Magic Words: A Dictionary [Paperback]

Craig Conley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Magic Words: A Dictionary is a one-of-a-kind resource for armchair linguists, pop-culture enthusiasts, Pagans, Wiccans, magicians, and trivia nuts alike. Brimming with the most intriguing magic words and phrases from around the world and illustrated throughout with magical symbols and icons, Magic Words is a dictionary like no other.

More than seven-hundred essay style entries describe the origins of magical words as well as historical and popular variations and fascinating trivia. With sources ranging from ancient Medieval alchemists to modern stage magicians, necromancers, and wizards of legend to miracle workers throughout time, Magic Words is a must have for any scholar of magic, language, history, and culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A vividly written introduction includes contemplations on ritual and pronunciation, and each multi-paragraph entry explains meanings, origins, and literary references. --Library Journal, October 2008

”I am in awe of the volume and variety of the usages and references discussed: the research seems monumental. . . . Recommended as a very useful resource...“ ---Phil Willmarth, Linking Ring Magazine

”Wonderful.“ ---Graham P. Collins, editor of Scientific American

”[A]n impressive work. . . “ ---Brad Henderson, MAGIC, The Magazine for Magicians

About the Author

When it comes to his research Craig Conley has often been called a language fanatic by gossip columnist Cindy Adams and a cult hero by Publisher's Weekly. His exhaustive research led him to compile Magic Words: A Dictionary. He is also the author of One-Letter Words: A Dictionary and a regular columnist for Pentacle magazine. He lives in Florida and Wales, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578634342
• ISBN-13: 978-1578634347
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CRAIG CONLEY has been called "a true Renaissance man of the modern era, diving headfirst into comprehensive, open-minded study of realms obscured or merely obscure" (Clint Marsh), "America's most creative and diligent scholar of letters, words and punctuation" (Encarta), a "language fanatic" (Page Six gossip columnist Cindy Adams), and a "cult hero" (Publisher's Weekly). An eccentric scholar, Conley's ideas are often decades ahead of their time. He invented the concept of the "virtual pet" in 1980, fifteen years before the debut of the popular "Tamagotchi" in Japan. His virtual pet, actually a rare flower, still thrives and has reached an incomprehensible size. Conley's ONE-LETTER WORDS: A DICTIONARY is published by HarperCollins, and his MAGIC WORDS: A DICTIONARY is published by Weiser Books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Words from a Magic Book, January 10, 2009

By 

Anthony Marais (Wiesbaden, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Words: A Dictionary (Paperback)

Magic Words is more than a dictionary - it is an impassioned call to writers, magicians and laypeople to bring magic back into their vocabulary. It is, in fact, an incantation calling forth the demons hidden within our speech, and no reader will finish this book without succumbing to its spell.

Let there be no doubt about it: Conley is on a mission to promote literacy, and his love of words possesses the cabbalistic reverence of an alchemist in pursuit of gold. For it is in the meaning of each word, of each letter of each word, that we discover the mysterious powers of language - or, as the author puts it, it is the inherent enchantment of the word that gives literature its magical influence. And this book will influence you in a most magical way.

Anthony Marais, author of "The Cure"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Words for every occassion, December 25, 2008

By 

Chela (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Words: A Dictionary (Paperback)

I just got "Magic Words: A Dictionary." What fun! Magic words taken from literature, plays, movies; all the way from Ovid to Shakespeare to Ronald Hutton to J.K. Rowling!

Each word is presented as a word (with variations, if any) and then
in a quote, and then meanings are given from many historical sources.

It would be interesting to sprinkle them in my conversation or journal writing or even for magic! Alakazam and abracadabra and hocus pocus, but also Hola Noa Massa, and Lit Flitt Latt Flight, and Shubismack. They are even just fun to say.

There is also an Appendix of "magic words" used by people in various professions - "action" for movies, "troubleshoot" for computer technicians.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating dictionary packed with magic words and phrases from around the world, December 14, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Words: A Dictionary (Paperback)

Any interested in the words and philosophy of Wicca and magic will find MAGIC WORDS a fascinating dictionary packed with magic words and phrases from around the world. Over seven hundred essay-style entries probe the origins of magical words, their history, and their variations. Sources range from ancient Medieval alchemists to modern necromancers and magical legends, making for a fine trivia and study reference.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch