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sorcery
[sawr-suh-ree]
noun
plural
sorceriesthe art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery.
Synonyms:
sorcery
/ ˈɔːəɪ /
noun
the art, practices, or spells of magic, esp black magic, by which it is sought to harness occult forces or evil spirits in order to produce preternatural effects in the world
Other Word Forms
- ˈǰdzܲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of sorcery1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Rarer still are moments on par with what director and writer Ryan Coogler conjures at that movie's spiritual peak, where music, dance, cultural reverence and natural sorcery coalesce.
Forty years after William Pynchon’s books were burned in Boston, the nearby Salem witch trials exploded, with the state murdering 14 women and five men and tormenting nearly 200 others for demonic sorcery.
Lawrence-Mathers not only shows the bonds between religion and sorcery but examines the sheer beauty of the manuscripts involved, from illumination to illustration.
This intense ritual delves into themes of sorcery, voodoo, and divine wrath.
Though she shows promise in the field of sorcery from a young age, the color of Elphaba’s skin ensures that she stays a pariah barred from studying her powers.
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When To Use
Sorcery is supernatural power or the ability to use supernatural powers—witchcraft or magic.The word sorcery often (though not always) refers to so-called black magic—magic used for evil purposes.A person who can perform sorcery is called a sorcerer (which can be used for any gender, but typically refers to a man) or a sorceress (which refers to a woman). Sorcerer and sorceress are often used to refer to evil characters in works of fiction, especially in the “sword and sorcery” fantasy genre. In contrast, similar words like wizard and magician usually imply that such figures use their powers for good. If not, you’d usually call them an evil wizard or evil magician.Apart from whether or not it’s used for good or evil, the words sorcery implies great power—and often great skill and command of such power.For this reason, the word sorcery is sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to great skill in something, as if it’s a magical ability, as in Chris’s skill in coding is straight-up sorcery. The word wizardry is used (even more commonly) in the same way. A person who’s skilled in this way can be called a wizard, a sorcerer, or a sorceress.Example: I fear that some evil sorcery has enchanted this land.
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