transmigration

American  

[trans-mahy-grey-shuhn, tranz-] / ˌtræns maɪˈgreɪ ʃən, ˌtrænz- /

noun

1. the act of transmigrating.

2. the passage of a soul after death into another body; metempsychosis.

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Etymology

Origin of transmigration

1250–1300; Middle English transmigracion < Late Latin trānsmigrātiōn- (stem of trānsmigrātiō ) removal. See trans-, migration

Explanation

Transmigration is the movement of a soul into another body after death. Transmigration is related to reincarnation. If you believe your cat is your reincarnated grandmother, then you believe in transmigration. The pieces of this word might look familiar — trans means “across,” as in transport or transcontinental, and migration is the act of moving, like birds flying south. Transmigration used to just mean what it sounds like, as in “move from one place to another,” but later it took on the deeper meaning of a soul moving into another body after death. Various religions are associated with different types of transmigration.

Example Sentences

Another notable, but still safe, exception in music was John Adams’ “On the Transmigration of Souls.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2021

I remember it was Thursday, Sep. 10 because I was queuing up John Adams’ solemn, exquisite symphonic remembrance of the 9/11 victims, On the Transmigration of Souls.

From The Guardian • Sep. 11, 2016

Mr. Corigliano declined, feeling that the shock was too fresh, and the orchestra turned to John Adams, who provided the luminous, deeply moving “On the Transmigration of Souls.”

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2011

He felt exhausted by the creation of his latest book, �The Transmigration of Timothy Archer.�

From Time • Mar. 4, 2011

Believers in Soul Transmigration See in him the Re-incarnation Of those Sad Plagues of summer, who Ask, "Is it hot enough for you?"

From The Mythological Zoo by Herford, Oliver