Magic

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈmad͡ʒɪk/

Definitions

1. A mysterious force or power believed to affect events through supernatural means ; the art of performing illusions or tricks that seem impossible to viewers ; an appealing or enchanting quality that captivates people
2. The use of spells or occult powers to produce effects outside normal laws ; an entertainer's skill in baffling an audience with deceptive feats ; a unique attractiveness or spellbinding character that draws others in
3. An extraordinary or mystical ability to change reality by unnatural means ; a set of techniques used by magicians to amuse and astonish spectators ; a captivating or delightful attribute that makes something especially attractive

Etymology: The word's roots reach back to the Magi, a priestly caste of ancient Persia. The Old Persian form "maguš" gave Greek "mágos", meaning magician or priest of the Magi, and from that Greek derived the adjective "magikós", meaning magical. The adjective passed into Latin as "magicus", and its feminine noun use "magica" gave the Latin word for the art itself. Old French then produced "magique", and Middle English adopted it as "magik" or "magyk" in the medieval period. Note that English already had its own words for the practice, such as "galder" from Old English "ġealdor" and "dwimmer", but "magic" gradually displaced them.

Synonyms: sorcery, witchcraft, wizardry, enchantment, illusion

Antonyms: reality, truth, normality, authenticity, ordinariness