animism

Definition

A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena.

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.

Example Sentences

• ""I'm not entirely comfortable with the level of animism you and Hanners display towards that thing.""