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animistic

animistic

1 9.9
Relating to the belief that natural things like trees and rivers have spirits
  • adjective
  • /ˌænɪˈmɪstɪk/
translation icon : animista
  • Lawrence's animistic imagery dramatizes the way that erotic feeling transforms perception.
  • animistic religion
  • animistic belief
  • animistic population

Examples

  • In many indigenous cultures, there is an animistic belief that rivers and mountains possess their own spirits.

  • Shinto is also animistic and shamanistic.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Animistic means all natural phenomena were seen as animated by vital force.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The ancient Greek name of Mother Earth, Gaia, is a quintessential animistic concept.

    Academic text (2000)
  • More often than not, his religious views are more connected to the views of animistic or shamanistic faiths than to Christian tradition.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The return to Gala is a return to the enchanted, natural, animistic world of paganism.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Both countries contain people who, either overtly or beneath their declared religion, are strongly animistic.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The religion of the ancient Germanic peoples was an animistic, pagan, and panentheistic worldview.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The animistic traditions of the local tribe highlight their deep respect for nature and all living things.

  • Children often learn animistic views in stories where animals and trees are depicted as having their own consciousness.

Synonyms

animist
vsanimistic
1 9.1

Relating to the belief that natural things have spirits

focuses on the idea that nature itself has souls or consciousness
animatistic
vsanimistic
  • Specialized
9.9

A belief that natural things like rivers, trees, and mountains have spirits or a special power

emphasizes living souls or consciousness rather than impersonal force

How Animistic

animistic
1 9.9
animist
1 9.1

Surface Forms

animistic positive

Morphology

animistic = animism (transparent) = anim + istic

Formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-istic' to 'animism', so the relation to the belief is directly clear.

Etymology

Animistic comes from the Latin root anim- meaning 'soul' or 'breath', the same root you see in animate and animal. So, animistic describes the belief that trees, rivers and other parts of nature have a spirit or life.