(Noun)
A cantrip is an alternating spell, used in old folk magic or hedge witchcraft, where a single spell casting event causes two differing actions to take place; the effect of which is generally negative or aggressive in nature. A cantrip is not intended to cause serious harm or death to the subject person of the spell. In modern days, a cantrip spell is most often used for personal protection from metaphysical psychic attack.
Usage: Sally felt as if the dark man she'd met on the Astral Plane had left her no choice but to defend herself; in order to get her work done, she decided to cast a cantrip so that he would be distracted by intense sweating and then shivers too.