Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “talisman” come from?

Talisman comes from French talisman, from Arabic طِلَسْم, from Ancient Greek τέλεσμα, a noun formed with the suffix -μα from τέλος meaning completion or fulfillment, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-.

talisman (English): A magical object providing protection against ill...

Definitions

  1. A magical object providing protection against ill...

Ancestry of “talisman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchtalismantalisman
2Arabicطلسمenigma; talisman; seal inscribed with cryptic...
3Ancient Greekτέλεσμαpayment, toll, taxes; certificate
4Ancient Greekτελέωto bring about, complete, fulfill; to perform,...
5Ancient Greekτέλοςcompletion, accomplishment, fulfillment,...
6Ancient Greekμέροςpart, component, region; share, portion; one's...
7Proto-Hellenic*(h)méros—

Words derived from “talisman”

  • talismanic
  • talismanically
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *(h)méros →