necromancy

[ nek-ruh-man-see ]
/ ˈnɛk rəˌmæn si /

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.

Origin of necromancy

1250–1300; necro- + -mancy; replacing Middle English nigromancie < Medieval Latin nigromantīa for Late Latin necromantīa < Greek nekromanteía; by folk etymology nigro- (combining form of Latin niger black) was substituted in ML for original necro-

SYNONYMS FOR necromancy

2 See magic.

OTHER WORDS FROM necromancy

nec·ro·man·cer, noun nec·ro·man·tic; Obsolete, nec·ro·man·ti·cal, adjective nec·ro·man·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for necromancy

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, noun necromantic, 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