evil eye
/ˌiv(ə)l̩‿ˈaɪ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.56 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "an amulet to protect children from the evil eye."
- "Each of the young men, in saluting the new-comer, made mechanically, and with care to conceal it from him, a slight gesture or sign with their fingers; for Arbaces, the Egyptian, was supposed to possess the fatal gift of the evil eye."
- "The ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος, or evil eye, is frequently mentioned by ancient writers. […] Various amulets were used to avert the influence of the evil eye. The most common of these appears to have been the phallus, called by the Romans fascinum, which was hung round the necks of children (turpicula res)."
- "For several days he remained in this sad state, and all the court were afraid some evil eye had bewitched the Rajah; and an unfortunate Irish captain who had come in for a cargo of rice and who squinted dreadfully, was very nearly being krissed, but being first brought to the royal presence was graciously ordered to go on board and remain there while his ship stayed in the port."
- "A common dread was the evil eye, and the chief charm against it was in the form of a knotted cord woven by a "wise woman"."
- "Isma laughed, but Hira drew her shoulders in tighter, reached out to touch the evil eye that hung on her wall and which Isma had always assumed to be merely decorative."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌiv(ə)l̩‿ˈaɪ/
- British English: /ˌiːvl̩‿ˈaɪ/