1. [n]  an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
2. [n]  any art that invokes supernatural powers
3. [adj]  possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands"; "wizardly powers"

Magic
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1. \Mag"ic\, n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. ? (sc. ?), fr.
   ?. See {Magic}, a., and {Magi}.]
   A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which
   claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural
   beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces
   in nature attained by a study of occult science, including
   enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy,
   incantation, etc.
         An appearance made by some magic.        --Chaucer.
   {Celestial magic}, a supposed supernatural power which gave
      to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the
      planets an influence over men.
   {Natural magic}, the art of employing the powers of nature to
      produce effects apparently supernatural.
   {Superstitious}, or {Geotic}, {magic}, the invocation of
      devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit
      or express agreement between them and human beings.
   Syn: Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration;
        enchantment.
   

2. \Mag"ic\, Magical \Mag"ic*al\, a. [L. magicus, Gr. ?, fr.
   ?: cf. F. magique. See {Magi}.]
   1. Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed
      by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and
      the producing of effects by their agency.
   2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman
      agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or
      sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power;
      imposing or startling in performance; producing effects
      which seem supernatural or very extraordinary; having
      extraordinary properties; as, a magic lantern; a magic
      square or circle.
            The painter's magic skill.            --Cowper.
   Note: Although with certain words magic is used more than
         magical, -- as, magic circle, magic square, magic wand,
         -- we may in general say magic or magical; as, a magic
         or magical effect; a magic or magical influence, etc.
         But when the adjective is predicative, magical, and not
         magic, is used; as, the effect was magical.
   {Magic circle}, a series of concentric circles containing the
      numbers 12 to 75 in eight radii, and having somewhat
      similar properties to the magic square.
   {Magic humming bird} (Zo["o]l.), a Mexican humming bird
      ({Iache magica}), having white downy thing tufts.
   {Magic lantern}. See {Lantern}.
   {Magic square}, numbers so disposed in parallel and equal
      rows in the form of a square, that each row, taken
      vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, shall give the
      same sum, the same product, or an harmonical series,
      according as the numbers taken are in arithmetical,
      geometrical, or harmonical progression.
   {Magic wand}, a wand used by a magician in performing feats
      of magic.
   

1. An early system on the Midac computer.

   [Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959)].

   [Jargon File]

2. 1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; compare automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law:

           Any sufficiently advanced technology is
           indistinguishable from magic.

   "TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits." "This routine magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte in three instructions."

   2. Characteristic of something that works although no one really understands why (this is especially called black magic).

   3. (Stanford) A feature not generally publicised that allows something otherwise impossible or a feature formerly in that category but now unveiled.

   Compare wizardly, deep magic, heavy wizardry.

   For more about hackish "magic" see Magic Switch Story.

   4. magic number.

   [Jargon File]

The Jews seem early to have consulted the teraphim (q.v.) for oracular answers (Judg. 18:5, 6; Zech. 10:2). There is a remarkable illustration of this divining by teraphim in Ezek. 21:19-22. We read also of the divining cup of Joseph (Gen. 44:5). The magicians of Egypt are frequently referred to in the history of the Exodus. Magic was an inherent part of the ancient Egyptian religion, and entered largely into their daily life.

All magical arts were distinctly prohibited under penalty of death in the Mosaic law. The Jews were commanded not to learn the "abomination" of the people of the Promised Land (Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:9-14). The history of Saul's consulting the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28:3-20) gives no warrant for attributing supernatural power to magicians. From the first the witch is here only a bystander. The practice of magic lingered among the people till after the Captivity, when they gradually abandoned it.

It is not much referred to in the New Testament. The Magi mentioned in Matt. 2:1-12 were not magicians in the ordinary sense of the word. They belonged to a religious caste, the followers of Zoroaster, the astrologers of the East. Simon, a magician, was found by Philip at Samaria (Acts 8:9-24); and Paul and Barnabas encountered Elymas, a Jewish sorcerer, at Paphos (13:6-12). At Ephesus there was a great destruction of magical books (Acts 19:18, 19).