sorcery
Casting spells malevolently
Sorcery is the practice of magic, especially magic that draws on supernatural or evil forces.
The term carries darker connotations than related words like wizardry or enchantment, often implying dealings with demons or forbidden knowledge.
In fantasy literature and games, sorcery typically refers to innate magical ability rather than learned spellcraft.
The word appears frequently in accusations and condemnations: The villagers suspected her of sorcery.
Someone who practices sorcery is a sorcerer or sorceress.
Spoken magical formula
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- summoningCalling forth deliberately
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
- evocationCalling forth to mind
circle · pentagram · sigil · candle magic · offerings · sacrifice · ceremony · grimoire
Practice of supernatural magic
- voodooFolk magic, often Caribbean
- hoodooFolk magic tradition
- shamanismMediation between worlds
- ceremonial magicFormalized supernatural invocation practice
folk magic · tantra · kabbalah · rootwork
Attractive personal quality
- bewitchmentMagical influence over someone
- glamourFascinating, elegant attractiveness
- captivationState of being fascinated
- mesmerizeCapture attention completely
entrancement · spellbound · beguile · enrapture · enthrall · bewitch · fascinate · ensorcell
Practitioner of sorcery
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- warlockMale practitioner of dark magic
- magePractitioner of sorcery
- shamanIndigenous spiritual healer
necromancer · conjurer · enchanter · druid · magus · thaumaturge · witch doctor · medicine man
Mental object manipulation
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- transmutationComplete change of form
- shapeshiftingTransforming into other beings
- invisibilityState of being unseen
illusion · mind control · pyromancy · necromancy · healing · curses · blessings · astral projection
Foretelling of future events
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- seerOne who envisions futures
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
- scryingVisionary surface-gazing
augury · soothsaying · tarot · runes · astrology · omen · portent · vision
Accessible to few
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- hidden knowledgeInformation deliberately kept concealed
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- forbidden loreKnowledge deemed too dangerous
dark arts · black magic · white magic · left-hand path · hermetic · theosophical · supernatural · paranormal
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- alchemistPractitioner of proto-chemistry
- crucibleVessel for extreme heat
alembic · distillation · quintessence · tincture · calcination · coagulation · sublimation · hermeticism
incantation
Spoken magical formula
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- summoningCalling forth deliberately
- conjurationMagical act of summoning
evocation · circle · pentagram · sigil · candle magic · offerings · sacrifice · ceremony · grimoire · altar
witchcraft
Practice of supernatural magic
ceremonial magic · folk magic · tantra · kabbalah · rootwork
charm
Attractive personal quality
- bewitchmentMagical influence over someone
- glamourFascinating, elegant attractiveness
- captivationState of being fascinated
mesmerize · entrancement · spellbound · beguile · enrapture · enthrall · bewitch · fascinate · ensorcell · hex
wizard
Practitioner of sorcery
shaman · necromancer · conjurer · enchanter · druid · magus · thaumaturge · witch doctor · medicine man · cunning folk
telekinesis
Mental object manipulation
- levitationUnsupported aerial suspension
- transmutationComplete change of form
- shapeshiftingTransforming into other beings
invisibility · illusion · mind control · pyromancy · necromancy · healing · curses · blessings · astral projection
prophecy
Foretelling of future events
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- seerOne who envisions futures
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
scrying · augury · soothsaying · tarot · runes · astrology · omen · portent · vision · foresight
esoteric
Accessible to few
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- hidden knowledgeInformation deliberately kept concealed
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
forbidden lore · dark arts · black magic · white magic · left-hand path · hermetic · theosophical · supernatural · paranormal · otherworldly
transmutation
Complete change of form
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- alchemistPractitioner of proto-chemistry
crucible · alembic · distillation · quintessence · tincture · calcination · coagulation · sublimation · hermeticism · mercury
- witchcraftwitch, spell, spellwork, witches, spells
- Arthurian magicMerlin, Excalibur, enchantment, Morgan le Fay, spells
- magical practiceswitchcraft, folk magic, ceremonial magic, hoodoo, voodoo
- Slavic folkloreBaba Yaga, vampire, Ivan, mora, Firebird
- Jewish sinsidolatry, adultery, incest, blasphemy, idol worship
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
sorceryscience
Systematic study through observation
empiricism · rationalism · reason · scientific method · physics
sorcerymundanity
Everyday, unremarkable quality
ordinariness · normalcy · banality · conventionality · routine
sorcerydivine grace
Unmerited favor from deity
holiness · sanctity · blessing · white magic · prayer
- sorcerer's stoneMythical alchemical substance
- sword and sorceryGenre mixing blades, spells
- evil sorcererMalignant wielder of magic
- sorcerer's apprenticeMagician's student in training
- The Sorcerer's ApprenticeEnchanted servant overwhelmed story
sorcerer, sorceress, sorcerers, sorcerer's, sorcerous, sorceresses, sorceries