Langimage
English

fetish

|fet/ish|

C1

/ˈfɛtɪʃ/

devotion or obsession

Etymology
Etymology Information

'fetish' originates from the Portuguese word 'feitiço,' which meant 'charm' or 'sorcery.'

Historical Evolution

'feitiço' transformed into the French word 'fétiche,' and eventually became the modern English word 'fetish.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'charm or sorcery,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings related to objects of devotion or sexual desire.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

an object believed to have magical powers or to be the embodiment of a spirit.

The tribe worshipped a stone fetish.

Synonyms

Noun 2

an excessive or irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing.

He has a fetish for cleanliness.

Synonyms

Noun 3

a form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc.

She has a shoe fetish.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45