apotropaic

adjective

apo·tro·pa·ic ˌa-pə-trō-ˈpā-ik

: designed to avert evil

an apotropaic ritual

apotropaically

ˌa-pə-trō-ˈpā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Examples of apotropaic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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The carvings, formally known as apotropaic marks, were discovered by an English Heritage volunteer and are believed to date back to the turn of the 17th century. —

Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024 The carvings, which are formally known as apotropaic marks, were at the time believed to provide ritual protection against evil. —

Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 Witches’ Marks Protected Spaces from Evil Allison C. Meier March 8, 2019 Throughout history, people tried to protect spaces from evil with apotropaic marks, ritual concealments, and other charms. —

The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Oct. 2024 The logic of substitution is common to folk magic around the world and might have been central to apotropaic magic, too. —

Geoff Manaugh, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2019 The witches’ marks, also known as apotropaic marks, are ritual protection symbols carved to protect against witchcraft. —

Fox News, 31 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Greek apotrópaios "averting evil, that should be averted, ill-omened" (from apotrop-, stem in nominal derivation of apotrépein "to turn away from, turn aside, avert" —from apo- apo- + trépein "to turn"— + -aios, adjective suffix) + -ic entry 1 — more at trope