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Abracadabra |
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abracadabra (ăb'rəkədăb`rə), magical formula used by the Gnostics (see Gnosticism Gnosticism (nŏs`tĭsĭzəm), dualistic religious and philosophical movement of the late Hellenistic and early Christian eras. ..... Click the link for more information. ) to invoke the aid of benevolent spirits to ward off disease and affliction. It is supposed to be derived from the abraxas, a word that was engraved on gems and amulets or was variously worn as a protective charm. Handed down through the Middle Ages, the abracadabra gradually lost its occult significance, and its meaning was extended to cover any hocus-pocus. Abracadabra cabalistic charm used as an antidote for ague, toothache, etc. [Medieval Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 3]
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She dismisses everyone but her five
main persons as her Cast of Thousands, people who cluster at the edges
of things and only say rhubarb and abracadabra. The educated Dante confronts the landlord/priest Father
Bustamente with "Sure you have the right to exploit the peasants
now by using the abracadabra of religion" (452), and the illiterate
Old Bio generalizes this situation to the priesthood as a whole:
Abracadabra, more music is
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