This week's theme: words related to forecasting and divination. necromancy (NEK-ruh-man-see) noun
1. Divination by trying to communicate with the spirits of the dead. 2. Magic; sorcery; witchcraft. [From Greek nekros (corpse) + -mancy (divination). Ultimately from Indo-European root nek- (death) that's also the source of nuisance, obnoxious, pernicious, innocent, innocuous, nectar, and nectarine.] Before the word arrived in its current form, it was known as nigromantia in medieval Latin, from confusion of Greek nekro with Latin niger (black). Now you know why magic and sorcery are also known as the "black arts". Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=necromancy -Anu Garg (garg AT wordsmith.org) "A few years later, [Branaghstein] goes to university to study medical science, with a minor in necromancy." Desson Howe; Creature Discomforts; The Washington Post; Nov 4, 1994. This newsletter is made possible in part by: A cure for brain flab! One brain-building, at-a-glance email a day helps keep unsightly ignorance away. http://knowledgenews.net/s?s=aw061806 Perfect your fluency in French, German, Spanish or Italian with Champs-Elysees audio magazines. http://ads.champs-elysees.com/wsmith4 ............................................................................ I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. -Maya Angelou, poet (1928- ) Send your comments to (words AT wordsmith.org). To unsubscribe, update address send gift subscription, etc., visit http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscriber.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/necromancy.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/necromancy.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/necromancy.html This message was sent to "[email protected]".
