apotropaic

 
Pronunciation: /ˌapətrəˈpeɪɪk/

adjective

  • supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck: apotropaic statues

Derivatives

apotropaically

adverb

Origin:

late 19th century: from Greek apotropaios 'averting evil', from apotrepein 'turn away or from' + -ic