obeah

noun

obe·​ah ˈō-bē-ə How to pronounce obeah (audio)
variants or less commonly obi
often capitalized
: a system of belief among Black people chiefly of the British West Indies and the Guianas that is characterized by the use of magic ritual to ward off misfortune or to cause harm

Examples of obeah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Bahamas plot marks the series’ most significant expansion from the novel, exploring the impact of American meddling on longtime residents like hired enforcer Egg (David St. Louis) and Gracie (Jodie Turner-Smith), an obeah mystic who calls herself the Dragon Queen. Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2024 Two Black obeah men—spiritualists—got the credit for curing her. Ishion Hutchinson, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

of African origin; akin to Ibo díbìà folk healer

First Known Use

circa 1711, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obeah was circa 1711

Dictionary Entries Near obeah

Cite this Entry

“Obeah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obeah. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on obeah

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!