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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

abracadabra en · INTJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˌæbɹəkəˈdæbɹə/
  • (California) audio

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin abracadabra.

Meanings

  1. Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed.
    • Next, the conjuror filled a glass with water from a big jug and then covered the tumbler with a cloth. "Abracadabra," he cried and crumpled the cloth. 1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 49:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
abra-cadabra alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

abracadabrangle · abracadabric

Hypernyms

lo

Relateds

Avada Kedavra

Synonyms

hey presto · presto · hocus-pocus · hocus-pocus · hey pass · presto chango · abracadabra · alakazam · shablam · kazaam · alakazam · hey presto · shazam

Translations (28)

gl abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · fi abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · ta ஜீபூம்பா (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · pt abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · cs abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · es abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · de abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · te అబ్రకదబ్ర (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · sv abra kadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · eo abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · nb hokus pokus (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · da abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · ka აბრაკადაბრა (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · sv abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · el αβρακαδάβρα (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · fr abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · mi mangamangaiatua (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · ja アブラカダブラ (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · da abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · nb abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · vi úm ba la xì bùa (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · tr abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · pl abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · ru абракада́бра (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · hu abrakadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · fa اجی مجی لاترجی (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · grc ἀβρακαδάβρα (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed) · sh абракадабра (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed)

abracadabra en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˌæbɹəkəˈdæbɹə/
  • (California) audio

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin abracadabra.

Meanings

  1. A use of the mystical term ‘abracadabra’, supposed to work as part of a healing charm or a magical spell; any spell or incantation making use of the word.
    • Where is the necessity of this provision in the Constitution? […] Can anyone believe that we, by any amendments of ours, by any of our scribbling on that parchment, by any amulet, any legerdemain—charm—Abrecadabra—of ours can prevent our sons from doing the same thing—that is, from doing as they please, just as we are doing as we please? It is impossible. Who can bind posterity? 1851, Hugh A. Garland, quoting John Randolph of Roanoke, “The Virginia Convention—Every Change is Not Reform”, in The Life of John Randolph of Roanoke, volume II, New York: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 329:
    • With a quiet bank holiday afternoon to fill, the Mill yesterday dug out the old magic kit, brushed the cobwebs off its top hat and practiced a few abracadabras. 2012 August 28, Georgina Turner, The Guardian:
  2. Arcane and obscure language of occult rituals or mystical practices.
    • We made no comment but even Sandra herself could see how ridiculous all this abracadabra must sound to a listener. 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 59:
    • Astrology was not specifically banned in the statutes against witchcraft, but so long as its technicalities remained abracadabra to the lay public there was always a risk that the practitioner might find himself arrested for sorcery. 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, page 335:
  3. Mumbo jumbo; obscure language or technicalities; jargon.
    • I don’t know all the theoretical abracadabra about how it works, I’m only its pilot.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
abra-cadabra alternative lexicographic
abracadabras Number=Plur lexicographic

Translations (29)

tr abrakadabra (use of term abracadabra) · ta ஓம் க்ரீம் க்ரீம் (use of term abracadabra) · pl abrakadabra (mumbo jumbo, obscure language or technicalities, jargon — see also mumbo jumbo, jargon) · hu csiribí-csiribá (use of term abracadabra) · de Simsalabim (use of term abracadabra) · pl abrakadabra (use of term abracadabra) · sv simsalabim (use of term abracadabra) · nl abracadabra (use of term abracadabra) · ru абракада́бра (mumbo jumbo, obscure language or technicalities, jargon — see also mumbo jumbo, jargon) · ja アブラカダブラ (use of term abracadabra) · el αμπρακατάμπρα (use of term abracadabra) · nb simsalabim (use of term abracadabra) · nl onzin (mumbo jumbo, obscure language or technicalities, jargon — see also mumbo jumbo, jargon) · el άμπρα κατάμπρα (use of term abracadabra) · nb abrakadabra (use of term abracadabra) · el αβρακαδάβρα (use of term abracadabra) · ru абракада́бра (use of term abracadabra) · nb abrakadabra (mumbo jumbo, obscure language or technicalities, jargon — see also mumbo jumbo, jargon) · hu csiribú-csiribá (use of term abracadabra) · ta ஜீம்பூம்பா (use of term abracadabra) · hu abrakadabra (use of term abracadabra) · fi simsalabim (use of term abracadabra) · ko 아브라카다브라 (use of term abracadabra) · sv abrakadabra (use of term abracadabra) · cs simsalabim (use of term abracadabra) · ta ஜீபூம்பா (use of term abracadabra) · he אַבְּרָקָדַבְּרָה (use of term abracadabra) · nl wartaal (mumbo jumbo, obscure language or technicalities, jargon — see also mumbo jumbo, jargon) · mi mangamangaiatua (use of term abracadabra)