Nigromancy

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. Apparent command of spirits, condemned as harmful to those who exercise it.

In the book. Necromancy centres on bringing the dead into appearance and obtaining answers.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 35; facsimile PDF page 363.

Historical Definition

Nigromancy is a wicked and execrable art in which devils and evil spirits allow themselves to be commanded by human beings and obey them, but only to their harm.

Meaning

The grammar gives the spirits an active role: they allow themselves to be commanded. Their obedience is therefore not presented as evidence that the practitioner has secured an unrestricted beneficial power. The final qualification makes the result harmful, within the compiler’s strongly condemnatory account.

Use in the Book

Necromancy centres on bringing the dead into appearance and obtaining answers. Magia distinguishes a lawful natural branch from a diabolical one. The entries belong to a related moral classification, but their particular actions and objects are not identical.

Places to Read

Necromancy. A condemned art defined by the appearance and interrogation of the dead.

Magia. Magic divided into lawful natural wisdom and forbidden knowledge through evil spirits.

In This Edition

The historical judgement is preserved as the dictionary’s account. The edition does not neutralise the definition into a general name for any inquiry into hidden things.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 35; facsimile PDF page 363 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 363, Nigromancy

See also. Necromancy; Magia