animatist
|an-i-ma-tist|
/ˈænɪmətɪst/
adherent of animatism; pertaining to impersonal life-force belief
Etymology
'animatist' originates from English, specifically the word 'animatism', which was coined from 'animate' (ultimately from Latin 'anima' meaning 'breath, soul') plus the suffix '-ism'; the suffix '-ist' denotes 'one who practices or adheres to'.
'Animatism' (early 20th-century anthropological term) gave rise to the derivative 'animatist', which then became the modern English word 'animatist'.
Initially, it meant 'a believer in or relating to animatism', and this meaning has remained essentially the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a believer in or advocate of animatism—the anthropological theory that an impersonal, pervasive power or force inhabits people, objects, and phenomena.
An animatist interprets natural events as expressions of impersonal power rather than personal spirits.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of animatism.
The scholar offered an animatist explanation of the ritual’s symbolism.
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Last updated: 2025/08/12 08:23