Nec"ro*man`cy (?), n. [OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance, F. n'ecromance, n'ecromancie, 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.]
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 placed there.
Drayton.
© Webster 1913.