superstition

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superstition

superstition an irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown. The validity of superstitions is based on belief in the power of magic and witchcraft and in such invisible forces as spirits and demons. A common superstition in the Middle Ages was that the devil could enter a person during that unguarded moment when that person was sneezing; this could be avoided if anyone present immediately appealed to the name of God. The tradition of saying "God bless you" when someone sneezes still remains today.

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Superstition

The Oxford Companion to American Literature | 1995 | | Â© The Oxford Companion to American Literature 1995, originally published by Oxford University Press 1995. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Superstition, blank‐verse tragedy by J.N. Barker, produced in 1824 and published in 1826.

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James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Superstition." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford University Press. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 20 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Superstition." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford University Press. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (December 20, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-Superstition.html

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Superstition." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford University Press. 1995. Retrieved December 20, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-Superstition.html

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superstition

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

superstition XV. — (O)F. superstition or L. superstitiō, -ōn-, f. superstāre stand on or over, f. SUPER- + stāre STAND; see -TION.
So superstitious XIV. — (O)F. superstitieux or L. superstitiōsus.

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T. F. HOAD. "superstition." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 20 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "superstition." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 20, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-superstition.html

T. F. HOAD. "superstition." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 20, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-superstition.html

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