Superstitious magic

Superstitious magic
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magic (paranormal) — For related ideas, see Magic (disambiguation). Magia redirects here. For other uses, see Magia (disambiguation). Magical redirects here. For the song, see Magical (song). Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses by John William Waterhouse Magic …   Wikipedia

  • superstitious — [[t]su͟ːpə(r)stɪ̱ʃəs[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ People who are superstitious believe in things that are not real or possible, for example magic. Jean was extremely superstitious and believed the colour green brought bad luck. 2) ADJ… …   English dictionary

  • Celestial magic — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Geotic magic — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Natural magic — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Magic wheel — The magic wheel, or magnetic wheel is a wheel that continues to spin for a long time after being started, and is one of the earliest examples of an attempt at a perpetual motion machine. This device was invented in medieval Bavaria. It looked… …   Wikipedia

  • superstitious — su|per|sti|tious [ ,supər stıʃəs ] adjective believing in the power of magic or luck: She s a very superstitious person. a. based on that belief: superstitious fear ╾ su|per|sti|tious|ly adverb …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • superstitious — UK [ˌsuːpə(r)ˈstɪʃəs] / US [ˌsupərˈstɪʃəs] adjective a) believing in the power of magic or luck She s a very superstitious person. b) based on that belief superstitious fear Derived word: superstitiously adverb …   English dictionary

  • MAGIC —    the pretended art to which extraordinary and marvellous effects are ascribed, of evoking and subjecting to the human will supernatural powers, and of producing by means of them apparitions, incantations, cures, &c., and the practice of which… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

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