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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
abracadabra
    n 1: gibberish and nonsense

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Abracadabra \Ab`ra*ca*dab"ra\, n. [L. Of unknown origin.]
   A mystical word or collocation of letters written as in the
   figure. Worn on an amulet it was supposed to ward off fever.
   At present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote
   something without meaning; jargon.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
ABRACADABRA.

    By _Abracadabra_ we signify
        An infinite number of things.
    'Tis the answer to What? and How? and Why?
    And Whence? and Whither? -- a word whereby
        The Truth (with the comfort it brings)
    Is open to all who grope in night,
    Crying for Wisdom's holy light.

    Whether the word is a verb or a noun
        Is knowledge beyond my reach.
    I only know that 'tis handed down.
            From sage to sage,
            From age to age --
        An immortal part of speech!

    Of an ancient man the tale is told
    That he lived to be ten centuries old,
        In a cave on a mountain side.
        (True, he finally died.)
    The fame of his wisdom filled the land,
    For his head was bald, and you'll understand
        His beard was long and white
        And his eyes uncommonly bright.

    Philosophers gathered from far and near
    To sit at his feet and hear and hear,
            Though he never was heard
            To utter a word
        But "_Abracadabra, abracadab_,
            _Abracada, abracad_,
        _Abraca, abrac, abra, ab!_"
            'Twas all he had,
    'Twas all they wanted to hear, and each
    Made copious notes of the mystical speech,
            Which they published next --
            A trickle of text
    In the meadow of commentary.
        Mighty big books were these,
        In a number, as leaves of trees;
    In learning, remarkably -- very!

            He's dead,
            As I said,
    And the books of the sages have perished,
    But his wisdom is sacredly cherished.
    In _Abracadabra_ it solemnly rings,
    Like an ancient bell that forever swings.
            O, I love to hear
            That word make clear
    Humanity's General Sense of Things.
                                                       Jamrach Holobom


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