Abra

A Polish silver coin, worth about a shilling sterling. Abra'banel, Abarbanel, or Avravanel, ISAAC. A celebrated rabbi, claiming descent from king David; was born at Lisbon A. D. 1437. He became counsellor to Alphonso V., king of Portugal, and afterward to Ferdinand the Catholic; but in 1492 was obliged to leave Spain with the other Jews. He died at Venice, aged 71. He has left some works on interpretations and explanations of the Bible. Abrabanel pa ed for one of the most searned of the rabbis; and the Jews gave him the names of the Sage, the Prince, and the Great Politician. Abracadabra, n. A magical word among the ancients, recommended as an antidote against several dis eases. It was to be written upon a piece of paper as many times as the word contains letters, omitting the last letter of the former every time, and suspended from the neck by a linen thread. It was the name of a god worshipped by the Syrians, the wearing of whose name was a sort of invocation of his aid. ABRACADABRA