conjure
Work folk magic, charms, or faith healing the old mountain way.
Updated September 21, 2026
conjure pronunciation
/KAHN-jer/
Meaning
In Southern and Appalachian talk, to conjure is to work on something with charms, prayer, or other folk power, not stage tricks. A conjure woman or granny might take a wart off, settle a hex scare, or try to heal what the doctor is too far to reach. In some hollers conjuring means Christian faith healing with no herbs in hand. Elsewhere it overlaps rootwork and hoodoo. Regular English also uses conjure for summoning or inventing an idea, but on the porch it often means that mountain magic talk.
How folks use it
- “Old Miss Hattie could conjure a wart off your hand before supper.”
- “Don't mess with that. Somebody'll conjure you if you keep talking that way.”
Origin and etymology
From older English and French roots meaning to swear an oath or call on supernatural power. In the American South the word settled into folk practice: Appalachian faith healers and granny women, African American conjure and rootwork, and mixed mountain traditions. Exact customs vary by community. Movie "conjuring" as horror is a different vibe from most local use.
Frequently asked questions
Is conjure the same as witchcraft?
Outsiders often say yes. Plenty of mountain practitioners say no. They frame it as faith healing or charm work, not devil worship.