E-QUIZ 26: "ABRACADABRA"
For five points, what is “ABRACADABRA”. Only a complete and precise answer will be accepted but if you get close I may give some points anyway. ( I was laying around not working Sunday and forgot.
So what? )
September 4th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
Reprinted from : The Meaning of Words, Copyright 1997 By James Dailley.
It is, however, a word of Kabbalistic (Cabbalistic) significance that was, and still may be, used for incantations. It was declared that when written as below, folded so as to conceal the writing, sewn with white thread and worn around the neck, your ailments would subside. Sometimes you were required to remove letters and this would further cause the illness to diminish.
ABRACADABRA
ABRACADABR
ABRACADAB
ABRACADA
ABRACAD
ABRACA
ABRAC
ABRA
ABR
AB
A
ABRA has a supposed significance as it is composed of the first letters of the Hebrew words for: Father = Abba, and Spirit = Rauch Acadosh. However, J E Cirlot in A Dictionary of Symbols, Dorset, page 2, considers the whole word a Hebrew phrase.
Abracadabra: This word was in frequent use during the Middle Ages as a magic formula. It is derived from the Hebrew phrase abreq ad habra, meaning “hurl your thunderbolt even unto death”.
The earliest written record available of the word is in a second century poem Praecepta de Medicina by Serenus Sammonicus a celebrated Gnostic physician. He gave instructions for using the letters of this magical triangle which he used for curing agues and fevers. It was to be written on paper, folded into the shape of a cross, worn for nine days suspended from the neck and, before sunrise, cast behind the patient into a stream running eastward.
It was also a most popular charm in the Middle Ages. During the Great Plague of 1665, great numbers of these amulets were worn as supposed safeguards against infection. It is one of the most famous of all talismans, and was used as a magical formula by the Gnostics in Rome for invoking the aid of beneficent spirits against disease, misfortune and death.
September 4th, 2006 at 10:47 pm
Or maybe it was an album by Steve Miller Circa 1982
( Just covering all the bases)
September 5th, 2006 at 12:52 am
Looks like J.J.’s covered all the bases. DUDE !
September 5th, 2006 at 9:08 am
He forgot Bugs Bunny used it a lot….. Seemed to work for and against him……
September 5th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
I’d say J.J. nailed it. I’ll have to give a couple of extra points for all that typing….total of 7 points.
A little more from THE BIG BOOK: It is said that Abracadabra was the supreme deity of the Assyrians.
September 9th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Thanx anon, What are the latest scores?
September 9th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
J.J.,
Near as I can tell, all things considered,
RandalphG….44.5
J.J……………29
HuskyS………25
MRambler……11.5 (depending on how you count)
jek the evil….10
Sunn………….5
zook…………..1
That should be right. I hope all of you are also keeping track so we can have a big argument at the of this game….game ends at 50. Somehow you have to keep Randalf from getting 5 points.