/maj"ik/ , n.
1. the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring: to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic.
2. the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature. Cf. contagious magic, imitative magic, sympathetic magic .
3. the use of this art: Magic, it was believed, could drive illness from the body.
4. the effects produced: the magic of recovery.
5. power or influence exerted through this art: a wizard of great magic.
6. any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm, power, etc.: the magic in a great name; the magic of music; the magic of spring.
7. ( cap. ) the U.S. code name for information from decrypting machine-enciphered Japanese wireless messages before and during World War II.
adj.
8. employed in magic: magic spells; magic dances; magic rites.
9. mysteriously enchanting; magical: magic beauty.
10. of, pertaining to, or due to magic.
11. producing the effects of magic; magical: a magic touch.
[ 1350-1400; ME magik ( e ) witchcraft magica, L magice magiké, n. use of fem. of magikós. See MAGUS, -IC ]
Syn. 2. enchantment. MAGIC, NECROMANCY, SORCERY, WITCHCRAFT imply producing results through mysterious influences or unexplained powers. MAGIC may have glamorous and attractive connotations; the other terms suggest the harmful and sinister. MAGIC is an art employing some occult force of nature: A hundred years ago television would have seemed to be magic.
NECROMANCY is an art of prediction based on alleged communication with the dead (it is called "the black art," because Greek nekrós, dead, was confused with Latin niger, black): Necromancy led to violating graves. SORCERY, originally divination by casting lots, came to mean supernatural knowledge gained through the aid of evil spirits, and often used for evil ends: spells and charms used in sorcery. WITCHCRAFT esp. suggests a malign kind of magic, often used against innocent victims: Those accused of witchcraft were executed.