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English word jinx comes from English transferred, Ancient Greek (to 1453) ἴυγξ, and later Latin iynx (Wryneck (bird).)
transferred (English)
ἴυγξ (Ancient Greek)
transferred sense (English)
A (usually looser) meaning of a word or phrase developed from a metaphoric application of its original signification (for example, hunger has the primary and original sense “want of food”, “craving appetite”; whence developed the transferred sense of “any strong desire or craving”).
iynx (Latin)
Wryneck (bird).
jynx (English)
(transferred sense) A charm or spell a jinx (quod vide).. A bird, the wryneck, once thought a bird of ill omen (Jynx torquilla).. The name of an order of spiritual intelligences in ancient “Chaldaic” philosophy.
jinx (English)
A hex; an evil spell.. A person or thing supposed to bring bad luck. (transitive) To bring bad luck to.. (transitive) To cast a spell on. Used after the same response is said by two people simultaneously. Often, a game is played where the person who failed to say "jinx" first becomes "jinxed", whereby they cannot speak until someone says their name.