Forms: 4–6 exorciste, (6 exerciste), 6– exorcist. [ad. late L. exorcista, ad. Gr. ἐξορκιστής, f. ἐξορκίζειν: see EXORCIZE. Cf. Fr. exorciste.] One who exorcizes.
1. One who drives out evil spirits by solemn adjuration, etc.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xix. 13. Summe of the Iewis exorcistis, or coniureris.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., I. x. (1739), 18. Exorcists, that served to dispossess such as were possessed by the Devil.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 397. The exorcist was called in to drive away these evil Genii.
1853. H. Rogers, Ecl. Faith, 86. A dumb demon, awaits to find a voice … at the summons of an exorcist.
transf. 1877. ‘Rita,’ Vivienne, III. viii. Hard work is the best exorcist for dark hours and painful memories.
b. spec. The third of the four lesser orders in the Roman Catholic Church. Cf. BENET.
1560. Becon, Catech., Wks. (1564), 462 a. The exorciste must cast out devils, & say unto the people, that all suche as wyll not communicate, must departe & go awaye.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 452. Acolytes, exercistes, readers, dorekeepers, &c.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc. (1647), 174. For the office … of an Exorcist … [is] no way dependant on the office of a Deacon.
1844. Lingard, Anglo Sax. Ch. (1858), I. iv. 133. We soon meet … with … exorcists … these were ordained.
† 2. One who calls or pretends to call up spirits by magical rites. Obs.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., II. i. 323. Thou like an Exorcist, hast conjur’d vp My mortified Spirit.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. iii. III. (1651), 211. The knavish Impostures of Juglers, Exorcists, Mass-Priests and Mountebanks.
3. Comb.
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. 454. David’s sacred Ditty … Exorcist-like chac’t Nature’s cruel Foe.
Hence Exorcistical a., of or pertaining to an exorcist or to an exorcism.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., xviii. 68. And uses an Exorcistical form for the ejecting of the foul Fiend.
1749–51. Bp. Lavington, Enthus. Method. & Papists, III. (1754), 185. A rare Instance of Exorcistical Virtue.
1827. W. G. S., Excurs. Village Curate, 128. What an exercise had it been for my amphibological, magical, exorcistical, necromantical and demonological charms.
