triskaidekaphobia
noun
ˌtri-skə-
Did you know?
It's impossible to say just how or when the number thirteen got its bad reputation. There are a number of theories, of course. Some say it comes from the Last Supper because Jesus was betrayed afterwards by one among the thirteen present. Others trace the source of the superstition back to ancient Hindu beliefs or Norse mythology. But if written references are any indication, the phenomenon isn't all that old (at least, not among English speakers). Known mention of fear of thirteen in print dates back only to the late 1800s. By circa 1911, however, it was prevalent enough to merit a name, which was formed by attaching the Greek word for "thirteen"—treiskaideka (dropping that first "e")—to phobia ("fear of").
Examples of triskaidekaphobia in a Sentence
Leada Gore | [email protected], al, 13 May 2022
Get a grip on your triskaidekaphobia and revisit this seminal 1980 slasher flick about oversexed young camp counselors and the knife- and -ax-wielding homicidal maniac who hates them.
—Matt Cooperlistings Coordinator, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022
Friday is Friday the 13th, a day for all those suffering from triskaidekaphobia to beware!
—CBS News, 8 Sep. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near triskaidekaphobia
Cite this Entry
“Triskaidekaphobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triskaidekaphobia. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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triskaidekaphobia
noun
ˌtris-kə-
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