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Magic vs. Myth — What's the Difference?

Magic vs. Myth — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Magic and Myth

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Magic

The power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces
Suddenly, as if by magic, the doors start to open

Myth

Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures.

Magic

Having or apparently having supernatural powers
A magic wand

Myth

A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the worldview of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society
The myth of Eros and Psyche.
A creation myth.

Magic

Wonderful; exciting
It was a great time, magic
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Myth

Such stories considered as a group
The realm of myth.

Magic

Move, change, or create by or as if by magic
He must have been magicked out of the car at the precise second it exploded

Myth

A popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal
A star whose fame turned her into a myth.
The pioneer myth of suburbia.

Magic

The art or practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature.

Myth

A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.

Magic

The charms, spells, and rituals so used.

Myth

A fictitious story, person, or thing
"German artillery superiority on the Western Front was a myth" (Leon Wolff).

Magic

The exercise of sleight of hand or conjuring, as in making something seem to disappear, for entertainment.

Myth

A traditional story which embodies a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; a sacred narrative regarding a god, a hero, the origin of the world or of a people, etc.

Magic

A mysterious quality of enchantment
"For me the names of those men breathed the magic of the past" (Max Beerbohm).

Myth

(uncountable) Such stories as a genre.
Myth was the product of man's emotion and imagination, acted upon by his surroundings. (E. Clodd, Myths & Dreams (1885), 7, cited after OED)

Magic

Of, relating to, or invoking the supernatural
"stubborn unlaid ghost / That breaks his magic chains at curfew time" (John Milton).

Myth

A commonly-held but false belief, a common misconception; a fictitious or imaginary person or thing; a popular conception about a real person or event which exaggerates or idealizes reality.
Scientists debunk the myth that gum stays in the human stomach for seven years.

Magic

Possessing distinctive qualities that produce unaccountable or baffling effects.

Myth

A person or thing held in excessive or quasi-religious awe or admiration based on popular legend
Father Flanagan was legendary, his institution an American myth. (Tucson (Arizona) Citizen, 20 September 1979, 5A/3, cited after OED)

Magic

To produce, alter, or cause by or as if by magic
"Intelligent warm-hearted Gertrude had magicked him into happiness" (Iris Murdoch).

Myth

A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.

Magic

To cause to disappear by or as if by magic. Used with away
His shoes had been magicked away in the night.

Myth

An invented story, theory, or concept.

Magic

The application of rituals or actions, especially those based on occult knowledge, to subdue or manipulate natural or supernatural beings and forces in order to have some benefit from them.

Myth

A story of great but unknown age which originally embodied a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; an ancient legend of a god, a hero, the origin of a race, etc.; a wonder story of prehistoric origin; a popular fable which is, or has been, received as historical.

Magic

A specific ritual or procedure associated with such magic; a spell.

Myth

A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.
As for Mrs. Primmins's bones, they had been myths these twenty years.

Magic

The supernatural forces which are drawn on in such a ritual.

Myth

A traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

Magic

Something producing successful and remarkable results, especially when not fully understood; an enchanting quality; exceptional skill.

Magic

Complicated or esoteric code that is not expected to be generally understood.

Magic

A conjuring trick or illusion performed to give the appearance of supernatural phenomena or powers.

Magic

The art or practice of performing conjuring tricks and illusions.

Magic

Having supernatural talents, properties or qualities attributed to magic.
A magic wand
A magic dragon

Magic

Producing extraordinary results, as though through the use of magic.
A magic moment

Magic

Pertaining to conjuring tricks or illusions performed for entertainment etc.
A magic show
A magic trick

Magic

(colloquial) Great; excellent.
I cleaned up the flat while you were out. —Really? Magic!

Magic

(physics) Describing the number of nucleons in a particularly stable isotopic nucleus; 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, 126, and 184.

Magic

(programming) Being a literal number or string value with no meaning or context, not defined as a constant or variable
The code is full of magic numbers and we can't figure out what they mean.

Magic

(transitive) To produce, transform (something), (as if) by magic.

Magic

A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc.
An appearance made by some magic.

Magic

The art of creating illusions which appear to the observer to be inexplicable except by some supernatural influence; it includes simple sleight of hand (legerdemain) as well as more elaborate stage magic, using special devices constructed to produce mystifying effects; as, the magic of David Copperfield. It is practised as an entertainment, by magicians who do not pretend to have supernatural powers.

Magic

Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency.

Magic

Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery; as, a magical spell.
The painter's magic skill.

Magic

Any art that invokes supernatural powers

Magic

An illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers

Magic

Possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers;
Charming incantations
Magic signs that protect against adverse influence
A magical spell
'tis now the very witching time of night
Wizard wands
Wizardly powers

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