Preceden

Magic!

OVERVIEW

magâunô

1700 bc - 500 bc

From Zoroastrian Yasna 33:7 ' ýâ sruyê parê magâunô ' = ' so I can be heard beyond Magi ' referring to religious caste of the Medes, making this a loan word.

From the oldest of the Zoroastrian texts written in Old Avestan, making it difficult to date.

magush

525 BC - 300 BC

Dates from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Persian combined with information from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=magic&allowed_in_frame=0

magian

520 bc

Behistun inscription of Darius the Great, unclear meaning from context, adjective?
"loan word from ancient Median"

FRENCH: magique

1265

ITALIAN: magico

1304

NOUN (1A)

1387 - 1990

NOUN (1B)

1387 - 1993

ADJECTIVE (1A)

1393 - 1992

NOUN (1C)

1395 - 1990

SPANISH: mágico

1438

NOUN (2)

1616 - 1988

ADJECTIVE (1B)

1621 - 1990

ADJECTIVE (1C)

1634

ADJECTIVE (2A)

1696 - 1993

NOUN (1E)

1758 - 1991

NOUN (1D)

1781 - 1996

NOUN (3)

1831 - 1989

VERB

1906 - 1992

ADJECTIVE (3)

1949 - 1997

ADJECTIVE (2B)

1956 - 1991

ADJECTIVE (1D)

1981 - 1996

NOUN (1a)

The use of ritual activities or observances which are intended to influence the course of events or to manipulate the natural world, usually involving the use of an occult or secret body of knowledge; sorcery, witchcraft. Also: this practice as a subject of study.

NOUN (1b)

With defining adjective. natural magic n. (also †magic natural) hist. magic involving the manipulation of supposed occult properties of the natural world (usually excluding the conjuration of personal spirits); this skill as a subject of study.

ADJECTIVE (1a)

Of or relating to magic (originally in art magic, magic arts, etc.). Also: using magic; working or produced by magic.

Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 3947

1393

Jason..upon Medea made him bold, Of art magique, which sche couthe.

Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) i. xxviii. f. xxivv/2

1492

A yonge damoysell, the whiche bi arte magyk was conuerted in to a Iument or a mare.

Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Fourth Bk. Aeneas (1554) iv. sig. Div

1547

To Magike artes agaynst my wyl I bende.

A. Fleming tr. Ovid in R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft vi. vi. 122

1584

Medeas herbs will not procure that loue shall lasting liue, Nor steeped poison mixt with magicke charmes the same can giue

R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. C2

1592

Set him but Non-plus in his magicke spels.

Bible (A.V.) Wisd. xvii. 7

1611

The illusions of arte Magicke.

Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. i. 27

1616

Sorcerers..By Magick Verses haue contriu'd his end.

Milton Comus 798

1637

Till all thy magick structures rear'd so high, Were shatter'd into heaps o're thy false head.

E. Waller Æneis iv, in Poems (1664) 189

1658

With loose hair The Magick Prophetess begins her prayr.

Dryden Troilus & Cressida ii. iii. 23

1679

He may know his man, without Art Magick.

Ld. Preston tr. Boethius Consol. Philos. iv. 175

1695

Whilst into various Forms her Magick Hand Doth turn those Men.

T. Gray Let. 8 May in Corr. T. Gray & W. Mason (1853) 4

1736

The sun's pale sister, drawn by magic strain.

W. Jones Seven Fountains in Poems (1777) 41

1767

A..joyless place, A scene of nameless deeds, and magick spells.

E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. ii. 289

1830

By some magic process [to] form the dissevered members into a frame of more youthful vigour.

F. Douglass My Bondage & my Freedom xvii. 239

1855

I at first rejected the idea that the simple carrying a root on my right side..could possess any such magic power as he ascribed to it

Encycl. Brit. XIV. 228/1

1882

Their practical belief..busied itself almost wholly with obtaining magic powers.

Mod. Psychologist Nov. 266/2

1933

For centuries the superstitious have used love philters and other magic medicines and charms to bring about the gratification of some emotional desire.

Brit. Jrnl. Psychiatry 114 964/2

1968

Magic incantations, recipes and actions,..are openly used today in Lucania against fascinazione, malocchio, fattura and similar spells.

E. Harth Dawn of Millennium (1991) vii. 103

1990

The secret knowledge included alchemy, astrology, necromancy, and other magic practices.

Prediction May 60 (advt.)

1992

Nicolas Darkwood, Master Adept of the Magick Arts, discovered a collection of Ancient Roman manuscripts.

NOUN (1c)

An instance of magic; a magical procedure or rite. Also concr.: a magical object, a charm or fetish.

NOUN (2)

fig. An inexplicable and remarkable influence producing surprising results; an enchanting or mystical quality; glamour, appeal. Also: exceptional skill or talent, inspired accomplishment.

ADJECTIVE (1b)

Of a material object: used or usable in magic rites, having (or apparently having) supernatural powers, under the influence of magic. Also (freq. in magic glass, magic mirror) applied to objects in which future events or distant places may be seen; often fig.

ADJECTIVE (1c)

Addicted to magic. Obs. rare.

T. Herbert Relation Trav. 24 (margin)

1634

A Magique Nation.

ADJECTIVE (2a)

Producing surprising or remarkable results, like those attributed to magic (freq. in magic touch); effecting or permitting change, success, etc., as if by magic. Also: enchanting, delightful. See also magic lantern n.

NOUN (1e)

like magic: without any apparent explanation; with incredible rapidity; with great ease. Cf. like adv., prep., and conj. 1b.

NOUN (1d)

as if by magic: as though accomplished by supernatural means or trickery; in a preternaturally swift, deft, or timely manner; suddenly and surprisingly.

NOUN (3)

The art of producing (by sleight of hand, optical illusion, etc.) apparently inexplicable phenomena; conjuring.

VERB

trans. To transform, produce, etc., (as if) by magic. Freq. with adv. (esp. up) or adverbial phrase. Also with away: to cause to disappear (as if) by magic.

R. Kipling Puck of Pook's Hill 304

1906

There was Oak and Ash and Thorn enough in that year-end shower to magic away a thousand memories.

L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea xxiv. 282

1909

I actually have a half guilty feeling, as if I really had ‘magicked’ it [sc. a storm] up.

W. de la Mare Miss Jemima 31

1925

I discovered, as if the Fairy Creature herself had magicked it there..a large hay-wain.

A. Grimble Pattern of Islands v. 104

1952

A steel hook bought from a trade-store could only be magicked once, as a finished article.

New Statesman 25 Nov. 792/2

1966

Children, who are still capable of being magicked, will, I hope, get it for Christmas. Though it's not a children's book.

Independent 18 Nov. 16/4

1992

There is only one, I'm afraid. I can't magic another one up for you

ADJECTIVE (3)

Nuclear Physics. (Of each of a set of numbers) corresponding to the number of protons or neutrons in nuclei of exceptional stability (the set now taken to be 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and perh. 184); (of a nucleus) containing such a number of protons or neutrons or ( doubly magic) both

ADJECTIVE (2b)

colloq. In weakened use: superlatively good, excellent, fantastic. Freq. as int.

ADJECTIVE (1d)

In many role-playing games: designating weapons and other objects or constructs accorded supernatural transformative powers within the created world of the game. Cf. magical adj. 1d.