(n)the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world, Syn.black art, necromancy, black magic
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ This name was given in the Middle Ages to necromancy, under the idea that the latter term was derived from niger black, instead of nekro`s, a dead person, and mantei`a, divination. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]