necromancer

American  

[nek-ruh-man-ser] / ˈnɛk rəˌmæn sər /

noun

1. a person who uses witchcraft or sorcery, especially to reanimate dead people or to foretell the future by communicating with them.

   In the story, the boy is killed by a serial killer and then revived as a zombie by a necromancer.

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Etymology

Origin of necromancer

First recorded in 1540–50; equivalent to necromanc(y) ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Necromancer is a fancy word for a magician. A necromancer might mix up a love potion or cast a spell on your mortal enemy. You can use the noun necromancer when you talk about a sorcerer of any kind, but it most often refers to someone who can communicate with the dead. Your cousin who has good luck contacting spirits through her Ouija board might be an aspiring necromancer. For many people, the word has a dark, scary connotation, or a connection with black magic. The Greek word at the root of necromancer is nekromanteia, which joins nekros , "dead body," with manteia, "divination."

Example Sentences

In addition to previously announced classes like the sorceress, barbarian, druid, and rogue, Activision Blizzard revealed the fifth playable class: Necromancer.

From The Verge • Jun. 12, 2022

Mother has a secret edge, however; she is a reconfigured Necromancer, a robotic W.M.D. who can morph into a gilded Art Deco figure like something from “Metropolis.”

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2022

Since the last Sherlock episode aired, Martin Freeman has starred in two of Peter Jackson's successful Hobbit films as Bilbo Baggins, while Cumberbatch provided the voice of Smaug the dragon and the Necromancer.

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2014

Nor does it make any sense, since Sauron the Necromancer who devised it is not even aware the Ring has been found, let alone that it still exists.

From Forbes • Dec. 16, 2013

But," asked Cleonice, "does it need the Necromancer to convince us that the soul does not perish when the breath leaves the lips?

From Pausanias, the Spartan The Haunted and the Haunters, an Unfinished Historical Romance by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

Related Words

• charmer
• genius
• virtuoso
• witch
• wizard