Editor's Corner

Hello my Halloween witches and warlocks. As promised, I have another word I discovered when looking up the word sigil. Todays word is grimoire.

I know a lot of people love that suave French accent, but this word sounds a little creepy. Im going to delve deeper and see what Wikipedia and the Online Etymology Dictionary have to say. First, from Wikipedia:

A grimoire (also known as a "book of spells", "magic book", or a "spellbook") is a textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, charms, and divination, and how to summon or invoke supernatural entities such as angels, spirits, deities, and demons. In many cases, the books themselves are believed to be imbued with magical powers. The only contents found in a grimoire would be information on spells, rituals, the preparation of magical tools, and lists of ingredients and their magical correspondences.

The article has so many links and a lot to say about books of magic across the world. If you want something to do while you prepare for Halloween, you can read about magic. And now from the Online Etymology Dictionary:

grimoire (n.)

magician’s manual for invoking demons, 1849, from French grimoire, altered from grammaire "incantation; grammar" (see grammar).

grammar (n.)

late 14c., "Latin grammar, rules of Latin," from Old French gramaire "grammar; learning," especially Latin and philology, also "(magic) incantation, spells, mumbo-jumbo" (12c., Modern French grammaire), an "irregular semi-popular adoption" of Latin grammatica "grammar, philology," perhaps via an unrecorded Medieval Latin form *grammaria.

The classical Latin word is from Greek grammatike (tekhn "(art) of letters," referring both to philology and to literature in the broadest sense, fem. of grammatikos (adj.) "pertaining to or versed in letters or learning," from gramma "letter.

A much broader word in Latin and Greek; restriction of the meaning to "systematic account of the rules and usages of language" is a post-classical development.

Ohh. Grimoire and grammar? Perhaps that explains the fear some people have when they approach the subject of language?

And two more words from the articles above, with definitions from Merriam-Webster.

talisman (noun)

1: an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune

2: something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

amulet (noun)

: a charm (such as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil (such as disease or witchcraft)

Stay safe!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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