abracadabra

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.
• Mumbo-jumbo; obscure language or technicalities; jargon.

Origin

• From Late Latin abracadabra, a word used in magical writings, of unknown origin. Relationships have been suggested with Abraxas, and with various Aramaic or Hebrew terms עברא כדברא, עַבְדָא כְּדַברָא; ארבע-אחד-ארבע (arba-eḥad-arba, literally “four-one-four”), but there is little supporting evidence.