MEANING
A binding injunction or prohibition in Irish legend, often carrying supernatural consequences if broken.
Use it for
compelled duties; forbidden actions; obligations with supernatural penaltiesGive a rule power over a character's choices even when its reason is unclear.
Words that belong together
- place a geas on
- break a geas
- fulfill a geas
On the page
His geas forbade him to refuse food offered by a stranger.
She carried two geasa that could not both be obeyed.
The geas ended at sunrise, but its consequences did not.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- geas
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Usage notes
Primary category: fantasy. Borrowed traditional term, also geis; modern fantasy may extend it to a magically imposed duty. Not simply any oath voluntarily sworn. Noun: geas (variant geis); traditional plural geasa.
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