abracadabra

[ ab-ruh-kuh-dab-ruh ]
See synonyms for abracadabra on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a mystical word or expression used in incantations, on amulets, etc., as a magical means of warding off misfortune, harm, or illness.

  2. any charm or incantation using nonsensical or supposedly magical words.

  1. meaningless talk; gibberish; nonsense.

Origin of abracadabra

1
1690–1700; <Late Latin, probably <Late Greek, perhaps reflecting recitation of the initial letters of the alphabet; cf. abecedary

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How to use abracadabra in a sentence

  • It would be a purely formal process—like renaming a "hocus-pocus" and calling it two "Abracadabras."

    Social Value | B. M. Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for abracadabra

abracadabra

/ (ˌæbrəkəˈdæbrə) /


interjection
  1. a spoken formula, used esp by conjurors

noun
  1. a word used in incantations, etc, considered to possess magic powers

  2. gibberish; nonsense

Origin of abracadabra

1
C17: from Latin: magical word used in certain Gnostic writings, perhaps related to Greek Abraxas; see abraxas

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