magic

1. As yet unexplained, or too complicated to explain; compare

automagically and (Arthur C.) Clarke's Third Law:

Any sufficiently advanced technology is

indistinguishable from magic.

"TTY echoing is controlled by a large number of magic bits."

"This routine magically computes the parity of an 8-bit byte

in three instructions."

2. Characteristic of something that works although no one

really understands why (this is especially called blackmagic).

3. (Stanford) A feature not generally publicised that allows

something otherwise impossible or a feature formerly in that

category but now unveiled.

Compare wizardly, deep magic, heavy wizardry.

For more about hackish "magic" see Magic Switch Story.

4. magic number.

[Jargon File]

(2001-03-19)