adj.
Pronunciation: ˌ a-p ə -tr ō - ' p ā -ik
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek apotropaios, from apotrepein to avert, from apo- + trepein to turn
Date: 1883
: designed to avert evil <an apotropaic ritual>
– apo · tro · pa · i · cal · ly \ - ' p ā - ə -k( ə -)l ē \ adverb