11 results for: Necromancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

nec·ro·man·cy

Audio Help [nek-ruh-man-see] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead; black art.

2.	magic in general, esp. that practiced by a witch or sorcerer; sorcery; witchcraft; conjuration.

[Origin: 1250–1300; necro- + -mancy; r. ME nigromancie < ML nigromantīa for LL necromantīa < Gk nekromanteía; by folk etymology nigro- (comb. form of L niger black) was substituted in ML for original necro-

]

—Related forms

nec·ro·man·cer, noun

nec·ro·man·tic; Obsolete, nec·ro·man·ti·cal, adjective

nec·ro·man·ti·cal·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 2. See magic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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Necromancy

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nec·ro·man·cy Audio Help (něk'rə-mān'sē) Pronunciation Key
n.

The practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future.
Black magic; sorcery.
Magic qualities.

[Alteration of Middle English nigromancie, from Old French nigremancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantia, alteration (influenced by Latin niger, black) of Late Latin necromantia, from Greek nekromanteia : nekros, corpse; see nek-¹ in Indo-European roots + manteia, divination; see -mancy.]

nec'ro·man'cer n., nec'ro·man'tic (-mān'tĭk) adj.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
necromancy

c.1300, "divination by communication with the dead," from O.Fr. nygromancie, from M.L. nigromantia (1212), from L. necromantia "divination from an exhumed corpse," from Gk. nekromanteia, from nekros "dead body" (see necro-) + manteia "divination, oracle," from manteuesthai "to prophesy," from mantis "prophet" (see mania). Spelling infl. in M.L. by niger "black," on notion of "black arts." Modern spelling is c.1550 from attempts to correct M.E. nygromauncy.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

necromancy
noun
1.	the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world [syn: sorcery]
2.	conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Necromancy

In`ter*ne"cine\, a. [L. internecinus deadly, murderous, fr. internecare to kill, to slaughter; inter between + necare to kill; akin to Gr. ? dead. See Necromancy.] Involving, or accompanied by, mutual slaughter; mutually destructive.

Internecine quarrels, horrible tumults, stain the streets with blood. --Motley.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Necromancy

Ne*crol"o*gy\, n.; pl. Necrologies. [Gr. ? a dead person + -logy: cf. F. n['e]crologie. See Necromancy.] An account of deaths, or of the dead; a register of deaths; a collection of obituary notices.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Necromancy

Nec"ro*man`cy\, n. [OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance, F. n['e]cromance, n['e]cromancie, from L. necromantia, Gr. ?; ? a dead body (akin to L. necare to kill, Skr. na(?) to perish, vanish) + ? divination, fr. ? diviner, seer, akin to E. mania. See Mania, and cf. Internecine, Noxious. The old spelling is due to confusion with L. niger black. Hence the name black art.] The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art.

This palace standeth in the air, By necromancy plac[`e]d there. --Drayton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Necromancy

Nox"ious\, a. [L. noxius, fr. noxa harm; akin to nocere to harm, hurt. Cf. Nuisance, Necromancy.]

1. Hurtful; harmful; baneful; pernicious; injurious; destructive; unwholesome; insalubrious; as, noxious air, food, or climate; pernicious; corrupting to morals; as, noxious practices or examples.

Too frequent an appearance in places of public resort is noxious to spiritual promotions. --Swift.

2. Guilty; criminal. [R.]

Those who are noxious in the eye of the law. --Abp. Bramhall.

Syn: Noisome; hurtful; harmful; injurious; destructive; pernicious; mischievous; corrupting; baneful; unwholesome; insalubrious. See Noisome. -- Nox"ious*ly, adv. -- Nox"ious*ness, n.

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Necromancy

Nui"sance\, n. [OE. noisance, OF. noisance, nuisance, fr. L. nocentia guilt, fr. nocere to hurt, harm; akin to necare to kill. Cf Necromancy, Nocent, Noxious, Pernicious.] That which annoys or gives trouble and vexation; that which is offensive or noxious.

Note: Nuisances are public when they annoy citizens in general; private, when they affect individuals only.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Necromancy

Per*ni"cious\, a. [L. perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from pernecare to kill or slay outright; per + necare to kill, slay: cf. F. pernicieux. Cf. Nuisance, Necromancy.] Having the quality of injuring or killing; destructive; very mischievous; baleful; malicious; wicked.

Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar. --Shak.

Pernicious to his health. --Prescott.

Syn: Destructive; ruinous; deadly; noxious; injurious; baneful; deleterious; hurtful; mischievous. -- Per*ni"cious*ly, adv., -- Per*ni"cious*ness, n.

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