talisman: [17] Talisman, one of the very few English nouns ending in -man which does not turn into -men in the plural (dragoman is another), denotes etymologically an ‘object consecrated by the completion of a religious ritual’. It comes via French talisman from medieval Greek télesmon, an alteration of late Greek télesma ‘consecrated object’. This in turn was derived from the verb teleín ‘complete’, hence ‘perform a ritual’, hence ‘consecrate’, which was based on télos ‘aim, result’ (source of English teleology [18]). => teleology, television
talisman (n.)
1630s, "magical figure cut or engraved under certain observances," from French talisman, in part via Arabic tilsam (plural tilsaman), from Byzantine Greek telesma "talisman, religious rite, payment," earlier "consecration, ceremony," originally in ancient Greek "completion," from telein "perform (religious rites), pay (tax), fulfill," from telos "end, fulfillment, completion" (see tele-). The Arabic word also was borrowed into Turkish, Persian, Hindi. Related: Talismanic; talismanical.
双语例句
1. Talisman, Talisman, show me your secrets.
护身符, 护身符, 请把玄机告诉我.
来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦
2. Quick as a wink , the lamemouse snatched up the precious talisman.
说时迟那时快, 跛足的老鼠一把抓住宝贵的法宝.
来自辞典例句
3. I am their lucky talisman; my business has never been so good.
我是他们命运保护神, 我的生意从来也没这么好过.
来自辞典例句
4. It was like a talisman worn in bosom.
它就象佩在胸前的护身符一样.
来自辞典例句
5. Dress was the one unfailing talisman and charm used for keeping all things in their places.