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Magic Words: A Dictionary
Magic Words: A Dictionary is a one-of-a-kind resource for armchair linguists, pop-culture enthusiasts, Pagans, Wiccans, magicians, and trivia nuts alike. Brimming with the most intriguing magic words and phrases from around the world and illustrated throughout with magical symbols and icons, Magic Words is a dictionary like no other. More than seven-hundred essay style entries describe the origins of magical words as well as historical and popular variations and fascinating trivia. With sources ranging from ancient Medieval alchemists to modern stage magicians, necromancers, and wizards of legend to miracle workers throughout time, Magic Words is a must have for any scholar of magic, language, history, and culture.
- GenresReference
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2008
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68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 18, 2009
An okay reference but a lot of wasted pages in my opinion; for every entry that fascinated and informed me, there were two that seemed a waste of space or simply dragged out too long because the author had simply dumped ALL his notes on the subject therein.
Seriously--19 pages on abracadabra, 14 on hocus pocus and the same on open sesame?
The book has a lot going for it in some intriguing entries, but it goes overboard and wasted (in my opinion) much space putting in nonsense phrases noted because a stage magician said them or silly pseudo-magical phrases linked to television shows (like Bewitched). If you're going that far, why not include the magical spells used in Bedknobs & Broomsticks (either the books or the silly Disney film)?
The biggest oversight was seemingly ignoring one of the biggest sources of magic from the early 20th century--the OZ books by L. Frank Baum and others. Loads of magical words or phrases, but all left out here. Also notably missing are comic book magical words (even the big names like Doctor Strange and all his magical phrases are overlooked).
In short, this book's structure irritated me because it seemed more important for the author to cram in tons of repetitive references and notes simply because he had them rather than find more magical words to provide a good broad look at how Western culture plays with language in mystical ways.
At least I have the magic word ("Inuck-ch-uck!") that made Apache Chief grow twenty feet tall.
I almost rated this 2 stars because of its wasted space and redundant references, but there's enough solid content and information in this to merit an "okay" reference at 3 stars. It's hardly a complete dictionary, but it's an interesting enough reference to flip through for ideas, clarification, or inspiration.
Seriously--19 pages on abracadabra, 14 on hocus pocus and the same on open sesame?
The book has a lot going for it in some intriguing entries, but it goes overboard and wasted (in my opinion) much space putting in nonsense phrases noted because a stage magician said them or silly pseudo-magical phrases linked to television shows (like Bewitched). If you're going that far, why not include the magical spells used in Bedknobs & Broomsticks (either the books or the silly Disney film)?
The biggest oversight was seemingly ignoring one of the biggest sources of magic from the early 20th century--the OZ books by L. Frank Baum and others. Loads of magical words or phrases, but all left out here. Also notably missing are comic book magical words (even the big names like Doctor Strange and all his magical phrases are overlooked).
In short, this book's structure irritated me because it seemed more important for the author to cram in tons of repetitive references and notes simply because he had them rather than find more magical words to provide a good broad look at how Western culture plays with language in mystical ways.
At least I have the magic word ("Inuck-ch-uck!") that made Apache Chief grow twenty feet tall.
I almost rated this 2 stars because of its wasted space and redundant references, but there's enough solid content and information in this to merit an "okay" reference at 3 stars. It's hardly a complete dictionary, but it's an interesting enough reference to flip through for ideas, clarification, or inspiration.
August 4, 2024
Obviously have not read 1195 pages of exhaustive entries of “magic words” in literary history, and don’t intend to, but I have to be impressed that someone has done it. Looked up the word “alakazam” for my kid and it mentions both Harry Potter and pokemon as well as medieval, Arabic and Indian sources, and discusses its orientalist connotations.
November 11, 2013
There's a thin line between superstition and real magic. There's also a thin line between between real magicians and fake ones. Theatrical magicians seem to enjoy being on stage bullshitting skeptics like themselves, being blind, conceited, and insensitive enough not to be concerned that globally, there really are people who depend on magic for their very survival and day-to-day well-being...not everyone is as materialistic as these professional deceivers. So they commence to make fun of them through their performances. Their callousness is mostly a first-world problem, mocking things they're too psychologically lethargic to understand. They prefer the comforts of high technology that feed their own egomania. But I wouldn't be surprised that, what with all the prestidigitator's flash and dazzle, they would occasionally and accidentally find themselves tripping over into the real world of magic, yet they wouldn't be willing to admit it except in secret with others of their kind over a drink, and with hushed voices no less.
With that in mind, if I weren't already aware that the separation between real magic and ordinary life is blurred (if it exists at all), I would have taken this book and thrown it into the fire, even though I had bought it brand new...something I rarely do with books. You can't always judge a book by its cover, but I did in this case. I could have spent the precious money someplace else. But then I wouldn't be writing this review.
Yes, this book would be totally worthless if it weren't for the possibility of this book being useful. It's saving grace is that it does stand in that grey area between the authentic and the counterfeit, so it actually might be of practical use for both the spellcaster and the illusionist, albeit for different purposes. Real mages have been known to be creative enough to make magic out of some of the most ridiculously pointless things. And with that, I can say, in the hands of an imaginative master or mistress (providing such a person would be willing to spare the patience to stretch themselves out that far) this could prove to be a valuable reference for making magic an ascetically pleasing work of art in the area verbal spells and charms. However, it could also take a great deal of effort in resisting the temptation to dump this book in the garbage.
Unless you're willing to work at thinking of good reasons to creatively breath life into this inert material, I advise you to do yourself a favor and not be taken in by how awesome the book looks on the outside, unless you prepare yourself for the disappointment...it's mostly hype and glamor. Just reading the introduction will give you a better idea of what the rest of the book is like. It's contents are so empty, it wouldn't even make great fiction. Cover-to-cover, it's nothing more than one big not-so-funny joke.... it's definitely a waste of the author's time in the writing of it.
With that in mind, if I weren't already aware that the separation between real magic and ordinary life is blurred (if it exists at all), I would have taken this book and thrown it into the fire, even though I had bought it brand new...something I rarely do with books. You can't always judge a book by its cover, but I did in this case. I could have spent the precious money someplace else. But then I wouldn't be writing this review.
Yes, this book would be totally worthless if it weren't for the possibility of this book being useful. It's saving grace is that it does stand in that grey area between the authentic and the counterfeit, so it actually might be of practical use for both the spellcaster and the illusionist, albeit for different purposes. Real mages have been known to be creative enough to make magic out of some of the most ridiculously pointless things. And with that, I can say, in the hands of an imaginative master or mistress (providing such a person would be willing to spare the patience to stretch themselves out that far) this could prove to be a valuable reference for making magic an ascetically pleasing work of art in the area verbal spells and charms. However, it could also take a great deal of effort in resisting the temptation to dump this book in the garbage.
Unless you're willing to work at thinking of good reasons to creatively breath life into this inert material, I advise you to do yourself a favor and not be taken in by how awesome the book looks on the outside, unless you prepare yourself for the disappointment...it's mostly hype and glamor. Just reading the introduction will give you a better idea of what the rest of the book is like. It's contents are so empty, it wouldn't even make great fiction. Cover-to-cover, it's nothing more than one big not-so-funny joke.... it's definitely a waste of the author's time in the writing of it.
October 1, 2023
I put a spell on you and now you're mine - Bette Midler (hocus pocus)
We get a lot of footnotes and references for further reading. Stanly missing from the words are the words from J. K. Rowling.
There may be a good reason, not Rowling and for all you real magic people. This is because it is more geared to stage magic and magicians that inspired the book from the beginning.
There is a 20-page introduction and another 20-page or so section on “Deep aspects of magic words.” Then from there, we start with the magic words in alphabetical order.
This critter will definitely expand your vocabulary and repertoire.
We get a lot of footnotes and references for further reading. Stanly missing from the words are the words from J. K. Rowling.
There may be a good reason, not Rowling and for all you real magic people. This is because it is more geared to stage magic and magicians that inspired the book from the beginning.
There is a 20-page introduction and another 20-page or so section on “Deep aspects of magic words.” Then from there, we start with the magic words in alphabetical order.
This critter will definitely expand your vocabulary and repertoire.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews