When fetish first appeared in English in the early 17th century, it referred to objects often amulets believed by certain West Africans to have supernatural powers. During the 19th century, the word took on a broader meaning: "an object of irrational devotion or reverence. By the early 20th century, fetish took on yet another meaning quite distinct from its antecedents: a sexualized desire for an object such as a shoe or for a body part that is not directly related to the reproductive act such as an earlobe.
Accessed 6 Feb. Nglish: Translation of fetish for Spanish Speakers. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchβad free! See Definitions and Examples Β». Log In. Synonyms of fetish. Did you know? A Brief History of Fetish When fetish first appeared in English in the early 17th century, it referred to objects often amulets believed by certain West Africans to have supernatural powers.
Examples of fetish in a Sentence. He has a fetish for secrecy. He wore a fetish to ward off evil spirits. Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback. First Known Use. Time Traveler. See more words from the same year. Dictionary Entries Near fetish. Copy Citation. Post the Definition of fetish to Facebook Facebook.
Share the Definition of fetish on Twitter Twitter. Medical Definition. More from Merriam-Webster on fetish. Nglish: Translation of fetish for Spanish Speakers Britannica. Love words? Need even more definitions? Can you solve 4 words at once? Play Play. Word of the Day. Get Word of the Day daily email! What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'? More Commonly Misspelled Words. Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly.
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