incantation

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/ UK /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a series of words said as a magic spell or charm

The priestess murmured an incantation over the smoking bowl.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a series of words said as a... spell charm chant invocation conjuration enchantment

Word family

Derived forms incantatory

Related forms incantenchant cant chant

Simplified etymology

Incantation dates from the late Middle English period and derives from Latin incantare, which was based on cantare, “to sing.” It belongs to the same word family as chant, canticle, and enchant.

Etymology

From Old French incantation, from Late Latin incantatio ('enchantment'), from incantatus, past participle of incantare ('to chant a magic spell upon'), from in- ('upon') + cantare ('to sing').

incantare Latin cantare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# incantation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪnkænˈteɪʃən/

## Meanings
1. a series of words said as a magic spell or charm

## Examples
- The priestess murmured an incantation over the smoking bowl.

## Synonyms
- spell
- charm
- chant
- invocation
- conjuration
- enchantment

## Derived Forms
- incantatory

## Related Forms
- incant
- enchant
- cant
- chant

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: incantare
- Root: cantare

## Etymology
From Old French incantation, from Late Latin incantatio ('enchantment'), from incantatus, past participle of incantare ('to chant a magic spell upon'), from in- ('upon') + cantare ('to sing').

## AI Etymology
Incantation comes from Old French incantation, from Late Latin incantatio ('enchantment'), from incantatus, past participle of incantare ('to chant a magic spell upon'), from in- ('upon') + cantare ('to sing'). The prefix supplies the first semantic turn, while the base carries the lexical core of the word. As a noun, it denotes "a series of words said as a magic spell or charm", keeping the historical idea close to its dictionary sense. Relevant historical forms include Latin incantare and Latin cantare. Derivative forms include incantatory; related words include incant, enchant, cant, chant.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown