The word abracadabra is known universally as the "magic word" of stage conjurers. What little is known is that it is a word of ancient origin, used by genuine magicians from about the third century. The word abracadabra is derived from a Aramaic phrase (Avarah K'Davarah) meaning, "I will create as I speak." (Harry Potter fans might recognize this spelling; however, it is not a curse.) It has appeared in Kabbalistic and Gnostic texts alike.

Used in the second century in Talismans against illness, it was written in an inverted pyramid, removing a letter from each end until only one remained.

Some, including mystic occultist Aleister Crowley, believed the word to be related to the Gnostic God Abraxas. Crowley "corrected" the spelling to Abrahadabra, in order to achieve a particular gematric value of 418.