Exorcizement

/ɪkˈsɔːrsaɪzmənt/ noun

Definition

The act or process of driving out an evil spirit or demon from a person or place through religious rituals or prayers.

Etymology

From exorcize (from Greek exorkizein 'to bind by oath, to drive out') + -ment suffix denoting an action or result. The Greek root combines ex- 'out' and horkos 'oath,' as exorcism was originally seen as commanding spirits to leave by invoking sacred oaths.

Kelly Says

Exorcizement appears rarely in modern English because we prefer the Latin-derived 'exorcism,' but this Germanic-style noun suffix (-ment) shows how English speakers kept trying different ways to name the same spiritual practice throughout history.

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