TABOO

Taboo

A taboo is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behavior is either too sacred or too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake, under threat of supernatural punishment. Such prohibitions are present in virtually all societies. The word has been somewhat expanded in the social sciences strong prohibitions relating to any area of human activity or custom that is sacred or forbidden based on moral judgment and religious beliefs. "Breaking a taboo" is usually considered objectionable by society in general, not merely a subset of a culture.

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taboo

Noun

  1. An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
  2. Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.

Verb

  1. To mark as taboo.
  2. To ban.
  3. To avoid.

Adjective

  1. Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.
    Incest is a taboo subject in most soap operas.
  2. Culturally forbidden.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: taboo
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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