fetish
or fet·ich
[ fet-ish, fee-tish ]
/ ˈfɛt ɪʃ, ˈfi tɪʃ /
noun
an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.
any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion: to make a fetish of high grades.
Psychology.
any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.
Origin of fetish
1605–15; earlier
fateish < Portuguese
feitiço charm, sorcery (noun), artificial (adj.) < Latin
factīcius
factitious; replacing
fatisso, fetisso < Portuguese, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM fetish
fet·ish·like, adjectiveWords nearby fetish
feti-,
fetial,
feticide,
fetid,
fetiparous,
fetish,
fetishism,
fetishize,
fetlock,
feto-,
fetoglobulin
Example sentences from the Web for fetish
British Dictionary definitions for fetish
fetish
fetich
/ (ˈfɛtɪʃ, ˈfiːtɪʃ) /
noun
something, esp an inanimate object, that is believed in certain cultures to be the embodiment or habitation of a spirit or magical powers
- a form of behaviour involving fetishism
- any object that is involved in fetishism
any object, activity, etc, to which one is excessively or irrationally devoted
to make a fetish of cleanliness
Derived forms of fetish
fetish-like or fetich-like, adjectiveWord Origin for fetish
C17: from French
fétiche, from Portuguese
feitiço (n) sorcery, from adj: artificial, from Latin
factīcius made by art,
factitious
Medical definitions for fetish
fetish
[ fĕt′ĭsh, fē′tĭsh ]
n.
Something, such as an object or nonsexual part of the body, that arouses sexual desire and may become necessary for sexual gratification.
An abnormally obsessive preoccupation or attachment.
Cultural definitions for fetish
fetish
An object believed to carry a magical or spiritual force. Some so-called primitive tribes practice cult worship of fetishes. (See animism (see also animism) and totemism.)
notes for fetish
Figuratively, a “fetish” is any object that arouses excessive devotion: “Lucille made a fetish of her Porsche.”