252. Magic

See also 7. ALCHEMY ; 124. DIVINATION ; 285. MYSTICISM ; 384. SPIRITS and SPIRITUALISM .

abracadabrism

a reliance upon incantations or charms, often inscribed upon amulets, to ward off calamity. — abracadabra , n .

apotropaism

the acting out of magic rites or the recital of incantatory formulas to ward off evil. — apotropaic , adj .

demonomagy

Obsolete . forms of magic that require the invocation or assistance of demons.

illusionist

a conjurer or magician who creates illusions, as by sleight of hand.

jujuism

an African variety of magical fetishism characterized by the wearing of an exotic amulet called a juju . — jujuist , n .

legerdemain

skill in or practice of feats of dexterity that create a magical illusion. — legerdemainist , n .

metamorphosis

1. change in form, structure, appearance, etc.

2. magical transformation. — metamorphic, metamorphous , adj .

obeahism

1. a kind of sorcery practiced by the black people of Africa, the West Indies, and elsewhere. Also called obi, obism .

2. the wearing of an obeah, a fetish or charm. Also called obi .

powwowism

the belief among American Indians that a ceremony characterized by magic, feasting, and dancing can cure disease, ensure the success of a hunt or battle, etc. — powwow , n .

prestidigitation

the art of legerdemain; sleight of hand. — prestidigitator , n . — prestidigitatorial, prestidigitatory , adj .

pretematuralism

a condition of being exceptional or bizarre, beyond the realm of the ordinary course of nature. — preternatural , adj .

sorcery

the art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery. — sorcerer , n . — sorcerous , adj .

sortilege

a form of divination involving drawing lots.

supernaturalism

1. the condition or quality of existing outside the known experience of man or caused by forces beyond those of nature.

2. belief in supernatural events or forces. Also supranaturalism . — supernaturalist , n., adj . — supernatural, supernaturalistic , adj .

supranaturalism

supematuralism. — supranaturalist , n ., adj . — supranatural, supranaturalistic , adj .

synecdochism

the belief that a part of a person or object can act in place of the whole and thus that anything done to the part will equally affect the whole.

thaumaturgism

the quality of being able to perform magie. — thaumaturgist , n . — thaumaturgic , adj . — thaumaturgy , n .

theurgist

a magician who persuades or compels a supernatural being to do or refrain from doing something. — theurgy , n . — theurgic, theurgical , adj .

voodooism, voudouism

1. the religious rites or practices, including magie or sorcery, of certain West Indian black people.

2. the practice of sorcery. — voodooist , n .

warlockry

Archaic . sorcery; the craft or practice of a warlock.

witchery

witchcraft or sorcery.

wizardry

the art or practice of a wizard; sorcery; magic. — wizard , n., adj .

Zendicism

Middle East . 1. the practice of atheism.

2. the practice of heretical magie, especially with fire. — Zendic, Zendik , n . — Zendaic , adj .