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Webster 1913 Edition


Necromancy

Nec′ro-manˊcy

,
Noun.
[OE.
nigromaunce
,
nigromancie
, OF.
nigromance
, F.
nécromance
,
nécromancie
, from L.
necromantia
, Gr. [GREEK];
νεκρόσ
a dead body (akin to L.
necare
to kill, Skr.
naç
to perish, vanish) + [GREEK] divination, fr. [GREEK] diviner, seer, akin to E.
mania
. See
Mania
, and cf.
Internecine
,
Noxious
. The old spelling is due to confusion with L.
niger
black. Hence the name
black art
.]
The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See
Black art
.
This palace standeth in the air,
By
necromancy
placèd there.
Drayton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Necromancy

NECROMANCY

,
Noun.
[Gr. Dead, and divination.]
1.
The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead. This imposture is prohibited. Deuteronomy 18.
2.
Enchantment; conjuration.

Definition 2024


necromancy

necromancy

English

Alternative forms

Noun

necromancy (countable and uncountable, plural necromancies)

  1. Divination involving the dead or death.
    • 1597 King James Daemonologie
      And for to make this treatise the more pleasaunt and facill, I have put it in forme of a Dialogue, which I have diuided into three bookes: The first speaking of Magie in general, and Necromancie in special.
    • 1652 Gaule The Magastromancer
      And in one word for all, Nagomancy, or Necromancy; by inspecting, consulting, and divining by, with, or from the dead.
    • 1867 E. Rogers, quoted in K. Thomas Relig. & Decline of Magic
      the Devil did often tempt me to study necromancy and nigromancy and to make use of magic, and to make a league with him...
    • 1920 L. Spence Encyc. Occult
      There is no doubt..that necromancy is the touch-stone of occultism...
  2. Loosely, any sorcery or witchcraft, especially involving death or the dead, particularly sorcery involving raising or reanimating the dead.

Derived terms

Translations