Word of the Day

: December 5, 2008

golem

noun GOH-lum

What It Means

1 : an artificial being in Hebrew folklore endowed with life

2 : someone or something resembling a golem

golem in Context

With the flick of a switch, the scientist brought life to his creation, then watched with awe as the golem rose from the table.

Did You Know?

The Hebrew ancestor of the word "golem" meant "shapeless mass," and the original golems started as lumps of clay that were formed into figures and brought to life by means of a charm or a combination of letters forming a sacred word. In the Middle Ages, golems were thought to be the perfect servants; their only fault was that they were sometimes too literal or mechanical in fulfilling their masters' orders. In the 16th century, the golem was thought of as a protector of the Jews in times of persecution. But by the late 1800s, "golem" had acquired a less friendly second sense, referring to a man-made monster that inspired many of the back-from-the-dead creations of classic horror fiction.