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'''[[Necromancy]]''' is the practice of [[ritual magic|magic]] or [[black magic]] involving communication with the dead – either by summoning their spirits as apparitions, visions or raising them bodily – for the purpose of [[divination]], imparting the means to [[Clairvoyance|foretell future events]], discover hidden knowledge, to bring someone back from the dead, or to use the dead as a weapon.
A '''[[witch]]''' is a practitioner of [[witchcraft]]. Although the term can be gender-neutral, it is usually used to describe a female who uses [[ritual magic|magic]], while a male engaging in similar practices is called a [[warlock]]. The word witch derives from the Old English nouns ƿiċċa [ˈwittʃɑ] and ƿiċċe [ˈwittʃe] ('sorceress, female witch'). The word's further origins in Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European are unclear. The Old English verb ''wiccian'' has a cognate in Middle Low German ''wicken'' (attested from the 13th century, besides ''wichelen'' 'to bewitch').


Early necromancy was related to – and most likely evolved from – [[shaman]]ism, which calls upon spirits such as the ghosts of ancestors. Classical necromancers addressed the dead in "a mixture of high-pitch squeaking and low droning," comparable to the trance-state mutterings of shamans. Necromancy was prevalent throughout antiquity with records of its practice in ancient Egypt, Babylonia, Greece and Rome. Though [[Judaism|Jewish]] Law prescribed the death penalty to practitioners of necromancy (Leviticus 20:27), this warning was not always heeded. One of the foremost examples is when King Saul had the [[Witch of Endor]] invoke the spirit of Samuel, a judge and [[prophet]], from Sheol using a ritual conjuring pit (1 Samuel 28:3–25).  
Throughout history there has not been a consistent definition of the term "witch." Johannes Nider and other 15th century writers used the Latin term ''maleficus'' to mean witch—a person who performed ''maleficium'', harmful acts of sorcery, against others.


'''([[Necromancy|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Witch|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 05:55, 2 May 2025

Angelene Tubbs.jpg

A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft. Although the term can be gender-neutral, it is usually used to describe a female who uses magic, while a male engaging in similar practices is called a warlock. The word witch derives from the Old English nouns ƿiċċa [ˈwittʃɑ] and ƿiċċe [ˈwittʃe] ('sorceress, female witch'). The word's further origins in Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European are unclear. The Old English verb wiccian has a cognate in Middle Low German wicken (attested from the 13th century, besides wichelen 'to bewitch').

Throughout history there has not been a consistent definition of the term "witch." Johannes Nider and other 15th century writers used the Latin term maleficus to mean witch—a person who performed maleficium, harmful acts of sorcery, against others.

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