Conjurings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of invoking or summoning supernatural entities or forces through ritualistic practices
2. A series of magical performances or tricks intended to entertain an audience or create the illusion of the impossible
3. The process of calling upon spirits or using spells to influence outcomes, often associated with folklore and mysticism

Etymology: "Conjurings" is simply the plural of "conjuring," so its history is that of the noun "conjuring," which is the gerund-derived form of the verb "conjure." That verb entered English through Old French "conjurer" from Latin "coniurare," meaning to swear together or to band together by oath. The sense of binding people by a solemn promise carried over into the notion of summoning spirits by a formal incantation, and from there into the idea of producing something out of thin air. The modern stage sense grew out of that older magic. A performer who "conjures" a coin or a dove is, in the original logic of the word, pretending to command something that should not obey. The plural form marks a whole program of such acts rather than a single trick, which is why the word is so often used for an evening's entertainment.

Synonyms: summonings, invocations