necromancy
/'nekroumænsi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- conjuring up the dead, especially for prophesying
- the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world