necromance
Very LowLiterary, Technical (Fantasy/Occult), Figurative
Definition
Meaning
To perform necromancy; to practice magic involving communication with or raising of the dead.
To engage in dark, obscure, or seemingly magical activities relating to reviving or delving into the past; used metaphorically to describe resurrecting old ideas, trends, or technologies.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Necromance' is a back-formation from the noun 'necromancy'. As a verb, it is rare and often considered nonstandard or poetic, though it appears in modern fantasy literature and gaming contexts. It carries strong supernatural and macabre connotations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or grammatical differences. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of dark magic and communication with the dead.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora, with slight potential uptick in AmE due to fantasy/gaming subcultures.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] necromances [Object (e.g., spirit, corpse)][Subject] necromances [Prepositional Phrase (e.g., with the dead)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To necromance a dead idea”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Almost never used. Metaphorically, 'necromancing the failed project' might describe a futile revival attempt.
Academic
Rare, found in historical studies of magic, anthropology, or analyses of fantasy literature.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in role-playing games, fantasy genre writing, and occult studies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The ancient cult sought to necromance the fallen king.
- It is forbidden to necromance within the city walls.
American English
- The wizard learned to necromance spirits from old grimoires.
- They warned him not to necromance the corpses in the crypt.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'necromantic'.
American English
- No standard adjective form. Use 'necromantic'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the story, the villain tried to necromance an army.
- The game's mechanics allow certain characters to necromance fallen enemies, turning them into allies.
- The poet was accused of trying to necromance the obsolete literary style, giving it a hollow, artificial life.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a romance (ROMANCE) that is nekro- (dead), so a NEC-ROMANCE is a 'deadly romance' with spirits.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATING WITH THE DEAD IS A FORM OF DIALOGUE / REVIVING THE PAST IS SUMMONING A SPIRIT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calquing to "некромансить". The established term is "заниматься некромантией".
- Do not confuse with "романс" (romance song). The '-romance' part is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'necromance' as a common verb instead of the more standard 'practice necromancy'.
- Misspelling as 'necromence' or 'necromanse'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'necromance' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a rare back-formation from 'necromancy'. It is understood in context, especially within fantasy genres, but 'practice necromancy' is more standard.
Yes, it can metaphorically describe reviving something outdated or 'dead', like an old policy or fashion trend, often with a negative connotation of unnatural revival.
The main noun is 'necromancy'. A practitioner is a 'necromancer'.
It is pronounced similarly to 'necromancy' but without the final '-ee' sound: NEK-ruh-mans. Stress is on the first syllable.