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noun
1.
a person, thing, or influence supposed to bring bad luck.
verb (used with object)
2.
to bring bad luck to; place a jinx on: The strike has jinxed my plans to go to Milwaukee for the weekend.
3.
to destroy the point of: His sudden laugh jinxed the host's joke.
Origin:
1910–15, Americanism; perhaps < Latin jynx wryneck (bird used in divination and magic) < Greek íynx
1910–15, Americanism; perhaps < Latin jynx wryneck (bird used in divination and magic) < Greek íynx
Related forms
out·jinx, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Jinx
Collins
World English Dictionary
jinx (dʒɪŋks) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | an unlucky or malevolent force, person, or thing |
| —vb | |
| 2. | (tr) to be or put a jinx on |
| [C20: perhaps from New Latin Jynx genus name of the wryneck, from Greek iunx wryneck, the name of a bird used in magic] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Jinx
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
jinx
1911, Amer.Eng., from 17c. jyng "a charm, a spell," originally "wryneck," a bird used in witchcraft and divination, from L. iynx "wryneck," from Gk. iynx. The verb is 1917 in Amer.Eng., from the noun.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Its location has been something of a jinx for restaurants, with many having opened and closed in short order.
One does not discuss such things, he said, as if it might jinx his chances.
If they are not lobbying now, that is because they feel that they have already done their work and do not want to jinx it.
And he's in the process of lining up a full-time gig that he doesn't want to jinx by disclosing.
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