zar
1
9.9
- noun
- /zɑr/
- Literature
- During the ritual, the participants sang and danced to honor the zar that they believed was present.
- zar spirit
- zar possession
- zar beliefs
Examples
-
Many people, possibly everyone, have one or more zar spirits that do not bother them.
Academic text (1995) -
Bashir can communicate his demands directly as well as represent the whole assembly of Zar.
Academic text (1995) -
In recent years, this social aspect of zar has become more important.
Academic text (1995) -
The individual host is referred to as either the "bride" or the "woman of zar."
Academic text (1995) -
The new servants in zar, however, offer more practical assistance.
Academic text (1995) -
Moreover, zar practices appear to have spread dramatically within the last half century.
Academic text (1995) -
In desperation, they had asked the zar to find out what was causing the problem.
Academic text (1995) -
Such behavior is said to be caused by a zar expressing displeasure, though it may not lead to their active possession.
Academic text (1995) -
Through the discourse of zar, they have long been resolving family problems and participating in a wide social arena.
Academic text (1995) -
Many people believe that a zar can possess individuals and cause various ailments.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Zar for the spirit comes from local languages of northeast Africa and the Middle East where zar names a spirit and the ritual to calm or remove it, so a zar can mean both the spirit and the ceremony to deal with it.