exorcism
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈɛksɝˌsɪzəm// UK //ˈɛksəsˌɪzəm// ex·or·cism
n. a religious or spiritual ceremony to drive out a demon or evil spirit from a person or place.
n. a ritual or ceremony performed to expel a demon or other malevolent spirit from a person or location.
The priest performed an exorcism to help the man feel better.
In many cultures, an exorcism is a formal ritual involving specific prayers and symbols to cleanse a home of negative energy.
While modern psychology often attributes such behaviors to mental health issues, many traditional communities still view an exorcism as the only way to restore a person's spiritual balance.
From Old French exorciser, from Late Latin exorcizō, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκίζω (exorkízō, “to ward off, to charge under oath, adjure”), from ἐξ (ex) + ὅρκος (hórkos).