necromancy Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Nec"ro*man`cy noun
Etymology
OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance, F. nécromance, nécromancie, from L. necromantia, Gr. a dead body (akin to L. necare to kill, Skr. na() to perish, vanish) + divination, fr. diviner, seer, akin to E. mania. See Mania, and cf. Internecine, Noxious. The old spelling is due to confusion with L. niger black. Hence the name black art.
Definitions
  1. The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art.
    This palace standeth in the air, By necromancy placèd there. Drayton.

Webster 1913