shaman

[ shah-muhn, shey-, sham-uhn ]
See synonyms for: shamanshamans on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. (especially among certain tribal peoples) a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.

Origin of shaman

1
First recorded in 1690–1700; from German Schamane, from Russian shamán, probably from Evenki šamān, samān or another Tungusic language, perhaps ultimately via an intermediary such as Tocharian B from Sanskrit śramaṇá- “ascetic, monk”

Other words from shaman

  • sha·man·ic [shuh-man-ik], /ʃəˈmæn ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby shaman

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How to use shaman in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shaman

shaman

/ (ˈʃæmən) /


noun
  1. a priest of shamanism

  2. a medicine man of a similar religion, esp among certain tribes of North American Indians

Origin of shaman

1
C17: from Russian shaman, from Tungusian ̆saman, from Pali samana Buddhist monk, ultimately from Sanskrit śrama religious exercise

Derived forms of shaman

  • shamanic (ʃəˈmænɪk), adjective

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