Pythonissa
/ˌpʌɪθəˈnɪsə/ /ˌpɪθəˈnɪsə/Now rare
noun
= pythoness.
- Frequently treated as the proper name of the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7)..
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in Geoffrey Chaucer (c1340–1400), poet and administrator. From post-classical Latin pythonissa (Vulgate), phitonissa woman with powers of divination from python-, pytho + classical Latin -issa.