Necromancy

Pronunciation

• enPR: nÄ•kʹ-rÉ™-măn'-si, IPA: /ˈnÉ›krəˌmænsi/

Alternative forms

• necyomancy, egromancy

Origin

From Ancient Greek νεκρομαντεία, νεκρός (nekros, "dead") + μαντεία (manteia, "divination").

Full definition of necromancy

Noun

1. Divination involving the dead or death.
• 1597 King James DaemonologieAnd 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 MagastromancerAnd 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 Magicthe 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. OccultThere 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.

Derived terms

• thread necromancy