Why doesn't anybody talk about the word 'abracadabra'? The OED defines it as a "cabalistic word, formerly used as a charm, and believed to have the power, when written in a triangular arrangement, and worn round the neck, to cure agues, etc. Now often used in the general sense of a spell, or pretended conjuring word; a meaningless word of mysterious sound; jargon, gibberish." I believe it has roots in semitic languages (in Hebrew, "abad" means perish, "ka" means like the, and "dabar" means word) referring to the statement 'perish like the word' which when you repeat it and lose a letter each time, it turns into a triangle. But i have never seen this connection anywhere formal. Has anyone?

poet

thea, poet and scientist
www.theaiberall.com