apotropaic

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Ancient Greek ἀποτρόπαιος (apotropaios), from ἀποτρέπω.

Adjective[edit]

apotropaic (comparative more apotropaic, superlative most apotropaic)

  1. Intended to ward off evil.
    • 2007, Christopher Hitchens, "Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived", New York Times Book Review, 12 Aug 2007:
      A boring subtext, about the wisdom or otherwise of actually uttering Voldemort's name, meanwhile robs the apotropaic device of its force.

Related terms[edit]

Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=apotropaic&oldid=20551086"