands in helping wizards succeed in their endeavours.
ENCY INFO
A wand (sometimes magic wand) is a thin, hand-held stick or rod made of wood, stone, ivory, or
metals like gold or silver. Generally, in modern language, wands are ceremonial and/or have
associations with magic but there have been other uses, all stemming from the original meaning as a
synonym of rod and virge, both of which had a similar development. A stick giving length and
leverage is perhaps the earliest and simplest of tools. Long versions of the magic wand are usually
styled in forms of staves or scepters, often with designs or an orb of a gemstone forged on the top.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wand).
A wand is a quasi-sentient magical instrument through which a witch or wizard channels her or his
magical powers to centralise the effects for more complex results. Most spells are done with the aid of
wands, but spells can be cast without the use of wands. Wandless magic is, however, very difficult