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67 definitions found


  MAGIC, n.  An art of converting superstition into coin.  There are
  other arts serving the same high purpose, but the discreet
  lexicographer does not name them.

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary : [ easton ]


  Magic
     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).

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) : [ foldoc ]


  MAGIC
       
          An early system on the Midac computer.
       
          [Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)].
       
          [{Jargon File]
       
          (1995-01-25)

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) : [ foldoc ]


  magic
       
          1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; compare
          automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law:
       
          	Any sufficiently advanced technology is
          	indistinguishable from magic.
       
          "TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits."
          "This routine magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte
          in three instructions."
       
          2. Characteristic of something that works although no one
          really understands why (this is especially called black
          magic).
       
          3. (Stanford) A feature not generally publicised that allows
          something otherwise impossible or a feature formerly in that
          category but now unveiled.
       
          Compare wizardly, deep magic, heavy wizardry.
       
          For more about hackish "magic" see Magic Switch Story.
       
          4. magic number.
       
          [{Jargon File]
       
          (2001-03-19)

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman
        agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or
        sorcery; as, a magical spell. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The painter's magic skill.            --Cowper.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Magic \Mag"ic\, n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. ? (sc. ?), fr.
     ?. See Magic, a., and Magi.]
     1. 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              An appearance made by some magic.     --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The art of creating illusions which appear to the observer
        to be inexplicable except by some supernatural influence;
        it includes simple sleight of hand (legerdemain) as well
        as more elaborate stage magic, using special devices
        constructed to produce mystifying effects; as, the magic
        of David Copperfield. It is practised as an entertainment,
        by magicians who do not pretend to have supernatural
        powers.
        [PJC]
  
     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 magic, or Geotic magic, the invocation of
        devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit
        or express agreement between them and human beings.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration;
          enchantment.
          [1913 Webster]

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) : [ jargon ]


  magic 1. adj. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain;
     compare automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law: "Any
     sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "TTY
     echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits." "This routine
     magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte in three instructions."
     2. adj. Characteristic of something that works although no one really
     understands why (this is especially called black magic). 3. n.
     [Stanford] A feature not generally publicized that allows something
     otherwise impossible, or a feature formerly in that category but now
     unveiled. 4. n. The ultimate goal of all engineering & development,
     elegance in the extreme; from the first corollary to Clarke's Third Law:
     "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced".
  
     Parodies playing on these senses of the term abound; some have made
     their way into serious documentation, as when a MAGIC directive was
     described in the Control Card Reference for GCOS c.1978. For more about
     hackish `magic', see Appendix A. Compare black magic, wizardly,
     deep magic, heavy wizardry.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  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.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 : [ wn ]


  magic
       adj : 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, magical, sorcerous, witching(a),
              wizard(a), wizardly]
       n 1: any art that invokes supernatural powers
       2: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
          [syn: magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, legerdemain,
           conjuration, illusion, deception]

From Greek Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-el-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     Αγγλικά a.
     1 μαγικός
     2 ταχυδακτυλουργικός
     3 μαγευτικός
     Αγγλικά n.
     1 η μαγεία
     2 μια μαγική τελετή
     3 ένα μαγικό τρικ που δίνει την ψευδαίσθηση της μαγείας
     4 (μτφρ) μαγεία, κάτι ακατανόητο ή εντυπωσιακό, μαγευτικό

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     Occitan a.
     (l en magic), magical
     Romanian a.
     (l en magic)

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  Magic
     n.
     An Allied cryptanalysis project, during and prior to World War II,
  that decrypted Japanese messages.

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  MAGIC
     n.
     (initialism of en magnetism-based interaction capture)

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     a.
     1 Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to
  magic. (from 14th c.)
     2 Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of
  magic. (from 17th c.)
     3 Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for
  entertainment etc. (from 19th c.)
     4 (lb en colloquial) Great; excellent. (from 20th c.)
     5 (lb en physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly
  stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184. (from 20th
  c.)
     6 (lb en programming) Being a literal number or string value with no
  meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable (from 20th c.)
     alt.
     1 Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to
  magic. (from 14th c.)
     2 Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of
  magic. (from 17th c.)
     3 Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for
  entertainment etc. (from 19th c.)
     4 (lb en colloquial) Great; excellent. (from 20th c.)
     5 (lb en physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly
  stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184. (from 20th
  c.)
     6 (lb en programming) Being a literal number or string value with no
  meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable (from 20th c.)
     n.
     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. (from 14th c.)
     vb.
     (lb en transitive) To produce, transform (something), (as if) by
  magic. (from 20th c.)

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]


  Magic
     n.
     An Allied cryptanalysis project, during and prior to World War II,
  that decrypted Japanese messages.

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]


  MAGIC
     n.
     (initialism of en magnetism-based interaction capture)

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     Romanian a.
     (l en magic)

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]


  Magic
     n.
     An Allied cryptanalysis project, during and prior to World War II,
  that decrypted Japanese messages.

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]


  MAGIC
     n.
     (initialism of en magnetism-based interaction capture)

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     a.
     1 Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to
  magic. (from 14th c.)
     2 Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of
  magic. (from 17th c.)
     3 Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for
  entertainment etc. (from 19th c.)
     4 (lb en colloquial) Great; excellent. (from 20th c.)
     5 (lb en physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly
  stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184. (from 20th
  c.)
     6 (lb en programming) Being a literal number or string value with no
  meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable (from 20th c.)
     alt.
     1 Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to
  magic. (from 14th c.)
     2 Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of
  magic. (from 17th c.)
     3 Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for
  entertainment etc. (from 19th c.)
     4 (lb en colloquial) Great; excellent. (from 20th c.)
     5 (lb en physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly
  stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184. (from 20th
  c.)
     6 (lb en programming) Being a literal number or string value with no
  meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable (from 20th c.)
     n.
     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. (from 14th c.)
     vb.
     (lb en transitive) To produce, transform (something), (as if) by
  magic. (from 20th c.)

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]


  Magic
     n.
     An Allied cryptanalysis project, during and prior to World War II,
  that decrypted Japanese messages.

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]


  MAGIC
     n.
     (initialism of en magnetism-based interaction capture)

From Finnish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-fi-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     Englanti a.
     maaginen, taika-
     Englanti n.
     taikuus, magia
     Englanti vb.
     taikoa

From Swedish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-sv-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  magic
     Engelska a.
     magisk
     Engelska n.
     magi, trolleri

From English-Afrikaans FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.1.3 : [ freedict:eng-afr ]


  magic /mˈadʒɪk/
  tower‐

From English-Arabic FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.6.3 : [ freedict:eng-ara ]


  Magic /mˈadʒɪk/
  سحر

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  magic //ˈmad͡ʒɪk// //ˈmæd͡ʒɪk// 
  магически
  having supernatural talents, properties or qualities

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  magic //ˈmad͡ʒɪk// //ˈmæd͡ʒɪk// 
  1. магьо́сничество, магия
  ritual associated with supernatural magic or mysticism
  2. вълшебство́, ма́гия, магьо́сничество
  use of supernatural rituals, forces etc.