Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.
- n. Something that apparently has magic power.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A supposed charm consisting of a magical figure cut or engraved under certain superstitious observances of the configuration of the heavens; the seal, figure, character, or image of a heavenly sign, constellation, or planet engraved on a sympathetic stone, or on a metal corresponding to the star, in order to receive its influence. The word is also used in a wider sense and as equivalent to amulet. The talisman is supposed to exercise extraordinary influences over the bearer, especially in averting evils, as disease or sudden death.
- n. Figuratively, any means to the attainment of extraordinary results; a charm.
- n. Synonyms See amulet, and definition of phylactery.
- n. A Mohammedan priest.
Wiktionary
- n. A magical object worn for protection against ill will, or the supernatural, or to confer the wearer with a boon such as good luck, good health, or power(s).
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A magical figure cut or engraved under certain superstitious observances of the configuration of the heavens, to which wonderful effects are ascribed; the seal, figure, character, or image, of a heavenly sign, constellation, or planet, engraved on a sympathetic stone, or on a metal corresponding to the star, in order to receive its influence.
- n. Hence, something that produces extraordinary effects, esp. in averting or repelling evil; an amulet; a charm.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease
Etymologies
- French talisman partly from Arabic طلسم (ṭílasm), from Ancient Greek τέλεσμα (telesma, "payment"); and partly directly from Byzantine Greek τέλεσμα ("talisman, religious rite, completion"), from τελέω ("to perform religious rites, to complete"), from τέλος ("end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion"). (Wiktionary)
- French talisman or Spanish talismán or Italian talismano, all from Arabic ṭilasm, from Late Greek telesma, from Greek, consecration ceremony, from telein, to consecrate, fulfill, from telos, result. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“The alien talisman is now in the possession of the Gorgon and her evil nuns, and they are preparing to open the portal to their world.”
“Known as nazar, the evil eye talisman is particularly common in Turkey.”
“So he summoned on it the doctors and astrologers and men skilled in talisman-writing and said to them, Whoso healeth my daughter of what ill she hath, I will marry him to her and give him half of my kingdom; but whoso cometh to her and cureth her not,”
“Lovelace has a bit of plastic around his neck, which he insists is a talisman from the mystic beings, and charges individual penguins one pebble for an answer to any question they may have for him.”
“In its widest sense, the word talisman is synonymous with amulet.”
“In the minds of most persons the terms talisman, amulet, and charm are synonymous.”
“My talisman is a silver ring that I've had for several years.”
The Huffington Post: Shannon Galpin: A Talisman for the Women Around the World
“Budur saw the talisman she cried out for joy and slipped down in a swoon; and when she recovered she said to herself, “Verily, this talisman was the cause of my separation from my beloved Kamar al-Zaman; but now it is an omen of good.””
“The young sceptic went up to this so-called talisman, which was to rescue him from all points of view, and he soon found out the cause of its singular brilliancy.”
“For Dalton Silverthorne, his talisman is a combat infantry badge from a soldier who had been here before.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘talisman’.
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GRE Barron's 800
abate, abdicate, aberrant, abeyance, abject, abjure, abscission, abscond, abstemious, abstinence, abysmal, accretion and 787 more...
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Substancestry
Mysterious and theoretical substances and "stuff" of legend. More emphasis on the ancient, mystical, mythical, folklore, mathematical, and scientific. I won't be listing too many "sci-fi" or comed...
ylem, ichor, aether, ectoplasm, impossible object, quark star, eucharist, pixie dust, eitr, elixir of life, philosopher's stone, alkahest and 126 more...
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Of Arabic Origin
Arabic loanwords in English are words acquired directly from Arabic or else indirectly by passing from Arabic into other languages and then into English. Most entered one or more of the Romance lan...
admiral, adobe, albatross, alchemy, alcohol, alcove, alembic, alfalfa, algebra, algorism, algorithm, alidade and 181 more...
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Figuratively
Words with definitions containing "figuratively."
spore, plunge, fulminate, rasp, hinge, niche, breathe, approach, hammer, rain, butcher, dazzle and 132 more...
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Hence
Words with definitions that have a "hence" in them.
hanger, Deet, tripe, spindlelegs, fiddle, store, pluck, snap, villain, link, comedy, particular and 410 more...
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Evil eye
apotropaic, laughter, garlic, silver bullet, bruxa, amulet, rabbit's foot, crucifix, excantation, witch ball, heart stake, horseshoe and 20 more...
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charms
all sorts of ...fortune, gnome, green, chance, luck, gheluc, success, good, spells, hypnotic, prosperity, blessing and 38 more...
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EN - high brow
abrogate, abstemious, abstract of law, alderman, apocryphal, apostasy, apoplexy, apotheosis, apposite, aver, decorous, apprehensive and 51 more...
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Disturbing definitions from the Centu...
Although the Century Dictionary has some exquisite definitions which exhibit attention to scientific detail and respect for terms, ideas, and technology that might otherwise be forgotten, this wind...
cockshy, homosexuality, niggard, sodomy, Creole, promiscuity, savage, ass, hamfatter, ill-gendered, madras, hydrencephalocele and 22 more...
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♥
ambrosia, inamorata, gossamer, lily-white, hummingbird, roucoulement, poppy, daisy, calypso, lunula, lamb, dove and 1526 more...
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Reckon's Word List
Turned On
tintinnabulation, talisman, soliloquy, serendipity, quintessential, rhapsody, plethora, myrrh, palimpsest, panoply, mellifluous, loquacious and 102 more...
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Neww
specious, disdainfully, vehemently, in lieu of, dismissive, perpetual, preposterous, impasse, fathom, conversely, repugnant, clogged and 142 more...
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Chennessy's Words
philistine, messianic, dyad, cult, bourgeois, blot, ploy, polyglot, lingua franca, cumbersome, lumber, petit-bourgeois and 446 more...
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SoSheShall's list
slurp, coeur, slurple, glop, perp, fluarxx, ropechno, herrherr, burrduhherrherr, sloppy, cheezie balls, eccentric and 634 more...
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Words Covered in Faery Dust (T)
words that evoke magic, mystery, mayhem, magnificence or anything else that glimmers in the grass
tabard, tadpole, taffeta, taffy, talisman, tallgrass, tam, tamarind, tamarack, tambourine, tango, tansy and 144 more...
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Logodaedalus' Lexical Locutionary
Discombobulating the illiterate since the middle of the last century.
adiaphora, agitprop, alliteration, apophthegm, autarky, bête noire, bezoar, biorhythm, braggadocio, canaille, confabulate, confrère and 332 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for talisman.

rolig JoeCool, chill. The Century Dictionary was published nearly 100 years ago. At the time, "Mohammedan" was the well-established, fully acceptable, politically correct term for someone who followed the teachings of the prophet Mohammed (just as Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha, and Christians follow the teachings of Christ).
This is another example of Wordnik giving too little pertinent information about the definitions it provides. It would be good to tell us the edition and date of the dictionaries that are cited. Obviously, a definition from a 100-year-old dictionary will have a different value from a definition from a dictionary published in 2010.
Also, as you suggest, usage notes would be helpful. I have no idea why "talisman" is defined as a Muslim cleric, but clearly such usage of the word is obsolete today. Similarly, Century's definition no. 2 is a very narrow, technical usage of the word (in anthropology), while only the 3rd and 4th definitions reflect the way we use the word today in general speech. Jul 12, 2011
ruzuzu Thanks! You've given me another one to add to my list of "disturbing definitions" from the Century. Jul 11, 2011
JoeCool the 1st definition from Century Dictionary & Cyclopedia "A Mohammedan priest." is highly incorrect both politically and factually. Moreover, there are no usage examples provided to support such a statement.
1. there is no such thing as a "Mohammedan"
2. in ISLAM (the PROPER term for the religion referenced) there are no priests, or should Jews be called Mosesans? Likewise, what religion calls itself "Jesusans"?. The correct term would likely be "imam". Jul 11, 2011