shaman
pronunciation
How to pronounce shaman in British English:
UK [ˈʃeɪmən]
How to pronounce shaman in American English:
US [ˈʃɑmən, ˈʃe-]
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- Noun:
- in societies practicing shamanism: one acting as a medium between the visible and spirit worlds; practices sorcery for healing or divination
Word Origin
- shaman (n.)
- 1690s, "priest of the Ural-Altaic peoples," probably via German Schamane, from Russian sha'man, from Tungus saman, which is perhaps from Chinese sha men "Buddhist monk," from Prakrit samaya-, from Sanskrit sramana-s "Buddhist ascetic" [OED]. Related: Shamanic.
Example
- 1. The shaman doesn 't charge people for his help .
- 2. On the way to the shaman 's tent .
- 3. People often come to the shaman with questions and he 's always ready to help .
- 4. Her novel , the naked name of love , is about a young jesuit priest who is taught how to love by a gifted shaman woman on the eastern steppes of mongolia .
- 5. He took his job seriously : so seriously that , with his professor 's glasses and a voice as sonorous as gravel shifting underground , he seemed like a shaman of the trade .