magic (majik)

and a. [I. n. Formerly also magick, magique; magic see mage, Magus. II. a. = F. magique = Sp. mágico = Pg. It. magico, But thurgh his magik for a wyke or tweye, It semed that alle the rokkes were aweye. IMG:content-0061.png:[blocks in formation] with the letters of a word, name, phrase, or sentence, so arranged as to read the same in all directions from the initial letter, wherever it appears. The earliest known writers on the subject were Arabians, among whom these squares were used as amulets. Chaucer, Franklin's Tale, 1. 567. magical (maj'i-kal), a. [ IMG:content-0062.jpg:[blocks in formation] 2. Power or influence similar to that of enchantment: as, the magic of love. He [Arnold] has a power of vision as great as Tennyson's, though its magic depends le on the rich tints of a ociation, and more on the liquid colours of pure natural beauty. Contemporary Rev. , XLIX. 528. 3. Conjuring; tricks of legerdemain. [Colloq.] -Black magic, magic involving a criminal league with evil spirits; the black art. - Natural magic. (a) Occult science; the art of working wonders by means of a superior knowledge of the powers of nature. Much more is profe ed, but much le e per four med, then in former ages, especially in the mat hem a tikes and in nat urall magic. G. Harvey, Four Letters. (b) Control of natural forces through the knowledge of their laws. Was not Persian Magic a reduction or correspondence of the principles and architectures of nature to the rules and policy of governments? And here I will make a request that I may revise and reintegrate the misapplied and abused name of Natural Magic; which in the true sense is but Natural Wisdom or Natural Prudence; taken according to the ancient accept i on, purged from vanity and superstition. Bacon, Advancement of Learning. Superstitious or goetic magic consists in the invocation of devils or demons, and supposes some tacit or expre covenant or agreement with them. -White magic, practice of magic either quite innocent or at least not involving a compact with the devil. II. a. 1. Pertaining to or connected with the exercise of magice; having supposed supernatural qualities or powers; enchanting; bewitching: as, magic arts or spells; a magic wand or circle; a magic touch; magic squares. as magic. [The difference between magic and magical, as in most other cases of adjectives in- ic and -ical, is largely rhythmical.] They beheld unveiled the magical shield of your Dryden. Ariosto. I'll humbly signify what in his name, That magical word of war, we have effected. Shak., A. and C., iii. 1. 31. Laws have no magical , no supernatural virtue;...laws do not act like Aladdin's lamp or Prince Ahmed's apple. Macaulay , E ays, II. 97. Egypt and Babylon. were the chief sources whence the world learnt what may be called the higher branches of occult science, and from the historical point of view the magical rites and beliefs of other ancient Eastern nations, such as Asia Minor and India, are of little importance. E. B. Tylor , Encyc. Brit., XV. 201. magically (maj'i-kal-i), adv . In a magical man- ner; by or as if by magic. magician magician (ma-jish'an), an), n. [ magicien , ma magicien , * magician us , magic a , magic: see magic.] 1t. One of the Magi or priestly caste of ancient Persia. It is confe ed by all of understanding, that a magician (according to the Persian word) is no other than Divinorum cult or et interpres, a studious observer and expounder of divine things. Raleigh , Hist. World, I. xi. 3. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me. Then came in the magicians , the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. Dan. iv. 7. 2. One skilled in magic; a wizard; an enchanter; a conjurer. I have, since I was three year old, conversed with a ma gician , most profound in his art and yet not damnable. Shak., As you Like it, v. 2. 68.