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балия. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
балия, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
балия in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
балия you have here. The definition of the word
балия will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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Bulgarian
Etymology
An old ī-stem agent noun from Old Church Slavonic балии (balii), reanalyzed with the suffix -ия (-ija). Probably related to Bulgarian ба́я (bája, “to cast charms”).
Pronunciation
Noun
ба́лия • (bálija) m (feminine ба́лийца)
- (archaic) healer, enchanter
- Synonyms: врач (vrač), чародее́ц (čarodeéc), знаха́р (znahár)
Usage notes
The term (along with its synonyms) nowadays is used specifically for old-time healers, which use charms and folk medicine. The technical term for (professional) healer is лека́р (lekár) (native) or до́ктор (dóktor), меди́к (medík) (borrowings).
Declension
Derived terms
- ба́йка (bájka, “enchanter”) (dialectal)
- ба́сня (básnja, “fable”)
- ба́ба (bába, “grandmother, old wise woman”)
References
- балии in Исторически речник на българския език, Sofia University "St. Clement Ohridsky"