English Reference

Word

exorcist

Phoneticsex·or·cist

US/ˈɛksɝsəst/

UK/ˈɛksəsˌɪst/

Definition

n. a person who performs a religious ceremony to drive out evil spirits or demons from a person or place.

n. a person who performs a religious rite or ritual to expel demons or other malevolent spirits from a person or location.

Examples

“The exorcist performed a long prayer over the house.”

“In many cultures, an exorcist is called upon when a family believes a spirit is haunting their home.”

“The film's protagonist is a reluctant exorcist who must confront his own past traumas while attempting to save a young girl from a supernatural possession.”

Examples

simple

“The exorcist performed a long prayer over the house.”

contextual

“In many cultures, an exorcist is called upon when a family believes a spirit is haunting their home.”

complex

“The film's protagonist is a reluctant exorcist who must confront his own past traumas while attempting to save a young girl from a supernatural possession.”

Etymology

From Middle French exorciste, from Latin exorcista, from Ancient Greek ἐξορκιστής (exorkistḗs).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

exorcismNounexorcistNoun

The word in film

The Exorcist · 1974 · Horror

Directed by:
William Friedkin
Starring:
Max von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair

In this classic horror film by William Friedkin, a young girl becomes possessed by a dangerous demon. Max von Sydow plays the priest who must use his religious training to drive the evil spirit out of her body.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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