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Magic vs Mathematics - What's the difference?

magic | mathematics |

As nouns the difference between magic and mathematics

is that magic is the use of rituals or actions, especially based on supernatural or occult knowledge, to manipulate or obtain information about the natural world, especially when seen as falling outside the realm of religion; also the forces allegedly drawn on for such practices while mathematics is an abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure, change and the relationships between these concepts.

As an adjective magic

is having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.

As a verb magic

is to produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.

As a proper noun Magic

is the decrypted Japanese messages produced by US cryptographers in and prior to World War II.

magic

English

Alternative forms

* magick (qualifier) Used as a deliberate archaism; used for supernatural magic, as distinguished from stage magic. * magicke (obsolete) * magique (obsolete)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The use of rituals or actions, especially based on supernatural or occult knowledge, to manipulate or obtain information about the natural world, especially when seen as falling outside the realm of religion; also the forces allegedly drawn on for such practices.
  • *c. 1489 , (William Caxton), Foure Sonnes of Aymon :
  • *:And whan he shall be arrayed as I telle you / lete hym thenne doo his incantacyons & his magyke as he wyll […].
  • *1781 , (Edward Gibbon), Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , II.23:
  • *:The arts of magic and divination were strictly prohibited.
  • *1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 23:
  • *:Conversions to the new religion […] have frequently been assisted by the view of converts that they are acquiring not just a means of otherworldly salvation, but a new and more powerful magic .
  • A specific ritual or procedure associated with supernatural magic or with mysticism; a spell.
  • Something producing remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=1 citation , passage=The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement.}}
  • A conjuring trick or illusion performed to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.
  • Synonyms

    * (allegedly supernatural method to dominate natural forces) dwimmer, thaumaturgy, conjuring, sorcery, witchcraft, dweomercraft/dwimmercraft * (illusion performed to give the appearance of magic or the supernatural) sleight of hand, illusionism, legerdemain, dwimmer

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.
  • a magic''' wand; a '''magic dragon
  • Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic; wonderful, amazing.
  • a magic moment
  • Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.
  • a magic''' show; a '''magic trick
  • (colloquial) Great; excellent.
  • — I cleaned up the flat while you were out. — Really? Magic !
  • (physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.
  • Synonyms

    * *

    Verb

    (magick)
  • To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.
  • Synonyms

    * (produce magically) conjure up

    Derived terms

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Anagrams

    *

    mathematics

    Alternative forms

    * mathematicks (obsolete)

    Noun

    (-)
  • An abstract representational system used in the study of numbers, shapes, structure, change and the relationships between these concepts.
  • * 2001 , David Salsburg, The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century , page 8
  • In many cases, the mathematics involved are deep and complicated.
  • * 2002 , Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice?: The New Mathematics of Chaos , page 38
  • The answer is 'yes', and the mathematics needed is the theory of probability and its applied cousin, statistics.
  • A person's ability to count, calculate, and use different systems of mathematics at differing levels.
  • My mathematics is not very good.
    Their mathematics are not very good.
    Their mathematics is not very good.

    Usage notes

    * Before the beginning of the 20th century, it was proper to say "My mathematics are not very good".

    Synonyms

    * (ability to use mathematics) numeracy * abbreviation: maths * See also

    Derived terms

    * applied mathematics * astromathematics * biomathematics * discrete mathematics * ethnomathematics * metamathematics * pseudomathematics * pure mathematics * recreational mathematics

    See also

    * (wikipedia "mathematics") * (Definitions of mathematics) * polymath