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Definition of Taboo
1. Adjective. Excluded from use or mention. "A taboo subject"
2. Verb. Declare as sacred and forbidden.
3. Noun. A prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature.
Generic synonyms: Bias, Preconception, Prejudice
Geographical relationships: Polynesia
4. Adjective. Forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands.
5. Noun. An inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion.
Definition of Taboo
1. n. A total prohibition of intercourse with, use of, or approach to, a given person or thing under pain of death, -- an interdict of religious origin and authority, formerly common in the islands of Polynesia; interdiction.
2. v. t. To put under taboo; to forbid, or to forbid the use of; to interdict approach to, or use of; as, to taboo the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals.
3. a. Set apart or sacred by religious custom among certain races of Polynesia, New Zealand, etc., and forbidden to certain persons or uses; hence, prohibited under severe penalties; interdicted; as, food, places, words, customs, etc., may be taboo.
Definition of Taboo
1. Noun. An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. ¹
2. Noun. (context: in Polynesia) Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred. ¹
3. Adjective. Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention. ¹
4. Verb. To mark as taboo. ¹
5. Verb. To ban. ¹
6. Verb. To avoid. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Taboo
1. to exclude from use, approach, or mention [v -ED, -ING, -S]
Medical Definition of Taboo
1. Any negative tradition or behaviour that is generally regarded as harmful to social welfare and forbidden within a cultural or social group. (12 Dec 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Taboo
Literary usage of Taboo
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1909)
"The taboo extends its veto into every department of primitive life. ... taboo.
(2) Persons are taboo. A chief may not be touched nor any of his possessions, ..."
2. The History of Religions by Edward Washburn Hopkins (1918)
"This is evidently a property-taboo passing into a form of totemism.1 II. ...
taboo (Samoan tapu, Hawaiian kapu) is a tab or mark indicating that a thing is ..."
3. The History of Religions by Edward Washburn Hopkins (1918)
"This is evidently a property-taboo passing into a form of totemism.1 II. ...
taboo (Samoan tapu, Hawaiian kapu) is a tab or mark indicating that a thing is ..."
4. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"Thus on the taboo were grafted the golden fruits of law and morality, while the
parent stem dwindled slowly into the sour crabs and empty husks of popular ..."
5. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck, Samuel Macauley Jackson (1909)
"The taboo extends its veto into every department of primitive life. ... taboo.
(2) Persons are taboo. A chief may not be touched nor any of his possessions, ..."
6. Introduction to the History of Religions by Crawford Howell Toy (1913)
"CHAPTER V TOTEMISM AND taboo 421. Totemism and taboo are both of them intimately
connected ... taboo, on the other hand, is founded on magical conceptions, ..."
7. Introduction to the History of Religions by Crawford Howell Toy (1913)
"CHAPTER V TOTEMISM AND taboo 421. Totemism and taboo are both of them intimately
connected ... taboo, on the other hand, is founded on magical conceptions, ..."
8. Natives of Northern India by William Crooke (1907)
"These observances are intended to counteract taboo, the effects of which appear
... taboo depends upon the potentiality or atmosphere which inheres in and ..."
9. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1909)
"The taboo extends its veto into every department of primitive life. ... taboo.
(2) Persons are taboo. A chief may not be touched nor any of his possessions, ..."
10. The History of Religions by Edward Washburn Hopkins (1918)
"This is evidently a property-taboo passing into a form of totemism.1 II. ...
taboo (Samoan tapu, Hawaiian kapu) is a tab or mark indicating that a thing is ..."
11. The History of Religions by Edward Washburn Hopkins (1918)
"This is evidently a property-taboo passing into a form of totemism.1 II. ...
taboo (Samoan tapu, Hawaiian kapu) is a tab or mark indicating that a thing is ..."
12. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General by Thomas Spencer Baynes (1888)
"Thus on the taboo were grafted the golden fruits of law and morality, while the
parent stem dwindled slowly into the sour crabs and empty husks of popular ..."
13. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck, Samuel Macauley Jackson (1909)
"The taboo extends its veto into every department of primitive life. ... taboo.
(2) Persons are taboo. A chief may not be touched nor any of his possessions, ..."
14. Introduction to the History of Religions by Crawford Howell Toy (1913)
"CHAPTER V TOTEMISM AND taboo 421. Totemism and taboo are both of them intimately
connected ... taboo, on the other hand, is founded on magical conceptions, ..."
15. Introduction to the History of Religions by Crawford Howell Toy (1913)
"CHAPTER V TOTEMISM AND taboo 421. Totemism and taboo are both of them intimately
connected ... taboo, on the other hand, is founded on magical conceptions, ..."
16. Natives of Northern India by William Crooke (1907)
"These observances are intended to counteract taboo, the effects of which appear
... taboo depends upon the potentiality or atmosphere which inheres in and ..."
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