Search Result for "sorcery": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world;
[syn: sorcery, black magic, black art, necromancy]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sorcery \Sor"cer*y\, n.; pl. Sorceries. [OE. sorcerie, OF. sorcerie, fr. OF. & F. sorcier a sorcerer, LL. sortiarius, fr. L. sors, sortis, a lot, decision by lot, fate, destiny. See Sort, n.] Divination by the assistance, or supposed assistance, of evil spirits, or the power of commanding evil spirits; magic; necromancy; witchcraft; enchantment. [1913 Webster] Adder's wisdom I have learned, To fence my ear against thy sorceries. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

sorcery n 1: the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world [syn: sorcery, black magic, black art, necromancy]
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

SORCERY, n. The ancient prototype and forerunner of political influence. It was, however, deemed less respectable and sometimes was punished by torture and death. Augustine Nicholas relates that a poor peasant who had been accused of sorcery was put to the torture to compel a confession. After enduring a few gentle agonies the suffering simpleton admitted his guilt, but naively asked his tormentors if it were not possible to be a sorcerer without knowing it.