necromancy

UK: /ˈnɛkrəmænsi/ US: /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/ ,(nek′rə man′sē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nec•ro•man•cy /ˈnɛkrəˌmænsi/   n. [uncountable]

1. magic, esp. evil magic practiced by a witch or sorcerer.

nec•ro•man•cer, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nec•ro•man•cy  (nek′rə man′sē), n. 

1. a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead;
   black art.
2. magic in general, esp. that practiced by a witch or sorcerer;
   sorcery;
   witchcraft;
   conjuration.

• Greek nekromanteía; by folk etymology nigro- (combining form of Latin niger black) was substituted in Medieval Latin for original necro-
• Medieval Latin nigromantīa for Late Latin necromantīa
• 1250–1300; necro- + -mancy; replacing Middle English nigromancie

nec′ro•man′cer, n. 
nec′ro•man′tic;
 [Obs.,] nec′ro•man′ti•cal, adj. 
nec′ro•man′ti•cal•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. See magic. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

necromancy / ˈnɛkrəʊˌmænsɪ/ noun

1. the art or practice of supposedly conjuring up the dead, esp in order to obtain from them knowledge of the future
2. black magic; sorcery

Etymology: 13th Century: (as in sense 1) ultimately from Greek nekromanteia, from nekros corpse; (as in sense 2) from Medieval Latin nigromantia, from Latin niger black, which replaced necro- through folk etymology

ˈnecroˌmancer noun

ˌnecroˈmantic adjective