dybbuk
UK[ˈdɪbʊk]US[ˈdɪbək]
n
in jewish folklore, a malicious wandering spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person that can possess the living.
Etymology
the word 'dybbuk' entered english from yiddish in the early 20th century, bringing with it a specific concept from ashkenazi jewish mysticism. its ultimate origin is the hebrew root 'דבק' (d-b-q), which carries the core meaning of "to cling" or "to cleave to." this etymological foundation directly informs the creature's defining characteristic: a soul that clings to the world of the living by attaching itself to a living person's body. thus, the modern abstract meaning of a possessing spirit is a direct and logical evolution from the ancient, literal sense of adhesion and attachment.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from yiddish (דיבוק), which itself derives from the hebrew verb 'דָּבַק' (dāḇaq), meaning "to cling" or "to adhere." it functions as a simplex noun in english.
Examples
the story featured a rabbi performing an exorcism to drive out a dybbuk.
she felt the character's internal struggle was like being haunted by a psychological dybbuk.
according to legend, a dybbuk often seeks to complete unfinished business from its former life.