sabbat
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈsæbæt/
- NSFW
:
sabbat
- In folklore, a sabbat is often depicted as a night where witches meet to practice sorcery.
Examples
-
Under the cloak of darkness, the witches gathered at the sabbat to perform their rituals.
-
The action of Christianity on European witchcraft produced, among other characteristics, the sabbat, or witches' meeting, usually under the presidency of the Devil and entailing some form of reverence to the Devil coupled with a renunciation of Christ.
Academic text (2001) -
The Witch's Sabbat, 17th Century woodcut
Blog text (12) -
Much of the vocabulary of witchcraft, including the regular "sabbat" and "esbat" ceremonies, was popularized by Murray.
Academic text (1993) -
Perhaps Claudina's apprehenders thought she was conjuring, partaking in a sabbat, or making a pact.
Academic text (2001) -
I knew that upon the approach of night, the dark powers, the fays and witches, the werewolves and forest fairies would begin their flight to the sabbat from here.
Fiction book (1996) -
Many stories describe the sabbat as a gathering filled with dancing and dark enchantments.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A secret night meeting where people who use magic perform rituals with demons
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sabbat comes from the Latin sabbatum and the Hebrew Shabbat, the same root as the English Sabbath, which means 'rest' or 'the day of stopping work'. In old stories the idea of a regular holy day was turned into a secret night meeting of witches, so a sabbat came to mean a witches' meeting.