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Other usesAn incantation or enchantment is a charm or Spell (paranormal)|spell created using words. An incantation may take place during a ritual , either a hymn or prayer , and may invoke or praise a deity . In magic (paranormal)|magic , occultism , witchcraft it may be used with the intention of casting a spell on an object or a person. The term derives from Latin "incantare" (tr.), meaning "to chant (a magical spell) upon," from in- "into, upon" and cantare "to sing".
In medieval literature , folklore , fairy tales and modern fantasy fiction, enchantments (from the Old French "enchantement") are charms or spells. The term was loaned into English since around AD 1300. The corresponding native English term being " Galðr|galdor " "song, spell". It has led to the terms "enchanter" and "enchantress", for those who use enchantments.
The weakened sense "delight" (compare the same development of "charm") is modern, first attested in 1593 ( OED ).
In folklore and fiction
In traditional fairy tale s or fantasy fiction , an enchantment is a magic (paranormal)|magical Spell (paranormal)|spell that is attached, on a relatively permanent basis, to a specific person, object or location, and alters its qualities, generally in a positive way. The most widely known example is probably the spell that Cinderella 's Fairy Godmother uses to turn a pumpkin into a coach. An enchantment with negative characteristics is usually instead referred to as a curse .
Conversely, enchantments are also used to describe spells that cause no real effects but deceive people, either by directly affecting their thoughts or using some kind of illusions. Enchantresses are frequently depicted as able to seduce by such magic. Other forms include deceiving people into believing that they have suffered a magical Shape-shifting|transformation .
Effects of incantations
To be enchanted is to be under the influence of an enchantment, usually thought to be caused by charms or Spell (paranormal)|spells .
The Latin incantare , which means 'to utter an incantation', or cast a magic (paranormal)|magic spell , forms the basis of the word " wikt:Special:Search/enchant|enchant ", with deep linguistic roots going back to the Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European kan- Prefix (linguistics)|prefix . So it can be said that an enchanter or enchantress casts magic Spell (paranormal)|spells , or utters incantations, similar to what are called Mantra in Sanskrit .
Some collections of charms
The Old English Metrical Magic (paranormal)#Varieties of magical practice|Charms
The Carmina Gadelica , a collection of Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic oral poetry , much of it charms
The Atharva Veda , a collection of charms, and the Rigveda , a collection of hymns or incantations
Hittite ritual texts
The Greek Magical Papyri
Mandaean style incantations
The Merseburg Incantations
Cyprianus
Pow-Wows; or, Long Lost Friend
You can listen to a Babylonian incantation being read aloud by a modern scholar at http://www.speechisfire.com/ http://www.speechisfire.com/. (It is possible to view a translation an transcription while listening).
Mesopotamia n incantations were composed to counter anything from witchcraft ( Maqlû ) to field pests ( Zu-buru-dabbeda ).
See also
Carmen (verse) , the term for an Ancient Roman incantation
