thaumaturgy
noun
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Thaumaturgy Has Greek Roots
The magic of thaumaturgy is miraculous. The word, from a Greek word meaning "miracle working," is applicable to any performance of miracles, especially by incantation. It can also be used of things that merely seem miraculous and unexplainable, like the thaumaturgy of a motion picture's illusions (aka "movie magic"), or the thaumaturgy at work in an athletic team's "miracle" comeback. In addition to thaumaturgy, we also have thaumaturge and thaumaturgist, both of which mean "a performer of miracles" or "a magician," and the adjective thaumaturgic, meaning "performing miracles" or "of, relating to, or dependent on thaumaturgy."
Synonyms
- bewitchery
- bewitchment
- conjuring
- devilry
- deviltry
- diablerie
- enchantment
- ensorcellment
- magic
- mojo
- necromancy
- sorcery
- voodooism
- witchcraft
- witchery
- wizardry
Example Sentences
Word History
borrowed from Late Greek thaumatourgía "working of wonders or miracles," going back to Greek, "performance of wonders (as conjuring tricks or acrobatics)," from thaumatourgós "performer of wonders (as an acrobat)" + -ia -y entry 2 — more at thaumaturge
circa 1727, in the meaning defined above
thaumaturgy
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sorcery
- witchcraft
- magic
- necromancy
- wizardry
- enchantment
- witchery
- conjuring
- bewitchment
- diablerie
- mojo
- devilry
- deviltry
- alchemy
- incantation
- voodooism
- divination
- bewitchery
- conjuration
- talisman
- amulet
- spell
- divining
- occultism
- spiritualism
- sortilege
- ensorcellment
- abracadabra
- curse
- glamour
- phylactery
- soothsaying
- charm
- fetish
- forecasting
- fetich
- augur
- exorcism
- jinx
- glamor
- prophesying
- predicting
- augury
- presaging
- foretelling
- mascot
- hoodoo
- foreseeing
- foreknowing
- periapt
- prognosticating
- omen
- crystal gazing
- hex
- fortune-telling
- hexerei
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- science