Geis
Sign in to saveAlso known as geas
A ''''' or '' (pl. ') is an idiosyncratic taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a vow or curse, yet the observance of which can also bring power and blessings. The word "geas" is also used to mean specifically a spell prohibiting some action. '''' occur commonly in Irish and Scottish folklore and mythology, as well as in modern English-language fantasy-fiction.
~7 min read
Encyclopedic overview
6 sectionsContents
- In Irish mythology
- Welsh mythology
- In popular culture
- Parallels in English literature
- References
- Further reading
A ''''' or '' (pl. ') is an idiosyncratic taboo, whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a vow or curse, yet the observance of which can also bring power and blessings. The word "geas" is also used to mean specifically a spell prohibiting some action. ' occur commonly in Irish and Scottish folklore and mythology, as well as in modern English-language fantasy-fiction.
The word originates in Old Irish, also known as Old Gaelic, and retains the same form in Modern Irish (nominative singular ' , nominative plural ; genitive sg. ' , genitive plural ' ). In modern Scottish Gaelic, the spelling has evolved in a slightly different direction (nominative singular ' , nominative plural ', genitive singular ' or '). It has also been borrowed into English in both forms (singular geas or geis or , plural geasa)).
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Geis” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.