noun

conjuration

kahn-juh-RAY-shun/ˌkɑndʒəˈreɪʃən/

The making of something appear through magic or illusion.

The magician's conjuration produces a white dove from an apparently empty hat.

Stage magician summons white dove from empty top hat, surprised adult audience, no supernatural claims.

Etymology

conLatintogether

+jurLatinto swear

+ationLatinact or process

The base means “swear together,” but the magical sense involves invoking supernatural powers by a sacred name. Such invocation supplies the connection between oath-taking and calling something forth by magic.

More examples

The audience applauds the conjuration of a rabbit from an empty hat.
The wizard's conjuration produces a doorway in the stone wall.
We watch several conjurations, trying to spot the magician's tricks.

Forms

conjuration · conjurations

conjure verb — Make something appear by magic or illusion.

Similar words

illusion: Emphasizes a misleading appearance rather than the act producing it.
summoning: Emphasizes calling a being or spirit into one's presence.
magic: Covers supernatural powers and tricks, not just making things appear.