talisman

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William Hupy
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talisman

Postby William Hupy » Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:30 pm

Am I reading this correctly? Did this word take on such a contorted path to English: Greek, then Arabic, then Italian to English?
William A. Hupy

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gailr
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Re: talisman

Postby gailr » Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:06 pm

Not sure what you're referencing, but etymonline agrees.
1630s, from French talisman, in part via Arabic tilsam (plural tilsaman), a Greek loan-word; in part directly from Byzantine Greek telesma "talisman, religious rite, payment," earlier "consecration, ceremony," originally "completion," from telein "perform (religious rites), pay (tax), fulfill," from telos "completion, end, tax" (see tele-).

Perry Lassiter
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Re: talisman

Postby Perry Lassiter » Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:36 pm

And I always thought Talisman was a superhero even though I couldn't rememb his special power. :-(
pl


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