necromancy
noun/ˈnɛkɹəˌmænsi/
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.
1
Divination involving the dead or death.
- 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.1597, King James Daemonologie, (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.1652, Gaule The Magastromancer, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
2 more examples
- 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...
- There is no doubt..that necromancy is the touch-stone of occultism...1920, L. Spence, Encyc. Occult:
2
Loosely, any sorcery or witchcraft, especially involving death or the dead, particularly sorcery involving raising or reanimating the dead.
3
Internet Synonym of necroposting.
- Derived terms
- thread necromancy
- Related terms
- necromancer, necromantic, raising hell, raising the dead