Definition: magic

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

magic
     adj : possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to
           supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic
           signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a
           magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of
           night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands"; "wizardly powers"
           [syn: charming, magical, sorcerous, witching,
            wizard, wizardly]
     n 1: any art that invokes supernatural powers
     2: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
        [syn: magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, legerdemain,
         illusion, deception]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Magic \Mag"ic\, Magical \Mag"ic*al\, a. [L. magicus, Gr. ?, fr.
   ?: cf. F. magique. See Magi.]
   1. Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed
      by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and
      the producing of effects by their agency.

   2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman
      agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or
      sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power;
      imposing or startling in performance; producing effects
      which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having
      extraordinary properties; as, a magic lantern; a magic
      square or circle.

            The painter's magic skill.            --Cowper.

   Note: Although with certain words magic is used more than
         magical, -- as, magic circle, magic square, magic wand,
         -- we may in general say magic or magical; as, a magic
         or magical effect; a magic or magical influence, etc.
         But when the adjective is predicative, magical, and not
         magic, is used; as, the effect was magical.

   Magic circle, a series of concentric circles containing the
      numbers 12 to 75 in eight radii, and having somewhat
      similar properties to the magic square.

   Magic humming bird (Zo["o]l.), a Mexican humming bird
      (Iache magica), having white downy thing tufts.

   Magic lantern. See Lantern.

   Magic square, numbers so disposed in parallel and equal
      rows in the form of a square, that each row, taken
      vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, shall give the
      same sum, the same product, or an harmonical series,
      according as the numbers taken are in arithmetical,
      geometrical, or harmonical progression.

   Magic wand, a wand used by a magician in performing feats
      of magic.

Magic \Mag"ic\, n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. ? (sc. ?), fr.
   ?. See Magic, a., and Magi.]
   A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which
   claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural
   beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces
   in nature attained by a study of occult science, including
   enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy,
   incantation, etc.

         An appearance made by some magic.        --Chaucer.

   Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural power which gave
      to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the
      planets an influence over men.

   Natural magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to
      produce effects apparently supernatural.

   Superstitious, or Geotic, magic, the invocation of
      devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit
      or express agreement between them and human beings.

   Syn: Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration;
        enchantment.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

MAGIC

   An early system on the Midac computer.

   [Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)].

   [Jargon File]

   (1995-01-25)

magic

   1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; compare
   automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law:

   	Any sufficiently advanced technology is
   	indistinguishable from magic.

   "TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits."
   "This routine magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte
   in three instructions."

   2. Characteristic of something that works although no one
   really understands why (this is especially called black
   magic).

   3. (Stanford) A feature not generally publicised that allows
   something otherwise impossible or a feature formerly in that
   category but now unveiled.

   Compare wizardly, deep magic, heavy wizardry.

   For more about hackish "magic" see Magic Switch Story.

   4. magic number.

   [Jargon File]

   (2001-03-19)

Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

magic 1. adj. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain;
   compare automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law: "Any
   sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "TTY
   echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits." "This routine
   magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte in three instructions."
   2. adj. Characteristic of something that works although no one really
   understands why (this is especially called black magic). 3. n.
   [Stanford] A feature not generally publicized that allows something
   otherwise impossible, or a feature formerly in that category but now
   unveiled. 4. n. The ultimate goal of all engineering & development,
   elegance in the extreme; from the first corollary to Clarke's Third Law:
   "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced".

   Parodies playing on these senses of the term abound; some have made
   their way into serious documentation, as when a MAGIC directive was
   described in the Control Card Reference for GCOS c.1978. For more about
   hackish `magic', see Appendix A. Compare black magic, wizardly,
   deep magic, heavy wizardry.

MAGIC, n.  An art of converting superstition into coin.  There are
other arts serving the same high purpose, but the discreet
lexicographer does not name them.

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Magic
   The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for
   oracular answers (Judg. 18:5, 6; Zech. 10:2). There is a
   remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezek.
   21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph (Gen.
   44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the
   history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient
   Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life.
   
     All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of
   death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn
   the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Lev.
   19:31; Deut. 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the
   witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing
   supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is
   here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the
   people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned
   it.
   
     It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi
   mentioned in Matt. 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary
   sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the
   followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a
   magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul
   and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos
   (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical
   books (Acts 19:18, 19).