noun
- In Jewish folklore, a malevolent spirit or demon that enters and possesses the body of a living person.
Usage: From Yiddish and Hebrew; also spelled 'dibbuk'; Primarily used in religious and cultural contexts
Examples
- According to Jewish tradition, a dybbuk is an evil spirit that can take control of a person's body.
- The play 'The Dybbuk' is a classic work of Yiddish theater exploring possession and redemption.
- In folklore, a dybbuk was believed to be the restless soul of a deceased person.
- The rabbi performed a ritual to exorcise the dybbuk from the afflicted woman.
- Stories of dybbuks have been passed down through generations in Jewish communities.