'talismanic' originates from French, specifically the word 'talisman', which itself was borrowed from Arabic 'tilasm' (from Greek 'telesma'), where 'telesma' meant 'a completion, a consecrated rite; an object produced by such a rite'.

'talismanic' developed from Middle French 'talisman' (used for an amulet), which came via Arabic 'tilasm' from the Greek 'telesma'; the English noun 'talisman' entered Middle English and later produced the adjective 'talismanic'.

Initially it referred to 'a consecrated object or rite' (Greek 'telesma'); over time it came to mean 'an object believed to bring protection or luck', and 'talismanic' now describes having or relating to that protective or luck-bringing quality.