loa
loa Lexical Profile
• noun
A spirit or deity in the syncretic religion of Haitian Vodou and Louisiana Voodoo, believed to act as an intermediary between humanity and the supreme creator.
"During the ceremonial drumming, the priest called upon a powerful loa to offer guidance and protection to the community."
A parasitic nematode worm native to the rainforests of West and Central Africa that infects humans, commonly known as the African eye worm.
"The patient was diagnosed with loiasis after the physician observed the migrating loa beneath the conjunctiva of the eye."
Word Nuance & Usage
Note that while 'loa' is a distinct lowercase noun referring to a Vodou spirit or a parasitic worm, 'LOA' in all caps is a common abbreviation for 'Leave of Absence' or 'Letter of Agreement'.
• Rhymes for loa
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The religious term derives from Haitian Creole 'lwa', possibly from French 'loi' (law) or from a West African spiritual concept. The biological term derives from a native West African word for 'worm'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.