Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

Nigra-, Nigromansy, Nicromancy, n. Also: nygra-, nygro-, nycro- and -mancie, -mansie; and nygramyssy, -mycé, nagramissé. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. nigramanci, nigro-, nigre-, nygramancy, -mansy etc., e.m.E. nycromansy (1522), OF. nygromancie (more commonly -mance: see Nigromance), med. L. nigromantia, alteration, by association with L. niger, nigr-, black, of L. necromantia Necromancie n. Cf. also Igramancie.]The forms in -myce, -misse seem likely to belong here rather than with Nigromance n.

Necromancy, the art of divination by communication with the dead; black magic, sorcery, enchantment.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 748 (E).
Nygromancy [C. nigramansy] … That kennys men … To ger spyritis to thaim apper a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxii. 105.
Nygramancy c1420 Wynt. i. 855.
In Pers wes fyrst nygromancy [W. nygramansy] And wyche-craft wytht sorcery c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 77/8.
Nygramansy 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1720.
The nigromansie [L. nigramansy] thair saw I … Of Benytas [etc.] a1540 Freiris Berw. 336 (M). 1600 Criminal Trials II. 253.
But quhen he ȝeid to Padua, thair he studieit nigromancie(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 27.
Zorastes … The fyndare off nycromancy Off wychecraft and sorcery c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 282.
Nycromancie c1460 Ib. 401.
Nicromancy 1551 Hamilton Catechism 49.
Nicromansie 1558-66 Knox II. 280. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4937.
Nycromansie(c) a1538 Abell 14 a.
Be nygramyssy he had company of Olimpies and gat Alexander a1538 Ib.
Nygramyce a1538 Ib. 57 a.
Nagramisse