Forms: 5–7 exorcisme, (4–5 exorsism, 6 exorcysme, -cyme), 5– exorcism. [ad. late L. exorcism-us, a. Eccl. Gr. ἐξορκισμός, f. ἐξορκίζειν: see EXORCIZE. Cf. Fr. exorcisme.
In this and the related words Johnson and nearly all later Dicts. mark the stress on the first syllable; but the second pronunciation is often heard, esp. in exorcize, which otherwise is liable to confusion with exercise.]
1. The action of exorcizing or expelling an evil spirit by adjuration or the performance of certain rites; an instance of this.
¶ In first quot. misused for exorcist.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1579. Sorsers & exorsismus & fele such clerkes.
c. 1450. Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. (Surtees), 3815. Be þe vertu of exorcisme.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. ii. 14. And that suffyseth as now of the exorcysme & cathecysme.
1550. Veron, Godly Sayings (1846), 44. Ye did give your names, & began to be ground with fastinges & exorcymes.
1641. Milton, Reform., I. (1851), 3. Then was Baptisme chang’d into a kind of exorcisme.
1750. Warburton, Doctr. Grace, II. v. Wks. (1811), VIII. 336. To evince these great Truths, seems to have been the end both of Possessions and of the Exorcisms.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. xxiv. The spectres whom no exorcism can bind.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, II. 872. An exorcism against the devildom Which plainly held me.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 492. The calm authoritative exorcism restored the broken harmony of her being.
† b. improperly. The action of calling up spirits; the ceremonies observed for that purpose; conjuration. Obs.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. v. But moste she wrought by nycromancye With exorsismes and conjuracions.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. iv. 5. Will her Ladyship behold and heare our Exorcismes?
1602. Dekker, Satiro-mastix, 183. This ghost of Tucca … was raiz’d vp (in print) by newe Exorcismes.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., II. 37. This root of superstition … branched forth … into magic and exorcisms.
2. A formula employed in exorcizing.
1550. Bale, Apol., 23 b. I found an olde bishoppes ordynary or boke of their exorcismes, for church halowinges, [etc.].
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xliv. 339. The same Exorcisme is repeated once more before he is Baptized.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), I. xxxiv. 306. Morgan … began to utter exorcisms with great devotion.
1755. Young, Centaur (1757), IV. vi. 251. Here, then, I shall begin my exorcism. Its words must be strange and barbarous, suited to the occasion.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxv. Fortified with … as many exorcisms as his memory could recover, he advanced.
† b. An imprecatory oath, Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 225. That prescript forme of exorcisme, whereby the two Decij, both the father and sonne, betooke themselves to all the hellish furies and fiends infernall.
Hence Exorcismal a., pertaining to, or of the nature of, exorcism.
1887. Fortn. Rev., May, 740. The exorcismal practices of the clergy.
