talisman
nounverbnounattested in dialogue
- //ˈtæl.ɪsˌmæn//
- //ˈtæl.ɪz.mən//
A magical object providing protection against ill will, or the supernatural, or conferring the wearer with a boon such as good luck, good health, or certain powers.
noun
- 1
A magical object providing protection against ill will, or the supernatural, or conferring the wearer with a boon such as good luck, good health, or certain powers.
That woman’s love is a talisman by which he holds and hopes to get his safety.
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.
Dagobert gave him back his passport. He re-pocketed it indifferently; a talisman which had lost its potency.
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.
Etymology
From French talisman, partly from Arabic طِلَّسْم (ṭillasm, “payment”), from Ancient Greek τέλεσμα (télesma, “payment”); and partly directly from Byzantine Greek τέλεσμα (télesma, “talisman, religious rite, completion”), from τελέω (teléō, “to perform religious rites, to complete”), from τέλος (télos, “end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion”). Doublet of telesm.
verb
- 1
To adorn with a talisman.
The second in his saddle reeled, / Down thundered man and horse;— / Oft I essayed with blow and thrust, / As oft a foeman rolled in dust; / But, ah, what could a single arm, / Though talismaned by beauty’s charm, / Against a host?—for love—for life— / I waged awhile the desperate strife; / ’T was vain—I fell—was left for dead— / And rescued was th’ unwilling maid!
Lo, under their coats, amulets of idols! Possibly such charms talismaned every breast in his army.
They had a pitched battle in the spirit; the girl at length said, “You have something strong which I cannot endure,” and Madame Guyon confesses that she was talismaned by a piece of the true cross around her neck.
After some opening sentences, affirming that Joy, Grace and Love are the marks of the elect of God, we are informed that a letter was mysteriously sent down from heaven to earth, as if it had been shot from a bow. People rushed to read it; but it was talismaned by a seal, which none dared to break.
noun
- 1
obsoleteA mullah (Islamic religious scholar).
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps a corruption of some Arabic word.
Forms
- plural
- talismans, talismen
- past tense
- talismaned, talismanned
- past participle
- talismaned, talismanned
- present participle
- talismaning, talismanning
- third person singular
- talismans
talisman · A magical object providing protection against ill will, or the supernatural, or conferring the wearer with a boon such as good luck, good health, or…
talk · To communicate, usually by means of speech.talkative · Tending to talk a lot.talker · A person who talks, especially one who gives a speech, or is…