An object believed to have magical powers and bring good luck to its owner; a charm or amulet.
From Arabic ṭilasm or ṭilasam, itself borrowed from Byzantine Greek telesma meaning 'religious rite' or 'consecrated object.' The word entered Medieval Latin as talisman through Arabic magical and astrological texts translated in medieval Spain. French adopted it as talisman, and English borrowed it in the 17th century during increased interest in oriental mysticism.
This magical charm word bounced from Greek to Arabic to Latin to French before reaching English! Arabic scholars were so influential in medieval magic and astrology that Europeans learned about Greek mystical concepts through Arabic translations rather than directly from Greek sources.
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