dybbuk

or dib·buk

[ Sephardic Hebrew dee-book; Ashkenazic Hebrew, English dib-uhk ]

noun

, Jewish Folklore.

, plural dyb·buks, dyb·bu·kim [dee-boo-, keem, dih-, book, -im].

1. a demon, or the soul of a dead person, that enters the body of a living person and directs the person's conduct, exorcism being possible only by a religious ceremony.

dybbuk

/ diˈbuk; ˈdɪbək /

noun

1. Judaism (in the folklore of the cabala) the soul of a dead sinner that has transmigrated into the body of a living person

Word History and Origins

Origin of dybbuk¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Yiddish dibek, from Hebrew dibbūq, derivative of dābhaq “cleave (to)”; spelling dybbuk is a Polish transliteration of the Hebrew word

Word History and Origins

Origin of dybbuk¹

from Yiddish dibbūk devil, from Hebrew dibbūq; related to dābhaq to hang on, cling

Example Sentences

That’s when she finds out her new girlfriend may be possessed by a dybbuk.

From Los Angeles Times

“She is dealing with the death of her father and her mother’s depression — and then there’s a wandering spirit or dybbuk that is ornery and disruptive,” said Higuera.

From Washington Post

Yakov’s dybbuk writhed within me, clawing my insides into a hot, burning frenzy.

From Literature

Parents must work together to save their young daughter from a dybbuk, a malevolent spirit that inhabits and ultimately devours its human host.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a dybbuk, who rather than being ashamed, guilty or motivated to help our pockmarked nation evolve, looks at the world without hope or imagination.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• fiend
• malignant spirit
• monster
• vampire
• villain