exorcism
(ˈɛksəsɪz(ə)m, ˈɛksɔː-, ɛgˈzɔːsɪz(ə)m)
Forms: 5–7 exorcisme, (4–5 exorsism, 6 exorcysme, -cyme), 5– exorcism.
[ad. late L. exorcism-us, a. Eccl. Gr. ἐξορκισµός, f. ἐξορκίζειν: see exorcize. Cf. Fr. exorcisme.
In this and the related words Johnson and nearly all later Dicts. mark the stress on the first syllable; but the second pronunciation is often heard, esp. in exorcize, which otherwise is liable to confusion with exercise.]
1. The action of exorcizing or expelling an evil spirit by adjuration or the performance of certain rites; an instance of this.
¶In first quot. misused for exorcist.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1579 Sorsers & exorsismus & fele such clerkes. c 1450 Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. (Surtees) 3815 Be þe vertu of exorcisme. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) i. ii. 14 And that suffyseth as now of the exorcysme & cathecysme. 1550 Veron Godly Saiyngs (1846) 44 Ye did give your names, & began to be ground with fastinges & exorcymes. 1641 Milton Reform. i. (1851) 3 Then was Baptisme chang'd into a kind of exorcisme. 1750 Warburton Doctr. Grace ii. v. Wks. (1811) VIII. 336 To evince these great Truths, seems to have been the end both of Possessions and of the Exorcisms. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. xxiv, The spectres whom no exorcism can bind. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh ii. 872 An exorcism against the devildom Which plainly held me. 1879 Farrar St. Paul I. 492 The calm authoritative exorcism restored the broken harmony of her being. |
† b. improperly. The action of calling up spirits; the ceremonies observed for that purpose; conjuration. Obs.
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. v, But moste she wrought by nycromancye With exorsismes and conjuracions. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, i. iv. 5 Will her Ladyship behold and heare our Exorcismes? 1602 Dekker Satiromastix 183 This ghost of Tucca..was raised up (in print) by new Exorcismes. a 1652 J. Smith Sel. Disc. ii. 37 This root of superstition..branched forth..into magic and exorcisms. |
2. A formula employed in exorcizing.
| 1550 Bale Apol. 23 b, I found an olde bishoppes ordynary or boke of their exorcismes for church halowinges, etc. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iv. xliv. 339 The same Exorcisme is repeated once more. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. (1779) I. xxxiv. 306 Morgan..began to utter exorcisms with great devotion. 1755 Young Centaur (1757) IV. vi. 251 Here, then, I shall begin my exorcism. Its words must be strange and barbarous, suited to the occasion. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxv, Fortified with..as many exorcisms as his memory could recover, he advanced. |
† b. An imprecatory oath. Obs.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 225 That prescript forme of exorcisme, whereby the two Decij, both the father and sonne, betooke themselues to all the hellish furies. |
Hence exorˈcismal a., pertaining to, or of the nature of, exorcism.
| 1887 Fortn. Rev. May 740 The exorcismal practices of the clergy. |