Many words that are found in literature or historical documentation are new and incomprehensible to a modern person. In any case, not fully understood. Such archaism is the word "vorog".
Without money in the city - to yourself a vorog
The most common meaning of the word “vorog” is the enemy. It is described in most explanatory and etymological dictionaries, for example, in V.I. Dalia: enemy, enemy, villain. "Not fed, not a vorog", "on the other side and the child is a vorog." Enemies in hostilities, nomads, and robbers were called the horns in Russia.
Always in this meaning is accompanied by the mark "obsolete.", Because it was used in Russian at the time of the spread of full consensus -oro-, as well as "high." It is used by the authors to reproduce a high syllable. First of all, a vorog is some kind of ill-wisher.
Origin and analogues in languages
To finally understand what a “vorog” is, a short excursion into etymological dictionaries will help. So, the word "vorog" (and with it the modern "enemy") came from the Old Slavic root -wer (g) -. He formed words with the meaning of “use force, force, subjugate”. Monogamous to him in Russian are: to overthrow, refutation, divination.
The same root can be attributed to Lithuanian vergas (“slave”), or urge in English (“coercion”). All this applies to enemies in one way or another. Examples:
“I was chained to the prison”, “twisted a penny”, “charm was strictly punishable”.
Also related is the original Russian "Varangian". So called the inhabitants of the north, the Scandinavians and the Angles. Moreover, the Slavic peoples often fought with them, that’s the word got reinforced meaning. "Varangian" and "vorog" words are consonant, their connection is clear even to those who are far from linguistics.
Healers, magicians and other evil spirits
If in our speech the word “enemy” has already taken root, then derivatives of “vorog” are used in a slightly different meaning. Formed verbs from the same root “to enchant”, “to bewitch” mean an unfriendly action.
It refers to magic and fortune telling and has no negative connotations, but with the beginning of the Christian era in Russia, this word was considered very unpleasant. The synonyms were and are the expressions “warlock”, “conjure”, “bind by force”, which served as references to the pagan past.
It turns out “vorog” - this is to some extent a magician, a magician. Man Turning to Unclean Forces. Sparrow is considered a villain or a witch. One who forces you to do or feel something. In general, this also fits into the idea of enmity - strife with the Christian world as history develops.
A little good
All previous meanings boiled down to hostility and enmity, but there is one gap. Since the word was and remains associated with magic and popular beliefs, the “vorog” is also a medicine man, a healer. The one who in ancient times treated people with the help of conspiracies and ceremonies.
“It’s good for him to live with whom his grandmother is bewitching”, “twisted his affliction”, “skilled in witchcraft”.
Any word that goes down in history deserves detailed analysis and a clear understanding. Such expressions should not be perplexing or distort the meaning of what they read or said. You just have to delve into the dictionaries and the Internet to find out that the “thief” is a Varangian, and a warlock, and a healer.