incantation

5 definitions found

incantation - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Incantation \In`can*ta"tion\, n. [L. incantatio, fr. incantare
     to chant a magic formula over one: cf. F. incantation. See
     Enchant.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The act or process of using formulas sung or spoken, with
        occult ceremonies, for the purpose of raising spirits,
        producing enchantment, or affecting other magical results;
        enchantment. "Mysterious ceremony and incantation."
        --Burke.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A formula of words used as above.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The repetitive invoking of old sayings, or emitting a
        wordy discourse with little or no meaning, to avoid
        serious discussion; obfuscation; as, to defend one's views
        with empty incantations.
        [PJC]

incantation - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  incantation
      n 1: a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a
           magical effect [syn: incantation, conjuration]

incantation - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  incantation
  spell
  
     Any particularly arbitrary or obscure command that one must
     mutter at a system to attain a desired result.  Not used of
     passwords or other explicit security features.  Especially
     used of tricks that are so poorly documented that they must be
     learned from a wizard.  "This compiler normally locates
     initialised data in the data segment, but if you mutter the
     right incantation they will be forced into text space."
  

incantation - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  incantation
   n.
  
     Any particularly arbitrary or obscure command that one must mutter at
     a system to attain a desired result. Not used of passwords or other
     explicit security features. Especially used of tricks that are so
     poorly documented that they must be learned from a wizard. "This
     compiler normally locates initialized data in the data segment, but
  if
     you mutter the right incantation they will be forced into text
     space."
  

incantation - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  22 Moby Thesaurus words for "incantation":
     abracadabra, bewitchment, conjuration, conjurement, devil,
     enchantment, evocation, exorcisation, exorcism, exsufflation,
     hocus-pocus, invocation, magic formula, magic words, mumbo jumbo,
     necromancy, open sesame, rune, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery,
     wizardry