incantation

[ in-kan-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the chanting or uttering of words purporting to have magical power.
2. the formula employed; a spell or charm.
3. magical ceremonies.
4. magic; sorcery.

   Synonyms: wizardry, black magic, witchcraft

5. repetitious wordiness used to conceal a lack of content; obfuscation:

   Her prose too often resorts to incantation.

incantation

/ ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. ritual recitation of magic words or sounds
2. the formulaic words or sounds used; a magic spell

Derived Forms

• ˌincanˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• incan·tation·al in·can·ta·to·ry [in-, kan, -t, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• incan·tator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incantation¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin incantātiōn- (stem of incantātiō ), equivalent to incantāt ( us ) past participle of incantāre to put a spell on, bewitch ( enchant, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of incantation¹

C14: from Late Latin incantātiō an enchanting, from incantāre to repeat magic formulas, from Latin, from in- ² + cantāre to sing; see enchant

Example Sentences

Fortunately for those of us who resided outside SoCal, Scully also worked for national networks, allowing his economical narratives and poetic incantations to resonate far beyond Los Angeles.

From Time

Almost like an incantation of protection, a practice of softness.

From Time

She sounds like Holiday, but what she’s offering is less an act of mimicry than an intimate incantation, a spell of protectiveness.

From Time

It is hard to make out exactly what she is saying, but her words act almost like an incantation.

From The Daily Beast

There a familiar sound met his ears—the roll of a drum followed by an incantation in a quavering, high-pitched voice.

From Project Gutenberg

They met by the parapet of the Quai, just as Père Bracasse had come to the end of his incantation.

From Project Gutenberg

Whenever they passed an embedded fakir, they obtained an incantation from his lips, but still Baal-Zeboub failed.

From Project Gutenberg

And now he began to speak, not loudly, but with solemn deliberation, as though he were uttering an incantation.

From Project Gutenberg

I have extensive knowledge of incantation, poetry, magic, and I know these concern your problem.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• enchantment
• hymn