incantation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

incantation
    n 1: a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a
         magical effect [syn: {incantation}, {conjuration}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Incantation \In`can*ta"tion\, n. [L. incantatio, fr. incantare
   to chant a magic formula over one: cf. F. incantation. See
   {Enchant}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act or process of using formulas sung or spoken, with
      occult ceremonies, for the purpose of raising spirits,
      producing enchantment, or affecting other magical results;
      enchantment. "Mysterious ceremony and incantation."
      --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A formula of words used as above.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The repetitive invoking of old sayings, or emitting a
      wordy discourse with little or no meaning, to avoid
      serious discussion; obfuscation; as, to defend one's views
      with empty incantations.
      [PJC]

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

incantation
 n.

   Any particularly arbitrary or obscure command that one must mutter at
   a system to attain a desired result. Not used of passwords or other
   explicit security features. Especially used of tricks that are so
   poorly documented that they must be learned from a {wizard}. "This
   compiler normally locates initialized data in the data segment, but if
   you {mutter} the right incantation they will be forced into text
   space."

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

incantation
spell

   Any particularly arbitrary or obscure command that one must
   mutter at a system to attain a desired result.  Not used of
   passwords or other explicit security features.  Especially
   used of tricks that are so poorly documented that they must be
   learned from a {wizard}.  "This compiler normally locates
   initialised data in the data segment, but if you {mutter} the
   right incantation they will be forced into text space."

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

22 Moby Thesaurus words for "incantation":
      abracadabra, bewitchment, conjuration, conjurement, devil,
      enchantment, evocation, exorcisation, exorcism, exsufflation,
      hocus-pocus, invocation, magic formula, magic words, mumbo jumbo,
      necromancy, open sesame, rune, sorcery, witchcraft, witchery,
      wizardry