ABRACADABRA, magic word that when repeated in a certain manner and a certain number of times, is presumed to have the power of a charm to cure fevers and prevent other illnesses. See Charm and Amulet.

Others spell this word abrasadabra ; as it is found written in Greek characters as ΑΒΡΑϹΑΔΑΒΡΑ, in which the C is the ancient Σ, which is the equivalent of S. This is how this mysterious word should be written in order to create the supposed power attributed to it.

Serenus Sammonicus, the ancient physician and follower of Basilides, the heretic who lived in the second century, composed a book in hexameter verse on the precepts of medicine, under the title of De Medicinâ parvo pretio parabili ,  [1] in which he indicates that these characters should be arranged and used as follows:

Inscribes chartoe quod dicitut abracadabra Soepius et subter repetes, sed detrahe summam, Et magis atque magis desint elementa figuris, Singula quoe semper rapies et coetera figes, Donec in angustum redigatur littera conum; His lino nexis collum redimire memento: Talia languentis conducent vincula collo, Lethalesque abigent ( miranda potentia ) morbes . [2]

Wendelin, Scaliger, Saumaise and Father Kircher made great efforts to uncover the meaning of this word.  [3] Delris mentions it, but only in passing, as a formula known in magic but makes no attempt to explain it any further. [4] What seems more likely, is that Serenus, who followed Basilides’ magical superstitions, created the word Abracadabra from either abrasac or abrasax , and then used it as a safeguard against or an infallible remedy for fevers. See Abraxis.

As for the powers attributed to this amulet, the century we live in is too enlightened to necessitate a warning that all this is mere fantasy.

1. Quintus Serenus Sammonicus (dates unknown, though most sources place the year of his death before 235). The book is commonly known as Liber medicinalis or De medicina praecepta saluberrima – abracadabra is discussed in the chapter “Hermetritaeo depellendo.”

2. “On a piece of parchment, write the word that is said ‘abracadabra’ and repeat it often underneath, taking off the end. Every time remove the final letter so that the text is reduced to a narrow cone. Remember to wind this with a string and hang it around the neck. Such cords drive sickness from the neck and chase away (o wonderful powers) the things that cause deadly illness.”

3. Godefroy Wendelin (1580-1667). Flemish astronomer, also known as Govaert Wendelen or Vendelinus; Joseph Justus Scaliger (1540-1609), French philologist and historian, generally considered the greatest scholar of his time; Claude Saumaise (1588-1653), French philologist, also known by his Latinized name Claudius Salmasius; Athanasius Kircher (c. 1601-1680), German Jesuit scholar and scientist with an infamously wide range of interests

4. Delris is a printer’s error; the reference is to Martin del Rio (1551-1608), Disquisitionum magicarum libri sex (1599/1600; the link is to a 1606 edition published in Venice).