Incantation

noun

A word or phrase, often mystical or cryptic, recited or chanted to invoke a spell or other supernatural phenomenon, or to influence an outcome

Usage

One of the great things about language is the almost infinite possibility it holds to be reused and reimagined in new and inventive ways. But while there’s no hard boundary for how and into what form language can evolve, the most important factor is whether or not people understand what is said. No matter how genius, if people take a newly formulated word for an arcane incantation rather than a new inductee into the common lexicon, a would-be linguistic innovator has fallen short of their goal. Thus, as in most things, with language slow and steady wins the race.

An incantation is a word, or a sequence of words or sentences, often obscure or mystical, which is used to call forth some kind of enchantment or a supernatural effect, or a hoped-for outcome. It is usually employed in spoken form. Incantations can range anywhere from the Latin-esque enchantments in Harry Potter to the cryptic though distinguishable verses of the three witches in Macbeth. The key similarity is that both of them enable metaphysical feats, whether levitating cauldrons or seeing into the future.

In contemporary usage, the word incantation is more often employed as a metaphor for esoteric, almost indecipherable text or speech. If your classmate makes a habit of reciting the same millennia-old proverb as motivation for a test, you could describe this spoken ritual as an incantation. Your classmate is not actually casting a spell, but invoking obscure words purely for the effect that simply speaking them has. In other words, though the self-directed adage is not a magical incantation, it is treated as if it were.

Example: She uttered her self-actualization mantra with the solemnity and superstition of an incantation.

Example: The most famous witches and wizards are often best known by their signature incantations.

Origin

Incantation originally stems from the joining of the Latin prefix in-, meaning “in, into, on,” and the Latin verb cantare, which meant “to chant” or “to sing.” The product of this synthesis, incantare, meant “to cast a charm or spell,” and also serves as the root for the English word enchant. Incantare then passed into the Late Latin incantationem, which translates to “bewitching” or “enchanting,” before being borrowed by Old French as incantacion, meaning “curse” or “hex.” It finally arrived in English near the end of the 14^th century with its present form and meaning.

Derivative Words

Incantatory: This adjective form of incantation indicates that what it describes bears the resemblance of or has something to do with a magical charm.

Example: Her classmates noticed the uncanny correlation between her high test scores and her incantatory pre-exam ritual.

Incantational: Incantational holds the same meaning as incantatory, denoting supernatural qualities in something.

Example: Her affectionate, though eccentric, boyfriend bid her an incantational goodnight every night without fail.

Incant: This somewhat obscure word, usually supplanted by chant, means simply to utter a mystical spell.

Example: As often as he would incant his wish to summon a Ferrari, he never got one.

Similar Words

Enchant: The word enchant shares the same root Latin word, incantare, as incantation, but there are a few nuances which differentiate the two English words. Whereas incantation is a noun that stands for a spell’s initiatory words themselves, enchant is a verb for the casting of a spell regardless of whether words of any kind, occult or otherwise, are uttered at all. Moreover, enchant has taken on a more casual and ordinary sense which incantation (or even its verb derivative, incant) does not have: to astound or hold someone else in awe.

Example: With only his fiery stare, the warlock managed to enchant the outmatched knight.

Example: Cynthia was known throughout the school as one who could enchant you with a lively tale from her many travels.

In Literature

From Epictetus’s The Golden Sayings of Epictetus:

Even as the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be loved like the Sun.

Here, Epictetus muses that part of what makes the sun so revered is that its life-giving rise cannot be exhorted by the mystical summoning charms, or incantations, of mankind. By incantations, he is referring to the desires spoken aloud, casually and solemnly alike, for the dawn. He goes on to instruct that one can capture and emulate the majesty of the sun by similarly attending to one’s obligations without being bidden to do so.

Mnemonic

Many enchantments only work with incantations.
Incantations are invitations for magical mischief.