preanimistic
|pre-an-i-mis-tic|
/ˌpriːænɪˈmɪstɪk/
before belief in spirits
Etymology
'preanimistic' originates from Latin elements via modern English: the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') and the root related to 'animism' (from Latin 'anima'), where 'prae' meant 'before' and 'anima' meant 'breath, soul'.
'preanimistic' developed as a compound from the hyphenated English form 'pre-animistic' and ultimately traces to the noun 'animism' (coined in the 19th century), which itself derives from Latin 'anima' meaning 'breath, soul', forming the adjective 'animistic' and then 'pre-animistic'.
Initially it was used most narrowly as 'before animism' in chronological or developmental accounts of belief systems; over time it has been used more broadly to describe characteristics, practices, or ideas regarded as earlier than or antecedent to animistic thought.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of a cultural or cognitive stage that precedes animism; describing beliefs, practices, or ideas considered earlier than animistic thought.
The researcher suggested that some ritual practices were preanimistic, originating before people attributed individual spirits to objects.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/02 15:42