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necromancy

 - 4 dictionary results

nec⋅ro⋅man⋅cy

  [nek-ruh-man-see]
Use necromancy in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To necromancy
nec·ro·man·cy   (něk'rə-mān'sē)   
n.  

  1. The practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future.

  2. Black magic; sorcery.

  3. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

necromancy

communication with the dead, usually in order to obtain insight into the future or to accomplish some otherwise impossible task. Such activity was current in ancient times among the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans; in medieval Europe it came to be associated with black (i.e., harmful, or antisocial) magic and was condemned by the church

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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