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necromancy

[ nek-ruh-man-see ]
/ ˈnɛk rəˌmæn si /
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See synonyms for: necromancy / necromancer / necromantic on Thesaurus.com
noun
a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead; black art.
magic in general, especially that practiced by a witch or sorcerer; sorcery; witchcraft; conjuration.
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Origin of necromancy

First recorded in 1250–1300; necro- + -mancy; replacing Middle English nigromancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantīa for Late Latin necromantīa, from Greek nekromanteía; by folk etymology nigro- (combining form of Latin niger “black”) was substituted in Medieval Latin for the original necro-

synonym study for necromancy

2. See magic.

OTHER WORDS FROM necromancy

nec·ro·man·cer, nounnec·ro·man·tic [nek-ruh-man-tik] /ˌnɛk rəˈmæn tɪk/ Obsolete, nec·ro·man·ti·cal, adjectivenec·ro·man·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to necromancy

abracadabra, alchemy, bewitchment, charm, conjuring, devilry, divination, enchantment, hocus-pocus, incantation, jinx, magic, mysticism, occultism, spell, thaumaturgy, voodoo, witchcraft, witchery, witching

How to use necromancy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for necromancy

necromancy
/ (ˈnɛkrəʊˌmænsɪ) /
noun
the art or practice of supposedly conjuring up the dead, esp in order to obtain from them knowledge of the future
black magic; sorcery

Derived forms of necromancy

necromancer, nounnecromantic, adjective

Word Origin for necromancy

C13: (as in sense 1) ultimately from Greek nekromanteia, from nekros corpse; (as in sense 2) from Medieval Latin nigromantia, from Latin niger black, which replaced necro- through folk etymology
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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