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dybbuk

noun
dyb·​buk | \ ˈdi-bÉ™k How to pronounce dybbuk (audio) \
plural dybbukim\ ËŒdi-​bu̇-​ˈkÄ“m How to pronounce dybbukim (audio) \ also dybbuks

Definition of dybbuk

: a wandering soul believed in Jewish folklore to enter and control a living body until exorcised by a religious rite

Examples of dybbuk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 When a little girl named Em unleashes a demon called the dybbuk—the taker of children—and becomes possessed, a series of scream-out-loud moments follow. 2. — Noelle Devoe, Seventeen, "15 Best Halloween Movies On Netflix Right Now," 8 Oct. 2014 The 48-minute, nine-part ballet takes its musical and choreographic impetus from the notion of the dybbuk, a lost and restless spirit found in Central-European Jewish folklore. — Robert Greskovic, WSJ, "A Celebration of Jerome Robbins," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dybbuk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dybbuk

circa 1903, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for dybbuk

Yiddish dibek, from Late Hebrew dibbūq

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More from Merriam-Webster on dybbuk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dybbuk

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