Dibbuk

/dɪˈbʊk/ noun

Definition

A variant spelling of dybbuk, a malevolent spirit in Jewish folklore that possesses a living person's body.

Etymology

From Yiddish dibbuk/dybbuk, from Hebrew dibbuq (clinging), the root meaning 'to cling.' The variant spelling reflects different transliteration methods from Hebrew to English.

Kelly Says

The dybbuk concept influenced major works like S. Ansky's play 'The Dybbuk' and even inspired modern horror—it's essentially possession psychology formalized in 16th-century Kabbalistic thought before Freud.

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