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Definition of Black art
1. Noun. The belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world.
Generic synonyms: Magic, Thaumaturgy
Specialized synonyms: Witchcraft, Witchery, Bewitchment, Enchantment, Demonism, Diabolism, Satanism, Obiism
Derivative terms: Necromancer, Necromantic, Necromantical, Sorcerise, Sorcerize, Sorcerous
Definition of Black art
1. Noun. A practice such as witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, or black magic. ¹
2. Noun. (figuratively by extension) A process that is mysterious or difficult to master. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Black art
1. The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy; conjuration; magic. This name was given in the Middle Ages to necromancy, under the idea that the latter term was derived from niger black, instead of nekros, a dead person, and manteia, divination. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Black Art
Literary usage of Black art
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne (1913)
"The half-civilized negro, while repudiating the fetish as a black art, feels
justified in retaining it as a white art, ie as a weapon of defence. ..."
2. Gutenberg, and the Art of Printing by Emily Clemens Pearson (1871)
"The black art. — A Barefoot Friar. — Popular Prejudice. — Hopes and Fears.
— Gutenberg returns to his Trade. — Dissolution of the Copartnership. ..."
3. Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English: Containing Words from the by Thomas Wright (1904)
"... then lifting up hie hands and eyes, muttering his black art to some hobgoblin,
and (when we least sus* pected it) skips out, ..."
4. Mr. George Jean Nathan Presents by George Jean Nathan (1917)
"THE black art JUST as the operas of the Italian Gasparo Spontini were found to
sing better (if the phrase Be allowed) in German than in the tongue in which ..."
5. Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland by John Gregorson Campbell (1900)
"THE black art. Nothing was known in the Highlands of the dark science beyond what
is conveyed in the name given to it, ' Satan's black school' (Sgoil du ..."