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shaman definition

sha·man (s̸hä′mən, s̸hā′-; s̸ham′ən)

noun pl. shamans sha′·mans

a priest or medicine man, esp. among N Asian peoples, who is believed able to heal and to foretell the future through communication with good and evil spirits

Etymology: Russ < Tungusic šaman < Prakrit amana, Buddhist monk < Sans ramaṇa, orig., ascetic, akin to ram, to fatigue

Related Forms:

  • shamanic sha·man′ic (s̸hə man′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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