shaman
[ shah-muh n, shey-, sham-uh n ]
/ ˈʃɑ mən, ˈʃeɪ-, ˈʃæm ən /
noun
(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.
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Origin of shaman
1690–1700; < German Schamane < Russian shamán, probably < Evenki šamān, samān
OTHER WORDS FROM shaman
sha·man·ic [shuh-man-ik] /ʃəˈmæn ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby shaman
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for shaman
British Dictionary definitions for shaman
shaman
/ (ˈʃæmən) /
noun
a priest of shamanism
a medicine man of a similar religion, esp among certain tribes of North American Indians
Derived forms of shaman
shamanic (ʃəˈmænɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for shaman
C17: from Russian shaman, from Tungusian ̆saman, from Pali samana Buddhist monk, ultimately from Sanskrit śrama religious exercise
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