1 any substance or mixture of compounds that, added to a solution, is capable of neutralizing both acids and bases without appreciably changing the original acidity or alkalinity of the solution.  Also called buffer solution. a solution containing such a substance.
But the origins of witchcraft prosecution can be traced back to Europe centuries prior, when pre-Reformation courts first induced criminals to admit to heresy and witchcraft to exert social control through displays of harsh and often violent punishment.
smithsonian.com. The Salem witch trials occurred in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraftâthe Devil's magicâand 20 were executed. Eventually, the colony admitted the trials were a mistake and compensated the families of those convicted.his map of Salem Village is a reconstruction of how Salem looked in 1692 at the start of the witch trials as created in 1866 from historical records by Charles W. Upham (Wikimedia Commons). Examination of a witch by Tompkins H. Matteson, whose paintings are known for their historical, patriotic, and religious themes.