Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To summon (a devil or spirit) by magical or supernatural power.
  • intransitive verb To influence or effect by or as if by magic.
  • intransitive verb To call or bring to mind; evoke.
  • intransitive verb To imagine; picture.
  • intransitive verb Archaic To call on or entreat solemnly, especially by an oath.
  • intransitive verb To perform magic tricks, especially by sleight of hand.
  • intransitive verb To summon a devil by magic or supernatural power.
  • intransitive verb To practice black magic.
  • adjective Of or practicing folk magic.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • (kon-jör′ ). To swear together; band together under oath; conspire; plot.
  • (kun′ jėr). To practise the arts of a conjurer; use arts to engage, or as if to engage, the aid of supernatural agents or elements in performing some extraordinary act.
  • (kon-jör′ ). To call on or summon by a sacred name or in a solemn manner; implore with solemnity; adjure; solemnly entreat.
  • (kun′ jėr). To affect or effect by magic or enchantment; procure or bring about by practising the arts of a conjurer.
  • (kun′ jėr). To call or raise up or bring into existence by conjuring, or as if by conjuring: with up: as, to conjure up a phantom.
  • Synonyms See list under adjure.
  • To charm, enchant.
  • To exorcise or ‘lay’; quiet; allay.
  • noun Conjuration; enchantment.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To call on or summon by a sacred name or in solemn manner; to implore earnestly; to adjure.
  • intransitive verb To practice magical arts; to use the tricks of a conjurer; to juggle; to charm.
  • transitive verb To affect or effect by conjuration; to call forth or send away by magic arts; to excite or alter, as if by magic or by the aid of supernatural powers.
  • transitive verb or make visible, as a spirit, by magic arts; hence, to invent.
  • intransitive verb A Latinism To combine together by an oath; to conspire; to confederate.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To perform magic tricks.
  • verb transitive To summon up using supernatural power, as a devil
  • verb intransitive To practice black magic.
  • verb transitive To evoke.
  • verb transitive To imagine or picture in the mind.
  • verb transitive To make an urgent request to; to appeal to or beseech.
  • verb intransitive, obsolete To conspire or plot.
  • noun African American Vernacular A practice of magic; hoodoo; conjuration.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
  • verb engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
  • verb ask for or request earnestly

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English conjuren, from Old French conjurer, to use a spell, from Late Latin coniūrāre, to pray by something holy, from Latin, to swear together : com-, com- + iūrāre, to swear; see yewes- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English, from Old French conjurer, from Latin coniūrō ("I swear together; conspire"), from con- ("with, together") + iūro ("I swear or take an oath").

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Examples

  • We can let Charlotte and Lois and Elvira loose in the kitchen, and they can conjure up some scrambled eggs and toast for everyone, she said, inwardly wincing at even uttering the word conjure.

    Dragon Warrior Janet Chapman 2010

  • We can let Charlotte and Lois and Elvira loose in the kitchen, and they can conjure up some scrambled eggs and toast for everyone, she said, inwardly wincing at even uttering the word conjure.

    Dragon Warrior Janet Chapman 2010

  • We can let Charlotte and Lois and Elvira loose in the kitchen, and they can conjure up some scrambled eggs and toast for everyone, she said, inwardly wincing at even uttering the word conjure.

    Dragon Warrior Janet Chapman 2010

  • We can let Charlotte and Lois and Elvira loose in the kitchen, and they can conjure up some scrambled eggs and toast for everyone, she said, inwardly wincing at even uttering the word conjure.

    Dragon Warrior Janet Chapman 2010

  • Except for the die-hards, what attributes does the name conjure up?

    Archive 2007-10-01 2007

  • The esteemed Bentley name, like that of Rolls-Royce, is world renowned for a tradition of excellence in automobiles that stretches back to 1919 -- but what did the name conjure up in today's new-age, and somewhat greener-in-its approach, guilt-laden auto world?

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • Jopling's first became a name to conjure with outside the stylish art world once he began being photographed at high society parties, invariably accessorised with trendy black-framed glasses and his vivacious former wife, Sam Taylor-Wood.

    Jay Jopling: portrait of the perfect gallerist | profile 2011

  • William deMille was now a name to conjure with in the American theater.

    Empire of Dreams Scott Eyman 2010

  • To the uninitiated, the name may conjure up images of cuddly warm fur, but to many Philadelphia restaurateurs, it evokes bullhorns, shouting and intimidation.

    The Foie Gras Wars Mark Caro 2009

  • To the uninitiated, the name may conjure up images of cuddly warm fur, but to many Philadelphia restaurateurs, it evokes bullhorns, shouting and intimidation.

    The Foie Gras Wars Mark Caro 2009

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