different between abracadabra vs incantation

English

Etymology

From Late Latin abracadabra, a word used in magical writings, of uncertain origin. Relationships have been suggested with Abraxas (a Gnostic deity), and with various Aramaic or Hebrew terms ???? ?????? (avra kedavra, literally “what was said has come to pass”), ??????? ?????????? (avda kedavara, literally “what was said has been done”); ????-???-????? (arba-e?ad-arba, literally “four-one-four”), but there is little supporting evidence.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ab??k??dab??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?æ.b??.k??dæ.b??/

Noun

abracadabra (plural abracadabras)

1. A use of the mystical term ‘abracadabra’, supposed to work as part of a healing charm or a magical spell; any spell or incantation making use of the word. [from 16th c.]
2. Mumbo-jumbo; obscure language or technicalities; jargon. [from 19th c.]

Translations

Interjection

abracadabra

1. Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed. [from 19th c.]

   Synonym: hey presto

Translations

Further reading

• abracadabra at OneLook Dictionary Search

References

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.b?a.ka.da.b?a/

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra

Derived terms

• abracadabrant

Noun

abracadabra m (plural abracadabras)

1. An unspecified magical formula.
2. (historical) A mystical word from kabbalism.

Further reading

• “abracadabra” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Portuguese

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed)

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ab?aka?dab?a/, [a.???a.ka?ð?a.???a]

Interjection

abracadabra

1. abracadabra

Usage notes

The Royal Spanish Academy notes that this is masculine, cf. other words of Greek origin that end in -a, such as diploma or idioma. They furthermore consider it a noun.

Further reading

• “abracadabra” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.

English

Alternative forms

• encantation

Etymology

From Old French incantation, from Latin incantatio. More at enchant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /inkæn?te???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

incantation (plural incantations)

1. The act or process of using formulas and/or usually rhyming words, sung or spoken, with occult ceremonies, for the purpose of raising spirits, producing enchantment, or creating other magical results.
2. A formula of words used as above.
3. (computing, slang) Any esoteric command or procedure.
   • 1998, John Purcell, Robert Kiesling, Linux: The Complete Reference: Book 1 (page 412)

     The appropriate incantation of route is shown below; the gw keyword tells it that the next argument denotes a gateway.

   • 2017, James Pogran, Learning PowerShell DSC (page 11)

     Servers move from being special snowflakes to being disposable numbers on a list that can be created and destroyed without requiring someone to remember the specific incantation to make it work.

Related terms

• incanter

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin incant?ti?. Synchronically analysable as incanter +? -ation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.k??.ta.sj??/

Noun

incantation f (plural incantations)

1. incantation

Related terms

• enchanter

Further reading

• “incantation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).