magic means having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic. It carries an Arena rating of 1670, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, magic ranks #44 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,317 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,313 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #6,483 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words.
magic is pronounced /ˈmad͡ʒɪk/.
Why “magic” is a great word
Having, using, or producing effects that appear to be supernatural or that defy ordinary explanation. From Old French *magique*, from Latin *magicus*, from Greek *magikos*, pertaining to the *magos* (a member of a priestly class of ancient Persia, a sorcerer), from Old Persian *maguš*; first attested in English as an adjective in the late 14th century. Unlike "science" (which denotes systematic knowledge of the physical world gained through observation, experiment, and testable explanation) or "conjuring" (which is the performance art of sleight-of-hand for entertainment), magic is the stubborn residue of wonder that refuses rationalization. It is the tremor in the air before a storm breaks its own rules, the impossible bloom of light from an empty hand, the whispered word that makes a locked door sigh open—the quiet, persistent rumor that the world is softer and more permeable than it claims to be.
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 Middle English galder) and dwimmer.
adj
- Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.e.g.“a magic wand”
- Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic.e.g.“a magic moment”
- Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.e.g.“a magic show”
- Great; excellent.e.g.“I cleaned up the flat while you were out. —Really? Magic!”
- Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.
- Being a literal number or string value with no meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variablee.g.“The code is full of magic numbers and we can't figure out what they mean.”
name
- An Allied cryptanalysis project, during and prior to World War II, that decrypted Japanese messages.
noun
- 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.e.g.““My magic will help you find true love,” said the witch as she looked for the right herbs in her collection.”
- 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.; The supernatural forces which are drawn on in such a ritual.
- 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.; A specific ritual or procedure associated with such magic; a spell; a magical ability.e.g.“And she can turn people into stone and do all kinds of horrible things. And she has made a magic so that it is always winter in Narnia—always winter, but it never gets to Christmas.” — 1950, C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe:
- 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.; The ability to cast a magic spell.e.g.“I learned a new magic after rescuing the tree fairy.”
- Something producing successful and remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.
- Something producing successful and remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.; Complicated or esoteric code that is not expected to be generally understood.e.g.“The stringstream class hides a lot of string parsing magic from us at this point.” — 2017, Jacek Galowicz, C++17 STL Cookbook, page 257:
- The art or practice of performing conjuring tricks and illusions to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.
- The art or practice of performing conjuring tricks and illusions to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.; One such conjuring trick or illusion.
verb
- To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- sorcery 71% match — Magical power; the use of witchcraft or magic arts. vs magic →
- magicianry 66% match — The state of being, or art of, a magician. vs magic →
- magery 64% match — The practice of a mage; magic, sorcery. vs magic →
- witchcraft 64% match — The practice of witches; magic, sorcery, or the use of supernatural powers to influence or predict events. vs magic →
- thaumaturgy 64% match — The working of miracles, wonderworking; magic, witchcraft, wizardry. vs magic →
- magical 62% match — Of, relating to, or by means of magic. vs magic →
- magicianly 62% match — Like or befitting a magician. vs magic →
- maleficiation 62% match — A witching; a bewitchment. vs magic →