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Webster 1913 Edition

Theurgy

The′ur-gy

(thē′ŭr-jy̆)
,
Noun.
[L.
theurgia
, Gr.
θεουργία
, fr.
θεουργόσ
doing the works of God;
θεόσ
God +
ἔργον
work: cf. F.
théurgie
. See
Theism
, and
Work
.]
1.
A divine work; a miracle; hence, magic; sorcery.
2.
A kind of magical science or art developed in Alexandria among the Neoplatonists, and supposed to enable man to influence the will of the gods by means of purification and other sacramental rites.
Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
3.
In later or modern magic, that species of magic in which effects are claimed to be produced by supernatural agency, in distinction from natural magic.

Webster 1828 Edition

Theurgy

THE'URGY

,
Noun.
[Gr. God, and work.] The art of doing things which it is the peculiar province of God to do; or the power or act of performing supernatural things by invoking the names of God or of subordinate agents; magic. This has been divided by some writers into three parts; theurgy, or the operation by divine or celestial means; natural magic, performed by the powers of nature; and necromancy, which proceeds by invoking demons.

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