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sorcery

sorcery

29 9.2
To use magic to control people or events, often to harm
  • noun
  • /ˈsɔːrsəri/
  • Literature
translation icon : hechicería
  • He was accused of sorcery after strange occurrences began to happen in his presence.
  • witchcraft and sorcery
  • attribution of sorcery
  • practice sorcery

They fought the man's sorcery against the lightning of the gods.

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Examples

  • What good is a sword against sorcery?

  • I heard the story from Turpui; he was in no doubt that sorcery was at work.

    Academic text (1999)
  • From this perspective, sorcery has also to be seen as part of the religious system.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And several generations after that, to see if human sorcery could reverse the trend.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Since everyone there suspected everyone else of sorcery, no undue suspicion was likely to fall upon him.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • We must undo Bavmorda's sorcery.

  • In other words, the problem is blamed on witchcraft or sorcery because this elicits sympathy from others.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Indigenous beliefs and practices relating to sorcery largely disappeared in Kilenge in the period before World War II.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Some say sorcery, others speak knowingly of enchanted beasts.

  • Meguet straightened cautiously, wondering what other sorcery to expect from that exuberant, deadly place.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

magic
vssorcery
3.2

Power that makes impossible things happen, often in stories or rituals

focuses more on evil or malevolent use of such power
witchcraft
vssorcery
  • Literature
87 7.0

A practice of using magic and spells to help or harm people

is more about harmful or malicious use of such powers
occult
vssorcery
20 9.8

Beliefs about secret supernatural powers and practices

is more specific about using those powers for evil influence
black magic
vssorcery
20 7.7

Magic used to harm people or to help the person who uses it

is similar but can include broader harmful influence beyond intent
witching
vssorcery
8 9.9

Use of magic to harm or control people

emphasizes using that practice to harm or control people
magick
vssorcery
  • Jargon
4 9.9

A spiritual practice using rituals to try to change things by unseen powers

is more narrowly seen as using such power for evil ends
witchery
vssorcery
3 9.1

The use of magic and spells to do strange things

leans more toward using these practices for harmful influence
occultism
vssorcery
3 9.9

The study and practice of magic and secret powers

is more about malevolent use of hidden powers to control events or people
spellwork
vssorcery
1 9.4

Using special words and small actions to make magic happen

is similar but specifically highlights malicious supernatural intent
spellcasting
vssorcery
1 8.5

Using words or actions to make magic happen

is more about doing such acts with harmful or evil purpose
sortilege
vssorcery
  • Archaic
9.9

Using magic to affect people or events

is more focused on evil intent when influencing people or events
9.9

A practice of doing magic using spells and potions

stresses that such practice often involves evil intentions
black art
vssorcery
9.9

Magic that people use to call evil spirits and hurt others

is the general term for using evil supernatural power to influence others
goety
vssorcery
  • Archaic
9.9

Old word for magic that uses spirits

is the common idea of harmful supernatural influence rather than archaic usage
occult arts
vssorcery
9.9

Practices that try to use hidden powers like magic

is narrower, stressing harmful use of supernatural power to influence people

Compounds

sword and sorcery
  • Literature
1 7.8

Stories about brave heroes, magic, and dangerous adventures in a long-ago world

How Dark

black magic
20 7.7
necromancy
  • Specialized
3 9.9
sorcery
  • Literature
29 9.2
witchcraft
  • Literature
87 7.0

Surface Forms

sorcery singular
sorceries plural

Morphology

sorcery = sorcerer (transparent) = sorcer + y

The noun denotes the practice or art associated with a sorcerer, so the relationship to 'sorcerer' is directly inferable for learners.

Etymology

The word sorcery comes from an old word sors meaning 'lot' or 'fate', because it began as the idea of telling or changing someone's destiny; a kind of control over a person's 'lot'. That's why today sorcery means using magic to try to control events.