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necromancy

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(nek′rə man′sē)

noun

in some occult and religious beliefs, divination by means of communication with the spirits of deceased persons
black magic; sorcery

Origin: ME nigromancie < OFr nigromance < ML nigromantia (altered by assoc. with L niger, black) < L necromantia < Gr nekromanteia < nekros, corpse (see necro-) + manteia, divination: see -mancy

Related Forms:

necromancer noun
necromantic adjective

See necromancy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

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

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of Middle English nigromancie

Origin: , from Old French nigremancie

Origin: , from Medieval Latin nigromantia

Origin: , alteration (influenced by Latin niger, black)

Origin: of Late Latin necromantia

Origin: , from Greek nekromanteia

Origin: : nekros, corpse; see nek-¹ in Indo-European roots

Origin: + manteia, divination; see -mancy

Related Forms:

necˈro·manˌcer noun

necˌro·manˈtic (-mănˈtĭk) adjective

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