Meanings
plural conjurations
- countableuncountableConjuring, legerdemain or magic.
Pretended conjurations and prophecies of that event.
1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC1 more example
How nicely we could manage without the said railway, now the great hobby of our Teviotdale lairds, if we could by any process of conjuration waft to Abbotsford some of the coal and lime from Lochore...
1951 February, Michael Robbins, “Sir Walter Scott and Two Early Railway Schemes”, in Railway Magazine, page 90, words written by ScottSynonyms: sorcery, wizardry, hocus-pocus, sleight of hand, bewitchery, black arts, charmwork, conjuring
- countableuncountableA magic trick.
- countableobsoleteuncountableThe act of calling or summoning by a sacred name, or in solemn manner, or binding by an oath; an earnest entreaty; adjuration.
An earneſt Coniuration from the King, / As England was his faithfull Tributary
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 259, column 21 more example
We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; […] Under this conjuration speak, my lord.
1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii] - countableobsoleteuncountableA league for a criminal purpose; conspiracy.
The conjuration of Catiline.
1531, Thomas Elyot, The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
nounConjuring, legerdemain or magic.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect
nounan illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinconiuratio“a swearing together, a conspiracy”
- Old Frenchconjuracion
- Middle Frenchconjuration
- Middle Englishconjuracioun
- Englishconjuration
From Middle English conjuracioun, from Middle French conjuration, from Old French conjuracion, from Latin coniuratio (“a swearing together, a conspiracy”).
More words from Middle English, Middle French, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian магия
- магия (magija)conjuring
Russian волшебство́, фо́кус
- волшебство́ (volšebstvó)conjuring
- фо́кус (fókus)magic trick
Spanish conjuración, conjuración
- conjuraciónconjuring
- conjuraciónmagic trick
Cite this entry
conjuration. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/conjuration
“conjuration.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/conjuration. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “conjuration,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/conjuration.
Source: conjuration on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.