talisman

[ tal-is-muhn ]

Part of Speech noun

Origin + Etymology

mid-17th century: Arabic; based on ṭilsam, apparently from an alteration of late Greek telesma "completion, religious rite," from telein "complete, perform a rite," from telos "result, end"

Synonyms

amulet charm

fetish lucky charm amulet

Antonyms

unavailable

unavailable

Definition

1. any amulet or charm

2. a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm

Examples

1. A) The ankh symbol is commonly worn as a talisman. B) It can be hard to determine whether a particular talisman brought good luck or whether it was just random happenstance.

2. A) Many forget that Excalibur's sheath was a powerful talisman that warded the bearer against all damage. B) There is a new age store at the end of the block that can sell you a talisman for good luck.

Usage Over Time

#unique

Usage Over Time

explore more words

droke

[ drohk ]

a valley with steeply sloping sides

antediluvian

[ an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn ]

very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive

neophyte

[ nee-uh-fahyt ]

a person newly converted to a belief, as a heathen, heretic, or nonbeliever; proselyte

maudlin

[ mawd-lin ]

tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental

percolate

[ pur-kuh-leyt ]

to pass through a porous substance or filter; steep

marital

[ mar-i-tl ]

of or relating to marriage; conjugal; matrimonial

knoll

[ nohl ]

a small, rounded hill or eminence; hillock

baumé

[ boh-mey ]

being, calibrated in accordance with, or according to either of two arbitrary hydrometer scales for liquids lighter than water or for liquids heavier than water that indicate specific gravity in degrees