necromancy

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromνεκρομαντεία
2. Latin · derived fromnecromantia
3. Medieval Latin · derived fromnigromantia
4. Old French · derived fromnigromancie
5. Middle English · inherited fromnigromancye
6. English todaynecromancy

Circa 1300, from Middle English nigromancye, from Old French nigromancie, from Medieval Latin nigromantia, from Latin necromantia, from Ancient Greek νεκρομαντεία (nekromanteía), νεκρός (nekrós, “dead”) + μαντεία (manteía, “divination”). Medieval Latin spelling, incorporating niger (“black”), influenced by the notion of black art. Modern spelling adopted in mid-1500s. By surface analysis, necro- + -mancy.

Words from the same roots