apotropaion

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀποτρόπαιον (apotrópaion).

Noun

apotropaion (plural apotropaia)

1. Something that wards off evil; an amulet or magic charm.
   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     Walking in nature, we see, identify, name, recognize. This recognition is our apotropaion, that is, our warding off of fear.

   • 2015, Lisa Trentin, The Hunchback in Hellenistic and Roman Art, page 52:

     Ancient literature provides clear evidence for the body of the hunchback functioning as an apotropaion.