animism C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas US /ˈænɪmɪzəm/ See IPA manual Freq #252598 Meanings 1 noun the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls Animism is common among primitive peoples. 2 noun A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena. "I'm not entirely comfortable with the level of animism you and Hanners display towards that thing.". 3 noun A belief that an immaterial force animates the universe. 4 noun A doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial spirit. Etymology From anima + -ism, from Latin anima (“life", "breath", "soul”). Dated sense from German Animismus, coined c. 1720 by physicist/chemist Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734) See anima mundi. Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # animism **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈænɪmɪzəm/ **Frequency rank:** 252598 ## Meanings 1. the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls 2. A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena. 3. A belief that an immaterial force animates the universe. 4. A doctrine that animal life is produced by an immaterial spirit. ## Examples - Animism is common among primitive peoples. - "I'm not entirely comfortable with the level of animism you and Hanners display towards that thing.". ## Etymology From anima + -ism, from Latin anima (“life", "breath", "soul”). Dated sense from German Animismus, coined c. 1720 by physicist/chemist Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734) See anima mundi. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown