apotropaic

adjective apo·tro·pa·ic \ˌa-pə-trō-ˈpā-ik\

Definition of APOTROPAIC

: designed to avert evil <an apotropaic ritual>

— apo·tro·pa·i·cal·ly \-ˈpā-ə-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Greek apotropaios, from apotrepein to avert, from apo- + trepein to turn

First Known Use: 1883

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