1 supernatural significance and origin; or, instead, as the original creations of human culture, the trappings of superstition and showbiz. Where they fail to produce awe, they instead invite a linguistic fascination. If they're not really "magic," thinks the skeptical scholar, then let us explore why and how we have evolved and perpetuated these particular words. A great many magic words have stood the test of time, passed on from master to apprentice, generation through generation, to find expression on the modern stage and street. These ancient, musical, poetic incantations have a profound -- but not necessarily unfathomable -- mystique. From the familiar but oft-perplexing classics like abracadabra, alakazam, hocus pocus, presto-chango, shazam, and sim sala bim, to whimsical modern inventions like izzy wizzy let's get busy, to lesser known gems like the tongue-twisting tirratarratorratarratirratarratum, these venerable magic words and phrases warrant a serious, scholarly tribute. These potent and glorious words, long prized by shamen, conjurors, and illusionists, have earned the right to the ultimate linguistic honor -- enshrinement in their own special dictionary. The volume you are holding explores the most intriguing magic words and phrases from around the world, from a vast assortment of periods and civilizations. The entries touch upon each term's special aura of mystery, its meaning or meanings, and its origin and history. We will also encounter popular variations, amusing trivia, and some fascinating examples of usage from both literature and popular culture. Sources -- by which I mean those remarkable practitioners of magic, throughout the ages, who have been documented as using these words -- range from prominent modern magicians to their distant ancestors: the hierophants of ancient Egypt; the high priests, medicine men, sorcerers, and alchemists of the Middle Ages; and the workers of wonders and miracles throughout history -- all performers of their day, seeking "to mystify, to enchant, to entertain." Nor have we neglected their prominent, if fictitious, cousins -- the necromancers and wizards of legend and fairy tale. Open sesame, one of the most celebrated magic phrases, held enough power for Ali Baba to shift boulders and open a passage into the unknown. This colorful, centuries-old fable points to a literal truth about the power and importance of magic words: We know that words cannot move mountains, but they can move the multitude. . . . Words shape thought, stir feeling, and beget action; they kill and revive, corrupt and cure. The "men of words" -- priests, prophets, intellectuals -- have played 5 As literary theorist Samuel C. Wheeler III has noted, "[T]here are no magical words which interpret themselves . . . The meaning of a word can be given only in other words" (Literary Theory After Davidson, edited by Reed Way Dasenbrock [199 ]). One might say the same of all words, of course -- hence the notorious circularity of dictionaries. 6 Ralph A. Hefner, The Atlanta Society of Magicians, Twenty-fifth Anniversary Souvenir Program (1949)