(Eng., "pharmacy," etc.) primarily signified "the use of medicine, drugs, spells;" then, "poisoning;" then, "sorcery," Galatians 5:20 , RV, "sorcery" (AV, "witchcraft"), mentioned as one of "the works of the flesh." See also Revelation 9:21; 18:23 . In the Sept., Exodus 7:11,22; 8:7,18; Isaiah 47:9,12 . In "sorcery," the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.
"the magic art," is used in the plural in Acts 8:11 , "sorceries" (see SORCERER , No. 1).
akin to A, No. 2, "to practice magic," Acts 8:9 , "used sorcery," is used as in A, No. 2, of Simon Magnus.