Abstract
The article condenses new etymological hypotheses presented in the Phd thesis
Lexicon of magical ritual practices in Sicily, edited by the writer. The terms referred to belong
to the sphere of performative ceremonies.
The multi-year study on the Sicilian magical phenomenon has led to new interpretations
also from a diachronic linguistic point of view relating to the etymology of some words,
in particular agionyms, evoked in ritual prayers. The results of the studies relating to the
theonyms Zita, Liucarda, Nimisi, Arìa, Aura and various formularies or phraseological
constructs have already been made known. Here some Sicilian words presented for the
first time in LPMS are analyzed from a historical etiological pr