grimoire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, historical, and within fantasy/supernatural contexts.
Quick answer
What does “grimoire” mean?
A book of magical spells, rituals, and invocations, used as a guide for practitioners of magic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A book of magical spells, rituals, and invocations, used as a guide for practitioners of magic.
Any book of esoteric knowledge, secret instructions, or a complicated manual that is mysterious or hard to understand, often with a sense of arcane or forbidden lore.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to appear in British English in historical/academic contexts about European occult history. In American English, perhaps more frequent in popular culture (fantasy genres, games).
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. Primarily found in genre fiction, historical studies of magic, and role-playing games.
Grammar
How to Use “grimoire” in a Sentence
VERB + grimoire: consult, study, decipher, possess, unlock, inscribe inADJECTIVE + grimoire: ancient, arcane, illuminated, cryptic, leather-boundVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grimoire” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The library had a distinctly grimoire-like atmosphere.
- His notes were a grimoire-esque collection of symbols.
American English
- She kept a grimoire-style journal of her dreams.
- The software's documentation was practically grimoire-level in its complexity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear metaphorically: 'The CEO's business plan was like a corporate grimoire, full of secret strategies.'
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or religious studies departments when discussing the history of magic, witchcraft, or esotericism.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by enthusiasts of fantasy, magic, or gaming.
Technical
Not used in STEM. A technical term within the study of Western esotericism and the history of magic.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grimoire”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈɡraɪ.mɔːr/ (like 'prime').
- Misspelling: 'grimoir', 'grimore'.
- Overuse in non-magical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A textbook implies systematic, academic instruction. A grimoire implies practical, often secret, instructions for performing spells and rituals, frequently with a historical or arcane aura.
Only metaphorically. Its core meaning is explicitly magical. Using it for a non-magical old book is a literary device (personification).
Historically, 'The Key of Solomon' (Clavicula Salomonis) is one of the most famous and influential. In fiction, H.P. Lovecraft's 'Necronomicon' is a well-known invented grimoire.
Broadly, yes, especially in modern Wiccan and neopagan contexts. However, some practitioners distinguish a 'Book of Shadows' as a more personal, evolving record of one's practice, while a 'grimoire' might be seen as a fixed, traditional text of spells.
A book of magical spells, rituals, and invocations, used as a guide for practitioners of magic.
Grimoire is usually formal, literary, historical, and within fantasy/supernatural contexts. in register.
Grimoire: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡrɪm.wɑː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡrɪmˈwɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word itself.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a book that makes you GRIM when you OBSERVE its dark magic. GRIM-OIRE.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A (DANGEROUS) TOOL / A BOOK IS A CONTAINER OF POWER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'grimoire' be LEAST appropriate?