abracadabra
/ˌæbɹəkəˈdæbɹə/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.19 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
5
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A use of the mystical term ‘abracadabra’, supposed to work as part of a healing charm or a magical spell; any spell or incantation making use of the word.
noun
intj
Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed.
Example Sentences
- "Where is the necessity of this provision in the Constitution? […] Can anyone believe that we, by any amendments of ours, by any of our scribbling on that parchment, by any amulet, any legerdemain—charm—Abrecadabra—of ours can prevent our sons from doing the same thing—that is, from doing as they please, just as we are doing as we please? It is impossible. Who can bind posterity?"
- "With a quiet bank holiday afternoon to fill, the Mill yesterday dug out the old magic kit, brushed the cobwebs off its top hat and practiced a few abracadabras."
- "We made no comment but even Sandra herself could see how ridiculous all this abracadabra must sound to a listener."
- "Astrology was not specifically banned in the statutes against witchcraft, but so long as its technicalities remained abracadabra to the lay public there was always a risk that the practitioner might find himself arrested for sorcery."
- "I don’t know all the theoretical abracadabra about how it works, I’m only its pilot."
- "Next, the conjuror filled a glass with water from a big jug and then covered the tumbler with a cloth. "Abracadabra," he cried and crumpled the cloth."
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Late Latin abracadabra.