English → Latin
“magic” in Latin
magicusmagic, magicalvenēficiuman instance of poisoning; poisonous substance; the preparation of magic potions; sorcery, witchcraft, magic, magic potioexerceōto keep busy, keep at work, drive on; occupy, practise, employ, exercise (something in a form of action); to harass, worcolōto cultivate the land, till, tend, take care of a field or garden; to inhabit; to frequent, be the guardian of, cherish,tractōto tug, drag or haul; to handle, manage, or treat; to exercise, practise, transact or perform
The English word magic itself goes back to Latin magicus.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
magic
ars magica (Liv.); magice (Plin.); magica (Apul.); veneficium (Liv.). To practise magic, artem magicam, artes magicas, exercere, colere, tractare: to do by magic, arte magica perficere aliquid: a magic lantern, *laterna magica.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for magic?
- The usual Latin words for “magic” are magicus, venēficium, exerceō; also colō, tractō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.