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necromancy. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
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
Noun
necromancy (countable and uncountable, plural necromancies)
- 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...
- Loosely, any sorcery or witchcraft, especially involving death or the dead, particularly sorcery involving raising or reanimating the dead.
- (Internet) Synonym of necroposting
Derived terms
Translations
divination involving the dead