Hyphenation
ab·ra·ca·dab·raTurkish pronunciation
äbrıkıdäbrıPronunciation
/ˌabrəkəˈdabrə/ /ˌæbrəkəˈdæbrə/
Etymology
[ "a-br&-k&-'da-br& ] (noun.) 1565. Magical word used in certain Gnostic writings, relation to Greek Abraxas, a Gnostic deity. It may also be a corruption of the Aramaic term עַבְדָא כְּדַברָא, avda kedavra; “what was said has been done”; or perhaps, עברא כדברא, avra kedavra; “what has said has come to pass.” It may also be the combination of three hebrew words ארבע-אחד-ארבע when it is read from right to left . The Aramaic is the source of the Avada Kedavra killing curse in the Harry Potter books.