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Added 9 October 2026

necromancy

/ˈnɛkɹəˌmænsi/ noun

In Latin: nigromantia, necromantia Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about necromancy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world.
Conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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