Word of the Day

: May 18, 2025

talisman

noun TAL-iss-mun

What It Means

A talisman is an object (such as a ring or stone) that is believed to have magic powers and to cause good things to happen to the person who has it.

// In ancient times, the gemstone was worn as a talisman to ward off evil.

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talisman in Context

“Brianna takes a picture of the shell on the beach, then holds it in her hand, staring as if at a talisman.” — Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025

Did You Know?

Whether your personal lucky charm takes the form of a pink heart, yellow moon, orange star, green clover, or something else, the English language has got you covered, offering a bowlful of synonyms for magical objects. There’s mojo and amulet, periapt and phylactery, to name just a few. Talisman is another, and the mystery of its origins reflects the ubiquity of magical charms across cultures, languages, and time. The English language may have borrowed talisman from French, Spanish, or Italian; all three include similar-looking words that in turn come from the Arabic word for a charm, ṭilsam. Ṭilsam traces back to the ancient Greek verb telein, which means “to initiate into the mysteries [secret religious rites].”