abraxas
[ uh-brak-suh s ]
/ əˈbræk səs /
noun
a word of unknown significance found on charms, especially amulets, of the late Greco-Roman world and linked with both Gnostic beliefs and magical practices by the early church fathers.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
abraser, abrash, abrasion, abrasive, abrasiveness, abraxas, abrazo, abreact, abreaction, abreast, abri
Origin of abraxas
From the Greek word abráxas, abrasáx, of obscure origin; the combined numerical value of the Gk letters is 365, an important figure in numerology
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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British Dictionary definitions for abraxas
abraxas
abrasax (əˈbræsəks)
/ (əˈbræksəs) /
noun
an ancient charm composed of Greek letters: originally believed to have magical powers and inscribed on amulets, etc, but from the second century ad personified by Gnostics as a deity, the source of divine emanations
Word Origin for abraxas
from Greek: invented word
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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