An
incantation or
enchantment is a charm or
spell created using words. An incantation may take place during a
ritual, either a
hymn or
prayer, and may invoke or praise a
deity. In
magic,
occultism,
shamanism, and
witchcraft it is used with the intention of casting a spell on an object or a person. The term derives from
Latin "incantare" (tr.), meaning "to chant (a magical spell) upon," from
in- "into, upon" and
cantare "to sing".