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magic

Pronunciation: /ˈmad͡ʒɪk/

The English word “magic” has 15 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. The application of rituals or actions, especially those based on occult knowledge, to subdue or manipulate natural or supernatural beings and forces in order to have some benefit from them.
  2. The supernatural forces which are drawn on in such a ritual.
  3. A specific ritual or procedure associated with such magic; a spell; a magical ability.
  4. The ability to cast a magic spell.
  5. Something producing successful and remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.
  6. Complicated or esoteric code that is not expected to be generally understood.
  7. The art or practice of performing conjuring tricks and illusions to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.
  8. One such conjuring trick or illusion.

adjective

  1. Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.
  2. Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic.
  3. Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.
  4. Great; excellent.
  5. Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.
  6. Being a literal number or string value with no meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable

verb

  1. To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.

Etymology

From Middle English magik, magyk, from Old French magique (noun and adjective), from Latin magicus (adjective), magica (noun use of feminine form of magicus), from Ancient Greek μαγικός (magikós, “magical”), from μάγος (mágos, “magus”). Ultimately from Old Iranian, probably derived from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂gʰ- (“to be able to, to help; power, sorcerer”). Displaced Old English ġealdor (whence…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.