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]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

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."


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.”