Etymology From Middle English crone, from Anglo-Norman carogne (compare central Old French charogne (a term of abuse, literally “carrion, carcass, old sheep, hag”), whence modern French charogne). Doublet of carrion.
But still the crone was constant to her note.1700, [John] Dryden, “The Wife of Bathe’s Tale. As it was Written by Geffrey Chaucer”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
2
An archetypal figure, a wise woman.
“And what is your name, crispy, old, wizened crone?” “Oh, my name's Helen.” “Hel-- Oh, just Helen. That's it. Just Helen?” “Helen the Magic Woman.” “And you can help me rid myself of this disgusting hex?” “Yes.”2023 August 17, Jeremy Levick & Rajat Suresh, “Hybrid Creatures” (7:01 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 5, episode 7, spoken by Nadja of Antipaxos (Natasia Demetriou):
3
An ugly, evil-looking, or frightening old woman; a hag.
With black unseeing eyes the old woman, the crone, stares at him and through him. Over and over she mutters a word that he cannot quite catch, something like Toomderoom.2005, J. M. Coetzee, “Six”, in Slow Man, New York: Viking, →ISBN, page 36:
“Let's welcome the most beautiful girl I know and I've ever met. My good lady wife Nadja. Come on.” “Oh, she's right here. I've got her.” “I'm here.” “Quiet, crone! Hello, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming.”2023 July 20, Jake Bender & Zach Dunn, “Pride Parade” (22:07 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 5, episode 3, spoken by Nadja of Antipaxos (Natasia Demetriou):
In traveling homeward, buy forty good crones, and fat up the bodies of those seely bones1557 February 13 (Gregorian calendar), Thomas Tusser, A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, London: […] Richard Tottel, →OCLC; republished London: […] Robert Triphook, […], and William Sancho, […], 1810, →OCLC:
5
Obsolete An old man, especially one who talks and acts like an old woman.
The old crone [a negro man] lived in a hovel, in the midst of a small patch of potatoes and Indian corn, which his master had given him on setting him free.1822 May 21, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “The Haunted House”, in Bracebridge Hall, or The Humourists. A Medley. […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] C. S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, page 210:
A few old battered crones of office.1844, Benjamin Disraeli, Coningsby:
Wicca, Lifestyle, Religion One of the triune goddesses of the Lady in Wicca alongside the Mother and Maiden, representing an old woman.
[…] different stages of life as represented by our Lady as Maiden, Mother, and Crone, as well as our Lord as Master, Father, and Sage.2002, A.J. Drew, Wicca for Couples: Making Magick Together, page 90:
The Lady is often thought of as having three aspects: Maiden, Mother, and Crone.2004, Aurora Greenbough, Cathy Jewell, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spells and Spellcraft, page 9: