magic

mag·ic (m

1. The art that purports to control or forecast natural events, effects, or forces by invoking the supernatural.

a. The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature.

b. The charms, spells, and rituals so used.

3. The exercise of sleight of hand or conjuring for entertainment.

4. A mysterious quality of enchantment: "For me the names of those men breathed the magic of the past" Max Beerbohm.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or invoking the supernatural: "stubborn unlaid ghost/That breaks his magic chains at curfew time" John Milton.

2. Possessing distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects.

tr.v. mag·icked, mag·ick·ing, mag·ics

To produce or make by or as if by magic.

[Middle English magik, from Old French magique, from Late Latin magica, from Latin magic, from Greek magik, from feminine of magikos, of the Magi, magical, from magos, magician, magus; see magus.]

magic

Noun

1. the supposed power to make things happen by using supernatural means

2. tricks done to entertain; conjuring

3. any mysterious or extraordinary quality or power: the magic of Placido Domingo

4. like magic very quickly

Adjective

also magical

1. of magic

2. possessing or considered to possess mysterious powers

3. unaccountably enchanting

4. Informal wonderful or marvellous

Verb

[-icking, -icked]

to transform or produce as if by magic: he had magicked up a gourmet meal at a moment's notice [Greek magikē witchcraft]

magically adv

Magic

abracadabrism

a reliance upon incantations or charms, often inscribed upon amulets, to ward off calamity. — abracadabra, n.

apotropaism

the acting out of magic rites or the recital of incantatory formulas to ward off evil. — apotropaic, adj.

demonomagy

Obsolete. forms of magic that require the invocation or assistance of demons.

illusionist

a conjurer or magician who creates illusions, as by sleight of hand.

jujuism

an African variety of magical fetishism characterized by the wearing of an exotic amulet called a juju. — jujuist, n.

legerdemain

skill in or practice of feats of dexterity that create a magical illusion. — legerdemainist, n.

metamorphosis

1. change in form, structure, appearance, etc.
2. magical transformation. — metamorphic, metamorphous, adj.

obeahism

1. a kind of sorcery practiced by the black people of Africa, the West Indies, and elsewhere. Also called obi, obism.
2. the wearing of an obeah, a fetish or charm. Also called obi.

powwowism

the belief among American Indians that a ceremony characterized by magic, feasting, and dancing can cure disease, ensure the success of a hunt or battle, etc. — powwow, n.

prestidigitation

the art of legerdemain; sleight of hand. — prestidigitator, n. — prestidigitatorial, prestidigitatory, adj.

pretematuralism

a condition of being exceptional or bizarre, beyond the realm of the ordinary course of nature. — preternatural, adj.

sorcery

the art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery. — sorcerer, n. — sorcerous, adj.

sortilege

a form of divination involving drawing lots.

supernaturalism

1. the condition or quality of existing outside the known experience of man or caused by forces beyond those of nature.
2. belief in supernatural events or forces. Also supranaturalism. — supernaturalist, n., adj. — supernatural, supernaturalistic, adj.

supranaturalism

supematuralism. — supranaturalist, n., adj. — supranatural, supranaturalistic, adj.

synecdochism

the belief that a part of a person or object can act in place of the whole and thus that anything done to the part will equally affect the whole.

thaumaturgism

the quality of being able to perform magie. — thaumaturgist, n. — thaumaturgic, adj. — thaumaturgy, n.

theurgist

a magician who persuades or compels a supernatural being to do or refrain from doing something. — theurgy, n. — theurgic, theurgical, adj.

voodooism, voudouism

1. the religious rites or practices, including magie or sorcery, of certain West Indian black people.
2. the practice of sorcery. — voodooist, n.

warlockry

Archaic. sorcery; the craft or practice of a warlock.

witchery

witchcraft or sorcery.

wizardry

the art or practice of a wizard; sorcery; magic. — wizard, n., adj.

Zendicism

Middle East. 1. the practice of atheism.
2. the practice of heretical magie, especially with fire. — Zendic, Zendik, n. — Zendaic, adj.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	magic - any art that invokes supernatural powers thaumaturgy supernaturalism - a belief in forces beyond ordinary human understanding juju - the power associated with a juju mojo - a magic power or magic spell conjuring, conjury, conjuration, invocation - calling up a spirit or devil black art, black magic, necromancy, sorcery - the belief in magical spells that harness occult forces or evil spirits to produce unnatural effects in the world white magic - magic used only for good purposes
	2.	magic - an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers legerdemain, magic trick, conjuring trick, thaumaturgy, deception, conjuration, illusion, trick performance - the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment; "we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal"; "an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto" card trick - a trick performed with playing cards prestidigitation, sleight of hand - manual dexterity in the execution of tricks
Adj.	1.	magic - 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" magical, sorcerous, witching, wizard, wizardly, charming supernatural - not existing in nature or subject to explanation according to natural laws; not physical or material; "supernatural forces and occurrences and beings"