Abracadabra Definition

ăbrə-kə-dăbrə
noun
A magical charm or incantation having the power to ward off disease or disaster.
American Heritage
A word supposed to have magic powers, and hence used in incantations, on amulets, etc.
Webster's New World
Foolish or unintelligible talk.
American Heritage
A magic spell or formula.
Webster's New World
Foolish or meaningless talk; gibberish.
Webster's New World
interjection
Used, as by a magician, to signify, or seemingly command, a sudden change or occurrence.
Webster's New World

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

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Abracadabra

Noun

Singular:
abracadabra
Plural:
abracadabras

Origin of Abracadabra

  • 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 (עַבְדָא כְּדַ ברָא, avda ked vara; “what was said has been done”; עבראכדברא, avra kedavra; “what has said has come to pass”; ארבע-אחד-ארבע when it is read from right to left ), but there is little supporting evidence.

    From Wiktionary

  • Late Latin magical formula of unknown origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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