shaman [shah -muh n, shey -, sham -uh n]
Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for shaman on Thesaurus.com (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. Show More
Origin of shaman 1690–1700; < German Schamane < Russian shamán, probably < Evenki šamān, samān
Related forms sha·man·ic [shuh -man -ik] /ʃəˈmæn ɪk/ adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for shaman Contemporary Examples of shaman To hear 26-year-old Jillian Banks talk about her music is like listening to a shaman explain the mechanics of a complex spell.
As the Cofán shaman blew strongly over the cup, I took those few seconds to contemplate how I had managed to find myself here.
Let a shaman wave vine leaves over her and enforce a little semi-public shaming.
Don't listen to urban people scared of their own shadow, it will be fantastic, and with a Taita [shaman ].
Historical Examples of shaman He had never forgiven the Shaman , you see, for that old story about the Corn Maiden.
She put on her Shaman 's dress and about the middle of the day the Cacique of the Sun sent for them.
I had the power of a Shaman , though the Holder of the Heavens had not yet spoken to me.
He was older than I, but he was also fat, and for all his Shaman 's dress I was not frightened.
Thus the Shaman planned before the start was made for Midas.
British Dictionary definitions for shaman a priest of shamanism a medicine man of a similar religion, esp among certain tribes of North American Indians Show More
Derived Forms shamanic (ʃəˈmænɪk ), adjective Word Origin for shaman C17: from Russian shaman, from Tungusian ̆saman, from Pali samana Buddhist monk, ultimately from Sanskrit śrama religious exercise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for shaman n. 1690s, "priest of the Ural-Altaic peoples," probably via German Schamane , from Russian sha'man , from Tungus saman , which is perhaps from Chinese sha men "Buddhist monk," from Prakrit samaya- , from Sanskrit sramana-s "Buddhist ascetic" [OED]. Related: Shamanic .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
