talisman

/'tælizmən/

Thân thiện

A young woman wears a small talisman on a leather cord around her neck.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small object, often a piece of jewelry or a trinket, believed to possess magical powers that bring good luck or offer protection against evil, harm, or illness. It is typically worn or carried by a person.

Usage

• A talisman is a physical object imbued with symbolic or supernatural significance. It is often worn, such as on a necklace, or carried on one's person. Its primary purpose is to act as a charm or amulet for protection or to attract good fortune. The belief in its power is central to its definition.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She wore the ancient coin as a talisman against bad luck.
  • The explorer carried a small stone talisman, believing it would protect him during his journey.
  • Many cultures have traditional talismans for health and prosperity.

Advanced Usage

• "To act as a talisman": To serve the function of bringing luck or protection.
  • The team considered their mascot to act as a talisman for victory.
• Conceptual use: The word can be used metaphorically for something that provides psychological comfort or confidence, akin to a lucky charm.
  • For him, his father's old watch was more than a timepiece; it was a talisman.

Variants and Related Words

• Talismanic (adjective): Having the qualities of or acting like a talisman; believed to bring good luck or protection.
  • The talismanic statue was said to guard the village.

Synonyms

• Amulet: A small object worn to protect against evil, harm, or illness. (Often used interchangeably with "talisman," though some distinctions exist; an amulet is generally for protection, while a talisman may also be for attracting positive outcomes).
• Charm: An object believed to bring good luck.
• Fetish: An object believed to have supernatural powers.
• Mascot: A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, especially to a team or organization.

Idioms and Phrases

• A lucky talisman: A common collocation emphasizing the object's function to bring good fortune.
  • He kept his lucky talisman in his pocket during the exam.
• To serve as one's talisman: To function as one's protective or lucky object.
  • The simple ring served as her talisman throughout her career.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease

Từ đồng nghĩa

• amulet