Definition

1. Noun:
   • The practice of communicating with the dead, especially to predict the future: "necromancy" refers to a form of magic or divination that involves conjuring the spirits of the dead for the purpose of gaining knowledge, often about future events.
   • Sorcery or witchcraft in general; magic that involves evil spirits: More broadly, "necromancy" can denote any magic or spells that are believed to manipulate occult forces or evil spirits to cause supernatural effects.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The ancient sorcerer was feared for his practice of necromancy.
  • In the story, the villain used necromancy to summon an army of skeletons.
  • She studied medieval texts on necromancy out of historical curiosity.

Advanced Usage

• "to practice necromancy": to engage in the ritual of summoning the dead.
  • The forbidden cult was rumored to practice necromancy in secret ceremonies.
• As a metaphorical term for something darkly manipulative: Used figuratively to describe an uncanny or sinister influence over people or events.
  • The politician's control over his followers was described as a kind of political necromancy.

Variants and Related Words

• Necromancer (n): A person who practices necromancy; a sorcerer who communicates with the dead.
  • The necromancer chanted spells over the ancient grave.
• Necromantic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of necromancy.
  • They discovered a book full of necromantic rituals.

Synonyms

• Sorcery: The use of magic, especially black magic.
• Witchcraft: The practice of magic, often with an association with evil.
• Divination: The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means (a broader category that can include necromancy).
• Thaumaturgy: The working of miracles or magic.

Related Phrases

• To raise the dead: A phrase describing the core action in necromancy.
  • The legend spoke of a wizard who could raise the dead.
• To commune with spirits: A more general phrase for communicating with spiritual entities, which can include necromancy.
  • The medium claimed to commune with spirits, not practice necromancy.

Related Idioms

• "Dabbling in the dark arts": An idiom for experimenting with dangerous or forbidden magic, which encompasses practices like necromancy.
  • His interest in ancient manuscripts was seen as dabbling in the dark arts.

Noun

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