Conjuration has several meanings: an invocation or magical spell, an effect attributed to such a spell, a solemn appeal, or—in a less common sense—the practice of conjuring tricks. This guide focuses on the word’s meanings and history, including its theatrical use; it does not treat historical or religious accounts of supernatural practice as proof that such effects occur.
What does conjuration mean?
The meaning depends on context. Dictionary.com lists uses ranging from calling on a sacred name and performing an incantation to making a solemn entreaty. It also gives a supernatural effect attributed to invocation or spell, and the practice of legerdemain—conjuring tricks. Dictionary.com’s entry for “conjuration” includes both American and British senses; the British entry describes “magic spell; incantation,” a less common word for conjuring, and an archaic sense of supplication or entreaty.
| Sense | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| Invocation | Calling on or invoking a sacred name. |
| Spell or incantation | Words or a charm understood within a magical or religious framework as an attempt to bring about an effect. |
| Claimed supernatural effect | An extraordinary result attributed to invocation or a spell; the word describes the attribution, not proof that the effect occurred. |
| Stage conjuring | Tricks and illusions performed for an audience, with or without apparatus. |
| Solemn appeal | A supplication or entreaty, including an archaic usage. |
What is the difference between conjuration and conjuring?
Conjuration is a noun with several related senses, including invocation, spell, and solemn appeal. Conjuring commonly refers to the performance of tricks and illusions. In that theatrical sense, the distinction is not simply between two names for the same supernatural practice: the performer presents an effect as entertainment, while invocation and spell senses belong to religious, magical, or historical descriptions.
A 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica entry defines conjuring as tricks and illusions, with or without apparatus. It distinguishes effects relying on manual dexterity—also called legerdemain, prestidigitation, or sleight of hand—from those using apparatus. The 1911 entry on conjuring is a historical account of performance terminology, not a current technical standard.
Recommended Free Tools
Where does the word conjuration come from?
Dictionary.com traces conjuration through Middle English conjuracioun to Latin conjūrātiō, from conjūrāre, “to swear together.” That root connects the word’s solemn or binding tone with its later senses of invocation and magical command. The word’s history helps explain the family of meanings, but it does not make those meanings interchangeable.
When did conjuring become a theatrical art?
Ricky Jay’s Encyclopaedia Britannica entry, reproduced by PBS, notes: “The words conjuring and magic had no theatrical significance until the end of the 18th century.” This dates the theatrical use of those terms, not the beginning of every trick, performance, or belief associated with magic. PBS reproduces Jay’s reference entry, which is copyright 2011.
How should conjuration be understood in accounts of witchcraft?
Historical sources may describe spells, invocations, or ceremonies as attempts to summon spirits or produce extraordinary effects. For example, an 1853–60 Encyclopædia Britannica definition describes conjuration as using magical words, characters, or ceremonies to expel spirits, calm storms, or perform extraordinary acts. That is a period description of what people believed or claimed—not neutral evidence that such outcomes happened. The 1853–60 definition should be read in its historical context.
Witchcraft scholarship does not reduce these beliefs and accusations to one universal explanation. Nancy Mandeville Caciola’s 2015 Oxford Bibliographies entry places the main European witch hunts in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and describes the formation of the witch image in earlier centuries. It notes that scholars draw on trial records, theological writing, grimoires, folklore, elite medical theory, demonology, and other sources, while continuing to debate how witchcraft accusations developed. Caciola’s overview of witchcraft scholarship concerns European history and should not be generalized to every culture or practice called conjuration.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFurther reading on stage conjuring
For readers interested specifically in performance, the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica entry names Professor Louis Hoffmann’s Modern Magic among works on the art. It is a historical further-reading suggestion, not a claim about the availability or contents of current editions.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
