tal·is·man

(tăl′ĭs-mən, -ĭz-)

n. pl. tal·is·mans

1. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.

2. Something that apparently has magic power.

[Ultimately (probably via French talisman) from alteration of Arabic ṭilasmāt, pl. of ṭilasm, talisman, from Late Greek telesma, from Greek telein, to fulfill, consecrate, endow with magic power, from telos, result; see k^wel- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

talisman

(ˈtælɪzmən)

n, pl -mans

1. (Alternative Belief Systems) a stone or other small object, usually inscribed or carved, believed to protect the wearer from evil influences

2. (Alternative Belief Systems) anything thought to have magical or protective powers

[C17: via French or Spanish from Arabic tilsam, from Medieval Greek telesma ritual, from Greek: consecration, from telein to perform a rite, complete, from telos end, result]

talismanic, talismanical adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

tal•is•man

(ˈtæl ɪs mən, -ɪz-)

n., pl. -mans.

1. an object engraved with figures supposed to possess occult powers, worn as a charm.

2. anything that exercises a powerful influence.

[1630–40; < French or Sp « Arabic ṭilasm < Greek télesma payment]

tal`is•man′ic (-ˈmæn ɪk) adj.

talisman

An amulet engraved with characters that attract occult influences, often used to perform a specific act, such as healing. They bring good luck and avert danger. Unlike an amulet (which is passive) a talisman must be waved, kissed, touched or used in some similar way.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

talisman - a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease

amulet

good luck charm, charm - something believed to bring good luck

greegree, gres-gris, grigri - an African amulet

talisman

noun charm, mascot, amulet, lucky charm, fetish, juju, periapt (rare) a talisman with protective powers

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

talisman

noun

A small object worn or kept for its supposed magical power:

amulet, charm, fetish, juju, periapt, phylactery.

Translations

طلسمطَلْسَم، تَعْويذَه

talisman

amulettalisman

Talisman

amuleto talismán

amulette phylactère talisman

talisman

talizmán

verndargripur

talismans

talizman

talisman

[ˈtælɪzmən] N (talismans (pl)) → talismán m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

talisman

[ˈtælɪzmən] n → talisman m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

talisman

n pl <-s> → Talisman m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

talisman

[ˈtælɪzmən] n → talismano

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

talisman

(ˈtӕlizmən) , ((American) -lis-) noun

an object which is supposed to have magic powers to protect its owner; a charm. He had a rabbit's foot which he wore round his neck as a talisman.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Every tenth day, for five and twenty years, I have received a visit from him, but in case I should need his help at any other time, I have only to touch a talisman that stands at the entrance of my chamber.

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-- they hold a treasure Divine -- a talisman -- an amulet That must be worn at heart.

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She therefore sent the Prince a large and splendid ruby, with injunctions to wear it night and day as it would protect him from all attacks, but added that the talisman only retained its power as long as the Prince remained within his father's dominions.

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And now I and my trusty talisman were parted for the first time.

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The maiden lady arose upon her feet, as pale as a ghost at cock-crow; for she was an enslaved spirit, and this the talisman to which she owed obedience.

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My assistant and I are of no country, we belong to all Barsoom and this talisman which we wear protects us in all lands, even among the green men--though we do not trust ourselves to their hands if we can avoid it," he added.

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Tulkinghorn takes out his papers, asks permission to place them on a golden talisman of a table at my Lady's elbow, puts on his spectacles, and begins to read by the light of a shaded lamp.

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"Ruth." It was a talisman, a magic word to conjure with.

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But he was a man of more resources than I knew; searched the wood until he found the quill of a cushat-dove, which he shaped into a pen; made himself a kind of ink with gunpowder from his horn and water from the running stream; and tearing a corner from his French military commission (which he carried in his pocket, like a talisman to keep him from the gallows), he sat down and wrote as follows:

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O Fiend, whose talisman was that fatal symbol, wouldst thou leave nothing, whether in youth or age, for this poor sinner to revere?

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For it was set apart and sanctified to one awe-striking end; and however wanton in their sailor ways, one and all, the mariners revered it as the white whale's talisman. Sometimes they talked it over in the weary watch by night, wondering whose it was to be at last, and whether he would ever live to spend it.

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N.B.--No household should ever be without this talisman. It has been noticed that tramps never return for another ash-cake.

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