The practice of magic, especially black magic or the use of supernatural powers. Often associated with witchcraft and the casting of spells.
From Old French sorcerie, from sorcier meaning 'sorcerer,' ultimately from Latin sortiarius meaning 'one who casts lots.' The connection to 'lots' reflects ancient divination practices using randomly drawn objects to predict the future.
Sorcery originally meant fortune-telling by casting lots or dice - a surprisingly mundane origin for such a mystical word. The evolution from 'lot-casting' to 'magic' shows how practices once considered legitimate divination became viewed as supernatural manipulation.
Witch-hunts (1400s-1700s) disproportionately targeted women, with 80% of accused being female. 'Sorcery' and 'witchcraft' became gendered terms conflating female autonomy with evil, justifying violence.
Use 'magic', 'occult practice', or 'spell-casting' when discussing historical or fictional systems neutrally. Acknowledge gender-targeted violence when contextualizing witch trials.
["magic","occult practice","spell-casting"]
Many accused 'witches' were healers, midwives, and herbalists—women with knowledge and economic independence. Their persecution erased female expertise and medicalized childbirth under male control.
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