Skip to content

The word for today is…

apotropaic (adjective):

: designed to avert evil

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : Apotropaic is a literal descriptor for things believed to protect against evil. Apotropaic motifs can be found throughout history, from carvings of Greek Gorgons to charms worn to repel the evil eye. The word apotropaic comes from the Greek verb apotrépein, meaning “to turn away from, avert,” combining apo- (“away”) with trépein (“to turn”). The magic of apo- doesn’t end there: its influence is evident in many English words, including apology, apostrophe, apostle, and apocalypse.

If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.

Latest

Good Oil Backchat

Good Oil Backchat

Please read our rules before you start commenting on The Good Oil to avoid a temporary or permanent ban.

Members Public
The Sin-Eaters’ Morbid Menu

The Sin-Eaters’ Morbid Menu

We no longer hire miserable wretches to sit by our corpses and eat our misdeeds. Instead, we have public relations firms, crisis management consultants, and political spin doctors who will gladly swallow our worst behaviour and tell the world it tastes like heaven.

Members Public