shaman
UK[ˈʃæmən]US[ˈʃæmən]
n
A person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, typically entering a trance state during rituals and practicing healing and divination.
Etymology
The word 'shaman' entered the English language in the late 17th century via German and Russian, which borrowed it from the Tungusic languages of Siberia, specifically the Evenki word 'šamān'. The term originally referred to a religious intermediary from the Ural-Altaic region. Its journey into Western vocabulary reflects the European encounter with indigenous spiritual practices of North Asia. The core concept of a mediator who interacts with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness was encapsulated in this borrowed term, which has since been generalized to describe similar figures in cultures worldwide.
Analysis
The entire word 'shaman' is a simplex loanword. Its linguistic origin is the Tungusic languages (specifically Evenki) via Russian. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in English.
Examples
The village shaman performed a ritual to summon the rain spirits.
Anthropologists study the techniques used by shamans to achieve trance states.
In many indigenous cultures, the shaman acts as both healer and spiritual guide.