apotropaism

[ap-uh-truh-pey-iz-uhm]

noun

the use of magic and ritualistic ceremony to anticipate and prevent evil.

Origin:
< Greek apotrópai(on) object that averts evil (see apotropaic) + -ism

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Apotropaism has a plethora of syllables.

So is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Does it mean:

an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language.

the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).

Word Dynamo Rating For Apotropaism

Quote Of The Day

ap·o·tro·pa·ism