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necromancy

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Circa 1300, from Middle English nigromancye, from Old French nigromancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantia, from Latin necromantia, from Ancient Greek νεκρομαντεία (nekromanteía), νεκρός (nekrós, “dead”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination”). Medieval Latin spelling, incorporating niger (“black”), influenced by the notion of black art. Modern spelling adopted in mid-1500s. By surface analysis, necro- +‎ -mancy.

Pronunciation

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  • enPR: nĕkʹ-rə-măn'-si, IPA(key): /ˈnɛkɹəˌmænsi/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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necromancy (countable and uncountable, plural necromancies)

  1. Divination involving the dead or death.
    • 1597, King James Daemonologie, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      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, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
      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.
  3. (Internet) Synonym of necroposting

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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