WOTD: Theurgy

Noun)

Pronunciation: ['thee-êr-jee] Listen

Definition: White magic, the conjuring of beneficent gods or supernatural powers to do one's bidding; divine intervention.

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Usage: The adjective is "theurgic(al)" and the adverb is "theurgically." Not to be confused with "theology," the study of God and religion.

Suggested Usage: Here is a term we can use to indicate extremely difficult circumstances: "It would take an act of theurgy to get François to change his mind." Remember, this same word may refer to an appeal to the gods, "I've tried everything short of theurgy to keep the leaves out of my gutters; nothing seems to work." Keep in mind that the appeal has to be for good.

Etymology: Late Latin theurgia, from Late Greek theourgia, from theourgos "miracle worker," itself based on Greek theos "god" + ergon "work." The etymology of "theos" is beclouded. It does not seem related to Latin deus "god" bur rather to feriae "holidays" (whence our "fair") and festus "festive," which led to "feast" and "fete." ("Fete" is from French fête where the [ê] indicates the loss of an earlier [s], e.g. bête noir "black beast.") "Theos" also underlies English "atheism" and "enthusiasm." "Ergon" goes back to an earlier *werg- which produced German Werk "work, factory" and English "work," the origin of wright "worker," as in "playwright, cartwright, shipwright" and the wrought "worked, made" of "wrought iron."

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