Magik

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. An alternative spelling of magic, often used in occult, mystical, or countercultural contexts to denote supernatural power or ritual practice
2. A nonstandard orthography of magic, particularly favored in alternative spirituality, entertainment, and subcultural communities to represent enchantment or sorcery
3. A variant spelling of magic employed in mystical or esoteric contexts to refer to the exercise of supernatural influence or magical arts

Etymology: Ancient Greek writers borrowed "magos" from Old Persian "magush," the name of a priestly class in Persia, and the Greeks used it, along with "magike," mostly to describe foreign ritual practices that they found suspicious. Latin took the word as "magica," and it reached English through Old French "magique" by about 1300, with the meaning of supernatural power or sorcery. The "k" spelling is a deliberate variant. The occultist Aleister Crowley adopted "magick" in the early 20th century to set his practice apart from stage conjuring, and he gave a numerological reason for the extra letter. Many people now write "magik" in the same spirit, and the spelling also appears in fiction, such as the Marvel character Magik.