Adjacent Words

Magic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MAG'IC, n. [L. magia; Gr. a philosopher among the Persians.]
1. The art or science of putting into action the power of spirits; or the science of producing wonderful effects by the aid of superhuman beings, or of departed spirits; sorcery; enchantment. [This art or science is now discarded.]
2. The secret operations of natural causes.
Natural magic, the application of natural causes to passive subjects, by which surprising effects are produced.magic, attributes to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets,and to the planets an influence over men.
Superstitious or geotic magic, consists in the invocation of devils or demons, and supposes some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings.
Magic square, a square figure, formed by a series of numbers in mathematical proportion, so disposed in parallel and equal ranks, as that the sums of each row or line taken perpendicularly, horizontally, or diagonally, are equal.
Magic lantern, a dioptric machine invented by Kircher, which, by means of a map in a dark room, exhibits images of objects in their distinct colors and proportions, with the appearance of life itself.
MAG'IC

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands"; "wizardly powers" [syn: charming, magic, magical, sorcerous, witching, wizard, wizardly] n
1: any art that invokes supernatural powers [syn: magic, thaumaturgy]
2: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers [syn: magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, conjuration, thaumaturgy, illusion, deception]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English magique, from Middle French, from Latin magice, from Greek magik?, feminine of magikos Magian, magical, from magos magus, sorcerer, of Iranian origin; akin to Old Persian maguš sorcerer Date: 14th century 1. a. the use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces b. magic rites or incantations 2. a. an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source b. something that seems to cast a spell ; enchantment 3. the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand II. adjective Date: 14th century 1. of or relating to magic 2. a. having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers b. giving a feeling of enchantment • magical adjective • magically adverb III. transitive verb (magicked; magicking) Date: 1906 to produce, remove, or influence by magic

Britannica Concise

Use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces. It constitutes the core of many religious systems and plays a central social role in many nonliterate cultures. Magic is often distinguished from religion as being more impersonal and mechanical and emphasizing technique. Its techniques are usually regarded as means to specific ends (an enemy's defeat, rainfall, etc.), although another view ascribes a more symbolic, expressive character to such activity. Thus, a rainmaking ritual may both elicit rainfall and stress the symbolic importance of rain and the agricultural activities associated with it. Both the magician and the magical rite are typically surrounded by taboos, purification procedures, and other activities that draw the participants into the magical sphere. Strains of magic in Western tradition, formerly associated with heretics, alchemists, witches, and sorcerers, persist in modern times in the activities of satanists and others. The art of entertaining by performing apparently magical feats (sometimes called conjuring) relies on the use of slight of hand and other means. See also ritual, shamanism, voodoo, witchcraft and sorcery.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. 1 a the supposed art of influencing the course of events by the occult control of nature or of the spirits. b witchcraft. 2 conjuring tricks. 3 an inexplicable or remarkable influence producing surprising results. 4 an enchanting quality or phenomenon. --adj. 1 of or resulting from magic. 2 producing surprising results. 3 colloq. wonderful, exciting. --v.tr. (magicked, magicking) change or create by magic, or apparently so. Phrases and idioms: like magic very rapidly. magic away cause to disappear as if by magic. magic carpet a mythical carpet able to transport a person on it to any desired place. magic eye 1 a photoelectric device used in equipment for detection, measurement, etc. 2 a small cathode-ray tube used to indicate the correct tuning of a radio receiver. magic lantern a simple form of image-projector using slides. magic mushroom a mushroom producing psilocybin. magic square a square divided into smaller squares each containing a number such that the sums of all vertical, horizontal, or diagonal rows are equal. Etymology: ME f. OF magique f. L magicus adj., LL magica n., f. Gk magikos (as MAGUS)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Magic Mag"ic, Magical Mag"ic*al, a. [L. magicus, Gr. ?, fr. ?: cf. F. magique. See Magi.] 1. Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency. 2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power; imposing or startling in performance; producing effects which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having extraordinary properties; as, a magic lantern; a magic square or circle. The painter's magic skill. --Cowper. Note: Although with certain words magic is used more than magical, -- as, magic circle, magic square, magic wand, -- we may in general say magic or magical; as, a magic or magical effect; a magic or magical influence, etc. But when the adjective is predicative, magical, and not magic, is used; as, the effect was magical. Magic circle, a series of concentric circles containing the numbers 12 to 75 in eight radii, and having somewhat similar properties to the magic square. Magic humming bird (Zo["o]l.), a Mexican humming bird (Iache magica), having white downy thing tufts. Magic lantern. See Lantern. Magic square, numbers so disposed in parallel and equal rows in the form of a square, that each row, taken vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, shall give the same sum, the same product, or an harmonical series, according as the numbers taken are in arithmetical, geometrical, or harmonical progression. Magic wand, a wand used by a magician in performing feats of magic.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Magic Mag"ic, n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. ? (sc. ?), fr. ?. See Magic, a., and Magi.] A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc. An appearance made by some magic. --Chaucer. Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural power which gave to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the planets an influence over men. Natural magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural. Superstitious, or Geotic, magic, the invocation of devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings. Syn: Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration; enchantment.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Magic Mag"ic, n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. ? (sc. ?), fr. ?. See Magic, a., and Magi.] A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc. An appearance made by some magic. --Chaucer. Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural power which gave to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the planets an influence over men. Natural magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural. Superstitious, or Geotic, magic, the invocation of devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings. Syn: Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration; enchantment.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Magic is the power to use supernatural forces to make impossible things happen, such as making people disappear or controlling events in nature. They believe in magic... Older legends say that Merlin raised the stones by magic. 2. You can use magic when you are referring to an event that is so wonderful, strange, or unexpected that it seems as if supernatural powers have caused it. You can also say that something happens as if by magic or like magic. All this was supposed to work magic... The picture will now appear, as if by magic! N-UNCOUNT 3. You use magic to describe something that does things, or appears to do things, by magic. So it's a magic potion? ...the magic ingredient that helps to keep skin looking smooth. ADJ: ADJ n 4. Magic is the art and skill of performing mysterious tricks to entertain people, for example by making things appear and disappear. His secret hobby: performing magic tricks. N-UNCOUNT: oft N n 5. If you refer to the magic of something, you mean that it has a special mysterious quality which makes it seem wonderful and exciting to you and which makes you feel happy. It infected them with some of the magic of a lost age... N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp • Magic is also an adjective. Then came those magic moments in the rose-garden. ADJ 6. If you refer to a person's magic, you mean a special talent or ability that they have, which you admire or consider very impressive. The fighter believes he can still regain some of his old magic. N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss 7. You can use expressions such as the magic number and the magic word to indicate that a number or word is the one which is significant or desirable in a particular situation. ...their quest to gain the magic number of 270 electoral votes on Election Day. ADJ: the ADJ n 8. Magic is used in expressions such as there is no magic formula and there is no magic solution to say that someone will have to make an effort to solve a problem, because it will not solve itself. There is no magic formula for producing winning products... ADJ: ADJ n, with neg 9. If you say that something is magic, you think it is very good or enjoyable. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL) It was magic–one of the best days of my life. = brilliant ADJ [approval]

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for oracular answers (Judg. 18:5, 6; Zech. 10:2). There is a remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezek. 21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph (Gen. 44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life.

All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned it.

It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi mentioned in Matt. 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical books (Acts 19:18, 19).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Sorcery, necromancy, enchantment, the black art, witchcraft. 2. Witchery, enchantment, charm, fascination. II. a.; (also magical) Necromantic.

Moby Thesaurus

Prospero, abracadabra, airiness, alchemy, allure, allurement, appearance, augury, aura, bewitchery, bewitching, bewitchment, black art, black magic, blaze of glory, brilliance, brilliancy, charisma, charm, charming, conjuring, delusiveness, demonolatry, devilry, deviltry, diablerie, diabolism, divination, divining, enchanting, enchantment, ensorcellment, entrancing, envelope, exorcism, extraordinary, fallaciousness, false appearance, false light, false show, falseness, fascinating, fascination, fetishism, glamor, glamour, glory, gramarye, halo, hocus-pocus, hoodoo, hypnotic, idealization, illusion, illusionism, illusionist, illusiveness, illustriousness, immateriality, incantation, juju, jujuism, legerdemain, luster, magian, magic act, magic show, magical, magician, magnetic, magnetism, marvelous, mesmerizing, miraculous, mumbo-jumbo, mystic, mystique, natural magic, necromancy, necromantic, nimbus, numinousness, obeah, occult, occultism, prestidigitation, prodigious, radiance, remarkable, resplendence, resplendency, rune, satanism, seeming, semblance, shamanism, shamanistic, show, simulacrum, sleight of hand, soothsaying, sorcerer, sorcerous, sorcery, sortilege, specious appearance, spell, spellbinding, spellcasting, splendor, stupendous, sympathetic magic, thaumaturgia, thaumaturgics, thaumaturgism, thaumaturgy, theurgy, trickery, unactuality, unbelievable, unprecedented, unreality, unsubstantiality, vampirism, voodoo, voodooism, wanga, white magic, witchcraft, witchery, witching, witchwork, witchy, wizardly, wizardry