black art Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world
    sorcery; black magic; necromancy.

WordNet

Black" art`
Definitions
  1. The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic. ✍ This name was given in the Middle Ages to necromancy, under the idea that the latter term was derived from niger black, instead of nekro`s, a dead person, and mantei`a, divination. Wright.

Webster 1913