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
- A magical object providing protection against ill...
Ancestry of “talisman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | talisman | talisman |
| 2 | Arabic | طلسم | enigma; talisman; seal inscribed with cryptic... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | τέλεσμα | payment, toll, taxes; certificate |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | τελέω | to bring about, complete, fulfill; to perform,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | τέλος | completion, accomplishment, fulfillment,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μέρος | part, component, region; share, portion; one's... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | *(h)méros | — |