grimoire
Tome of incantations
A grimoire is a book of magic—spells, rituals, invocations, and instructions for summoning spirits or crafting talismans.
The term evokes medieval and Renaissance occult texts, leather-bound and handwritten.
In fantasy fiction and games, grimoires are standard equipment for wizards and witches: She found an ancient grimoire in the attic.
The word retains an air of forbidden knowledge.
Original text before publication
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- tomeSubstantial scholarly volume
- volumeAmount of space filled
- pagesBound paper sheets
binding · parchment · vellum · clasp · folio · quill · ink · scribe
Practice of supernatural magic
- WiccaModern pagan witchcraft religion
- hoodooFolk magic tradition
- voodooFolk magic, often Caribbean
- cunning folkTraditional rural magic workers
ceremonial magic · necromancy · demonology · angelology · theurgy · shamanism · paganism · folk magic
Accessible to few
mysterious · taboo · clandestine · sealed · locked · cryptic · encoded · cipher
Magical utterances or intervals
- incantationsRitual words for magic
- hexesMalevolent magical spells
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
- charmsAttracts or delights
enchantments · cantrips · invocations · conjurations · wards · banishments · rituals · formulas
Necronomicon
Fictional book of forbidden knowledge
- Book of ShadowsWiccan ritual text
manuscript
Original text before publication
pages · binding · parchment · vellum · clasp · folio · quill · ink · scribe · illuminated
witchcraft
Practice of supernatural magic
cunning folk · ceremonial magic · necromancy · demonology · angelology · theurgy · shamanism · paganism · folk magic · rootwork
esoteric
Accessible to few
hidden · mysterious · taboo · clandestine · sealed · locked · cryptic · encoded · cipher · occultism
spells
Magical utterances or intervals
- incantationsRitual words for magic
- hexesMalevolent magical spells
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
charms · enchantments · cantrips · invocations · conjurations · wards · banishments · rituals · formulas · recipes
- spellcraftspell casting, cantrip, incantation, hex, jinx
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- magicwizard, wand, sorcerer, witchcraft, mage
- fantasy fictionepic fantasy, high fantasy, low fantasy, dark fantasy, urban fantasy
- Sci-Fi/Fantasywand, spell, potion, rune, incantation
- witchcraftwitch, spell, spellwork, witches, spells
grimoireprayer book
Text for religious devotions
Bible · missal · holy scripture · breviary · catechism
grimoiretextbook
Academic subject manual
encyclopedia · manual · handbook · primer · guidebook
grimoiretextbook
Academic subject manual
empirical study · research paper · technical manual · peer-reviewed journal · field guide