animatistic
|an-i-ma-tis-tic|
/ˌænɪməˈtɪstɪk/
pertaining to impersonal spiritual force (animatism)
Etymology
'animatistic' originates from English, specifically the word 'animatism' plus the suffix '-istic,' where Latin 'anima' meant 'breath, soul'.
'animatistic' developed from the English noun 'animatism' (coined in anthropology c. 1900) and eventually became the modern English adjective 'animatistic'.
Initially, it meant 'pertaining to animatism', and this technical sense has remained largely unchanged in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to animatism—the belief in an impersonal, pervasive spiritual force (such as mana) rather than in personal spirits.
Early anthropologists described certain Oceanic belief systems as animatistic rather than animistic.
Last updated: 2025/08/12 08:37