ex·or·cism

[ek-sawr-siz-uhm, -ser-]
noun
1.
the act or process of exorcising.
2.
the ceremony or the formula used in exorcising: An elaborate exorcism was pronounced over the sick man.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English exorcisme (< Old French) < Medieval Latin < Greek exorkismós administration of an oath. See exorcise, -ism

ex·or·cis·mal [ek-sawr-siz-muhl, ‐ser] , ex·or·ci·so·ry [ek-sawr-sahy-zuh-ree, ‐ser] , ex·or·cis·ti·cal, ex·or·cis·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To exorcism
00:10
Exorcism is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Collins
World English Dictionary
exorcize or exorcise (ˈɛksɔːˌsaɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
(tr) to expel or attempt to expel (one or more evil spirits) from (a person or place believed to be possessed or haunted), by prayers, adjurations, and religious rites
 
[C15: from Late Latin exorcizāre, from Greek exorkizein, from ex-1 + horkizein to adjure]
 
exorcise or exorcise
 
vb
 
[C15: from Late Latin exorcizāre, from Greek exorkizein, from ex-1 + horkizein to adjure]
 
'exorcizer or exorcise
 
n
 
'exorciser or exorcise
 
n
 
'exorcism or exorcise
 
n
 
'exorcist or exorcise
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

exorcism
14c., "a calling up or driving out of evil spirits," from L.L. exorcismus, from Gk. exorkizein "exorcize, bind by oath," from ex- "out of" + horkizein "cause to swear," from horkos "oath."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Many specify incantations and exorcism of the kind that would require the help
  or tuition of a specialist intermediary.
He writes about people who haunt him, and his stories can be read as attempts
  at exorcism.
Strange noises float from the church: an exorcism, apparently.
The remedy for the malady is the exorcism of offending averments.
Related Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT