Shaman- I liked how they defined shaman in this Free dictionary version. I found it very helpful worldwide

•  The definitions here make more sense than some I have seen. I think looking at all this as a way early peoples (and some present day peoples) practiced Science might be the most useful way to look at all this.
  Here's the thing: Shamanism was a tribe practicing both Science and Religion in a customized way that worked specifically for those up to 100 to 500 people within any tribe. If someone lied or was crazy or people died from what a Shaman did often he or she would be killed or sacrificed by the tribe. So, this kept everyone very honest.
  However, when tribes became whole cities of people caused by farming so people didn't have to wander around all the time to get food through hunting and gathering this all changed and so both in regard to science and religion people became more and more dishonest until we have the incredible dishonesty in regard to both religion and science of today.
  But, originally if you lied or were insincere you would just be killed if what you said harmed someone with no questions asked. So, integrity was often more common in Tribal Societies than now in a more developed impersonal world.

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  Shaman - definition of shaman by The Free Dictionary

   
   
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shaman

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

begin quote from:

Shaman - definition of shaman by The Free Dictionary

 

sha·man

 (shä′mən, shā′-)

n. pl. sha·mans

A member of certain traditional societies, especially of northern Asia and of North and South America, who acts as a medium between the visible world and an invisible spirit world and who practices magic or sorcery for purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events.

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[Russian, from Evenki šaman, Buddhist monk, shaman, perhaps from Tocharian B ṣamāne, monk, from Prakrit (dialect of documents from the ancient city of Niya in the Taklimakan) ṣamana, from Sanskrit śramaṇaḥ, from śramaḥ, religious exercise, from śramati, he toils, practices austerity.]

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sha·man′ic (shə-măn′ĭk) adj.

shaman

(ˈʃæmən)

n

1. (Other Non-Christian Religions) a priest of shamanism

2. (Other Non-Christian Religions) a medicine man of a similar religion, esp among certain tribes of North American Indians

[C17: from Russian shaman, from Tungusic s̆aman, from Pali samana Buddhist monk, ultimately from Sanskrit śrama religious exercise]

shamanic adj

 

sha•man

(ˈʃɑ mən, ˈʃeɪ-, ˈʃæm ən)

n.

(esp. among certain tribal peoples) a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.

[1690–1700; < German Schamane < Russian shamán, probably < Evenki šamān, samān]

sha•man•ic (ʃəˈmæn ɪk) adj.

 

shaman

Sometimes called a medicine man, these are people who have magic powers resulting from contact with the supernatural. Common in the religion of the Inuits, Maoris, Mongolians, Polynesians and Native Americans. In some cases, they may be female.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

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Noun

1.

shaman - in societies practicing shamanism: one acting as a medium between the visible and spirit worlds; practices sorcery for healing or divination priest-doctor non-Christian priest, priest - a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies in a non-Christian religion medicine man - a Native American shaman

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection.  

shaman

noun witch doctor, medicine man, medicine woman, healer, sorcerer, spirit-raiser, voodooist the full control of a shaman

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – 

Translations

Spanish / Español

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chamán

shaman

[ˈʃæmən] N → chamán m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - 

shaman

n. curandero.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary 

shaman

n chamán -mana mf, brujo -ja mf

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary

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