animisms
|an-i-misms|
🇺🇸
/ˈænɪˌmɪzəmz/
🇬🇧
/ˈænɪmɪz(ə)mz/
(animism)
things have souls
Etymology
'animism' originates from Modern Latin 'animismus', built from Latin 'anima' meaning 'breath, life, soul' and the suffix '-ism' indicating a doctrine or belief.
'animism' was coined in English in the 19th century (notably by anthropologist Edward B. Tylor) from Neo-Latin 'animismus'; it developed into the modern English word 'animism'.
Initially used to describe the doctrine that souls or spiritual forces animate natural objects, the term has remained broadly similar but has been refined and critically examined within anthropology and religious studies to cover diverse cultural beliefs.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the belief that non-human entities—such as animals, plants, inanimate objects, or natural phenomena—possess a spiritual essence or soul.
Many traditional societies' animisms assign spirits to rivers, mountains, and trees.
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Noun 2
in anthropology and religious studies, a category or theory describing systems of thought that attribute personhood or agency to non-human beings or things.
Scholars compare different animisms to understand how cultures relate to the environment.
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Last updated: 2025/08/12 12:09