Wiktionary
n. A person (usually a man) who is supposed to take sins of a deceased person upon himself by means of eating a piece of bread, laid for him on the breast of the dead one.
Wikipedia
A sin-eater is said to be a person who, through a ritual meal, magically takes on the sins of a household, often because of a recent death, thus absolving the soul and allowing that person to rest in peace. In anthropology and the study of folklore, sin-eating is classified as apotropaic ritual and a form of religious magic.
Sin-Eater is a name given to several fictional characters appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually those featuring Spider-Man and Ghost Rider.
A sin-eater is a person in some religious traditions who ritually takes on the sins of a household.
Sin-eater may also refer to:
- The Sin Eater, also known as The Order, a 2003 film
- The Sin Eaters, a BBC audio book in the Torchwood franchise
- Sin-Eater (comics), a Marvel Comics character
- Sin Eater, or Onimar Synn, a DC Comics character
Usage examples of "sin-eater".
If I can raise the money to cover expenses I think I shall arrange to have a sin-eater at my funeral, in the manner of my Celtic ancestors, and also a feast for the mourners, with cold meats, Stilton cheese, fruitcake, and plenty of sherry and port.