Forms: α. 4 sorceri, 4–7 sorcerie, 4, 6 sorcerye, 4– sorcery; 4 sorsory(e, 4–6 sorserye, 5 sors(s)ery, sorsry, -rie. β. 5 socerye, 5–6 socery, 6 sossery, -rie. [a. OF. sorcerie (f. sorcier SORCER), or ad. med.L. sorceria. So MDu. sorcerie, sorserie.]
1. The use of magic or enchantment; the practice of magic arts; witchcraft.
α. a. 1300. Cursor M., 29255. Crists enemy, þat wiche-craft or sorceri Dos wit ani halud thing.
13[?]. K. Alis., 478 (Laud MS.). Þat ilk niȝth, Neptenabus Made so stronge sorcerye.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 340. If he were al refreynit by siknes, or by malefice of sorserye.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 199. He … beleuyd swenys and sorsrie.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, II. iii. 79. By enchauntement and sorssery she hath ben the destroyer of many good knyghtes.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., I ij b. A seruaunte of the Dukes was sodainly accused … of poysonyng, sorcery, or inchauntment.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. i. 15. To quittance their deceite, Contriu’d by Art, and balefull Sorcerie.
1628. Coke, On Litt., III. vi. A man was taken in Southwark … with a Book of Sorcery in his Male and was brought into the Kings-Bench.
1844. Emerson, Misc. P., Tantalus, Wks. (Bohn), III. 322. Alas! the same sorcery has spoiled his skill; no syllable can he shape on his lips.
1878. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 90. The queen dowager was accused … of an attempt to destroy the king by sorcery.
β. c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxvi. 129. That may be done thrugh socery.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, l. 6. His mother was ane Farie Queyne, Gottin be sossery.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 11. Curis … in the which they … use socery and which crafte.
1568. Lauder, Lam. Pure, 33. Now mony vsis Sosserie.
b. pl. Separate forms or instances of this.
1357. Lay Folks Catech. (1901), 34. Al mawmetries, Al fals enchaunmentez, and al sorceries.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 8. The advoyding of sorceryes, witchecrafte, and other inconveniencies.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr. (1886), 267. Thereby Ulysses escaped Circes hir sorceries and inchantments.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magic, II. vii. 201. Simon Magus was eminent for miraculous sorceries.
1671. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 279. Whether she uses any manner of charmes, sorceries, or magic whatever.
1741–2. Gray, Agrippina, 171. Sorceries, Assassinations, poisonings.
2. transf. and fig.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 156. I am not surprised with the incantations and sorceries of vaine glorie.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, 12 b. What drugs, what sorceries, what oiles,… doe our curious Dames vse to inlarge our withered beauties?
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 566. Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie: Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm Pain for a while.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. vi. It is possible, the greatness of this man … might, with most legitimate sorcery, fascinate the volatile Queen.
1880. ‘Ouida,’ Moths, III. 262. Personal beauty is a rare sorcery.
