Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NECROMANCY

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connect today's word to others: In Greek, a mantis is a seer, a prophet, someone who practices divination. Knowing that, you might wonder whether that insect, the praying mantis, is named for its Sibylline posture or for its role in fortune-telling. And as it turns out, both! Check out what a book from 1658 has to say about praying mantises, which it also calls foretellers: "They do shew the Spring to be at hand, so Anacreon the Poet sang; or else they foretell dearth and famine, as Cælius the Scholiast of Theocritus have observed." Ah, okay, that's very helpful: mantises foretell springtime, or misery. Got it. Anyway, we'll see mantis spring up in lots of English words, and whenever we see a word ending in "-mancy," we know it's a type of divination: a method of fortune-telling. Want to predict people's future by reading their palms? That's chiromancy. (Of course, palms are so random; why not read the soles of their feet instead? Pedomancy.) Want to be like Joseph from the Bible, predicting the future from dreams? That's oneiromancy. Want to be like Firenze from Harry Potter, predicting the future by staring up at the stars? Sideromancy. And today we're checking out necromancy, defined as divination by contacting the dead--or defined more generally as anything that seems like dark mystic magic. All these "-mancies" might strike you as types of al___y, as processes that seem magical, mysterious, and sort of scientific. And of course, unless we're using these words figuratively, they're all a bunch of hooey: pseudomancy.  (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "NECROMANCY" From Greek roots meaning "dead body" and "divination," the word "necromancy" most specifically means the art of speaking with the dead in order to predict the future. (Now, honestly, if you want to know what's going to happen in the future, why would you ask people who already died? I can't see the logic in that!) More generally, necromancy is dark magic or dark witchcraft, or anything that seems like dark magic or witchcraft. Pronunciation: NECK ruh man see (Or, add emphasis to the third syllable, too: NECK ruh MAN see.) Part of speech: Noun, usually the uncountable kind ("such necromancy," "this necromancy," "her necromancy"), but sometimes the countable kind ("these necromancies"). Other forms: An alternative noun is "necromancing." Though we rarely need it, the plural of "necromancy" is "necromancies." When you need an adjective, pick "necromantic," "necromantical," or "necromancing." The adverb is "necromantically." And people who (supposedly, or figuratively) practice necromancy are "necromancers," "necromantics," "necromants," or "necromantists." How to use it: "Necromancy" is a fun alternative to more familiar words like "devilry," "wizardry," "witchcraft," "hocus-pocus" and so on. Its tone is dark and spooky, and since it's a bit rare, it can take readers by surprise. So, it's great for drama, irony, and exaggeration, for talking about fantasy and fiction, and, of course, for talking about the dark days of long-ago history, when people really were accusing each other of necromancy, arraigning people for necromancy, writing earnest treaties on necromancy, etc. You might talk about a person's necromancy, or the necromancy of someone or something. Or, talk about someone creating, performing, acquiring, or achieving something by, with, via, or through necromancy. Add an adjective, if you like: digital necromancy, rhythmic necromancy, political necromancy, critical necromancy, etc. examples: Their schedules are packed with necromancies--Charms, Potions, Transfiguration--but when do the eleven-year-olds in Harry Potter study, you know, math, or writing? "In addition to three previous novels, Medoff’s résumé includes stints as a management consultant, a communication strategist and all manner of related workplace necromancy."    — Ron Charles, Washington Post, 2 January 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "necromancy" without saying "sorcery" or "something that seems like dark magic." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Someone) (creates or accomplishes something, or charms or influences people in a certain way) with an artistry that borders on necromancy." Example: "Peter Jackson brought the Tolkien stories onto the screen with an artistry that bordered on necromancy." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "inflation," "reduce poverty," and "reduce welfare spending." People who argue "no" say things like "the free market," "raise unemployment," and "hurt businesses." What's the question? The question is, "Should the federal minimum wage be increased?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "reduce deaths," "frequently stolen," and "prevent mass murder." People who argue "no" say things like "deters crime," "self-defense," and "invasion of privacy." What's the question? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of NECROMANCY is A. PERSUASION. B. WHITE MAGIC. C. NATURAL BEAUTY. 2. His attempt to work patriotic necromancy will _____ no one in this crowd. A. stir B. sicken C. bewitch Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C