sortilege
- noun
- /ˈsɔːrtɪlɪdʒ/
- Archaic
:
hechicería
- The ancient book contained spells for performing sortilege to change one's fortune.
Examples
-
Finally, (5) whether those who invoke and offer sacrifices to demons with the intention of compelling another to act according to their wishes are to be considered as heretics or simply as authors of sortilege.
Academic text (2007) -
Whether a priest who superstitiously and sacrilegiously re-baptizes people, believing that such a practice has medicinal powers, is to be considered a heretic or punished simply for practicing sortilege is unclear.
Academic text (2007) -
In folklore, the wizard used sortilege to manipulate the weather for the harvest.
-
During the ceremony, the participants engaged in sortilege to gain the favor of the spirits.
Synonyms
∞
3.2
Power that makes impossible things happen, often in stories or rituals
29
9.2
To use magic to control people or events, often to harm
9
9.9
Calling a spirit, like a ghost, using magic words or rituals
8
9.9
Use of magic to harm or control people
8
7.2
Ability to make things happen in ways that break natural rules
4
9.9
A spiritual practice using rituals to try to change things by unseen powers
3
9.1
The use of magic and spells to do strange things
3
9.9
The study and practice of magic and secret powers
A time when someone or something seems controlled by magic
How Magical
- Specialized
3
9.9
- Literature
29
9.2
- Literature
87
7.0
- Archaic
∞
3.2
- US
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sortilege comes from the Latin parts sors ('lot') and legere ('to read'), and because people treated the reading of lots as a magical act, sortilege also came to mean 'magic' or 'sorcery' used to influence people or events.