1.
[syn: incantation, conjuration]
The 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
incantation
n 1: a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a
magical effect [syn: incantation, conjuration]
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
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 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.?
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
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."