A Topical Dictionary: Search for talisman

Dictionary Results For "talisman" [?]/[OPML]

Ads By Google

Wiktionary Articles [RSS] - [GNU, www.Wiktionary.org]

English

Etymology

French talisman partly from Arabic (ʈílasm) < (telesma) "payment"; and partly directly from Byzantine Greek (talisman, religious rite, completion) < (to perform religious rites, to complete) < (end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion).

Pronunciation

IPA: /ˈtæl.ɪsˌmæn/ or /ˈtæl.ɪz.mən/
An audio transcript can be found at en-us-talisman.ogg

Noun

A small amulet or other object, often bearing magical symbols, worn for protection against evil spirits or the supernatural.

Quotations

1997 — John Peel, War of the Daleks, ch. 10 p. 233
: She kept low, clutching the rifle she'd taken as though it were a magic talisman, as if it would somehow protect her even though she didn't fire it.
1916 — Frank Baum, Rinkitink in Oz, ch. 1
: I have in my possession three Magic Talismans, which I have ever guarded with utmost care, keeping the knowledge of their existence from anyone else.

Translations

Arabic: {{t-|ar|طلسم|m|tr=ʈílasm|sc=Arab}}
Croatian: {{t-|hr|talisman|m}}
Finnish: talismaani
Italian: {{t-|it|talismano|m}}
Latvian: {{t-|lv|talismans|m|xs=Latvian}}
Lithuanian: talismanas

Malay: azimat
Polish: talizman
Portuguese: {{t+|pt|talismã|m}}
Romansch: amulet
Russian: {{t+|ru|талисман|m|tr=talismán|sc=Cyrl}}
Spanish: {{t-|es|talismán|m}}

----

Croatian

Noun

#English|talisman

ar:talisman fr:talisman io:talisman kk:talisman hu:talisman pl:talisman ru:talisman sl:talisman ta:talisman te:talisman vi:talisman

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Talisman \Tal"is*man\, n.; pl. Talismans. [Sp., from Ar.
tilism, tilsam, a magical image, pl. tilsam[=a]n, fr. Gr. ?
tribute, tax, LGr., an initiation, incantation, from ? to
complete, perform, to play taxes, to make perfect, to
initiate, especially in the mysteries, fr. ? completion,
end.]
1. A magical figure cut or engraved under certain
superstitious observances of the configuration of the
heavens, to which wonderful effects are ascribed; the
seal, figure, character, or image, of a heavenly sign,
constellation, or planet, engraved on a sympathetic stone,
or on a metal corresponding to the star, in order to
receive its influence.
[1913 Webster]

2. Hence, something that produces extraordinary effects, esp.
in averting or repelling evil; an amulet; a charm; as, a
talisman to avert diseases. --Swift.
[1913 Webster] Talismanic

WordNet talisman
n : a trinket or piece of jewelry thought to be a protection
against evil [syn: amulet]

Moby Dictionary
amulet , charm , fetish , fylfot , gammadion , good-luck charm , hoodoo ,
juju , love charm , luck , lucky bean , lucky piece , madstone , mascot ,
mumbo jumbo , obeah , periapt , philter , phylactery , scarab ,
scarabaeus , scarabee , sudarium , swastika , veronica , voodoo , whammy ,
wishbone

TALISMAN Tracing Authors' rights by Labelling Image Services and Monitoring Access Network [project] (Europe)