ABRACADABRAとは 意味・読み方・使い方

別の表記

• abra-cadabra

語源

Learned borrowing from Late Latin abracadabra.

発音

• IPA: /ˌæbɹəkəˈdæbɹə/
• 韻: -æbɹə
• ハイフネーション: ab‧ra‧ca‧dab‧ra

名詞

abracadabra (plural abracadabras)

1. 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. [from 16th c.]
   • 1851, Hugh A. Garland, quoting John Randolph of Roanoke, “The Virginia Convention—Every Change is Not Reform”, in The Life of John Randolph of Roanoke, volume II, New York: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 329:

     Where is the necessity of this provision in the Constitution? […] Can anyone believe that we, by any amendments of ours, by any of our scribbling on that parchment, by any amulet, any legerdemain—charm—Abrecadabra—of ours can prevent our sons from doing the same thing—that is, from doing as they please, just as we are doing as we please? It is impossible. Who can bind posterity?

   • 2012 August 28, Georgina Turner, The Guardian:

     With a quiet bank holiday afternoon to fill, the Mill yesterday dug out the old magic kit, brushed the cobwebs off its top hat and practiced a few abracadabras.

2. Arcane and obscure language of occult rituals or mystical practices.
   • 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 59:

     We made no comment but even Sandra herself could see how ridiculous all this abracadabra must sound to a listener.

   • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, page 335:

     Astrology was not specifically banned in the statutes against witchcraft, but so long as its technicalities remained abracadabra to the lay public there was always a risk that the practitioner might find himself arrested for sorcery.

3. Mumbo jumbo; obscure language or technicalities; jargon. [from 19th c.]

   I don’t know all the theoretical abracadabra about how it works, I’m only its pilot.

間投詞

abracadabra

1. Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed. [from 19th c.]

   Synonyms: alakazam, hey presto, hocus-pocus; see also Thesaurus:abracadabra

   • 1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 49:

     Next, the conjuror filled a glass with water from a big jug and then covered the tumbler with a cloth. "Abracadabra," he cried and crumpled the cloth.

派生語

参考

• Avada Kedavra

参照

Further reading

• “abracadabra”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

発音

• (Classical Latin) IPA: [ab.raˈka.da.bra]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: [ab.raˈkaː.da.bra]

間投詞

abracadabra

1. abracadabra
   • c. 200 CE, Quintus Serenus Sammonicus, Liber Medicinalis:

     Inscrībis chartae quod dīcitur "abracadabra",
     Saepius, et subter repetis, sed dētrahe summae,
     Ut magis atque magis dēsint elementa figūrīs
     Singula, quae semper rapiēs, et cētera fīgēs,
     dōnec in angustum redigātur littera cōnum:
     Hīs līnō nexīs collum redimīre mementō.

     Write on a piece of paper the word abracadabra, repeating it below while taking away the last letter, so that a single letter is further and further lacking, until it has the shape of a cone: remember to surround the [patient's] neck with linen with the paper hanging from it.

参照

• "abracadabra", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)