metempsychosis

[ muh-tem-suh-koh-sis, -temp-, met-uhm-sahy- ]

noun

, plural me·tem·psy·cho·ses [m, uh, -tem-s, uh, -, koh, -seez, -temp-, met-, uh, m-sahy-].

1. the transmigration of the soul, especially the passage of the soul after death from a human or animal to some other human or animal body.

metempsychosis

/ ˌmɛtəmsaɪˈkəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the migration of a soul from one body to another
2. the entering of a soul after death upon a new cycle of existence in a new body either of human or animal form

Derived Forms

• ˌmetempsyˈchosist, noun

Other Words From

• met·em·psy·chic [met-, uh, m-, sahy, -kik], me·tempsy·chosic me·tempsy·chosi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metempsychosis¹

1580–90; < Late Latin < Greek, equivalent to metempsȳchō-, variant stem of metempsȳchoûsthai to pass from one body into another ( met-, em- ², psycho- ) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of metempsychosis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek, from metempsukhousthai, from meta- + -em- in + psukhē soul

Example Sentences

Youth as it opens out discloses The sinister metempsychosis Of lilies dead and turned to roses Red as an angry dawn.

From Project Gutenberg

This connects Buddhism with the doctrine of metempsychosis; a doctrine which the incarnations of Brahminism also suggest.

From Project Gutenberg

Before leaving the problem of the soul Ibn Daud devotes a word to showing that metempsychosis is impossible.

From Project Gutenberg

For nine years the late Patarah Prabhu existed under this new shape, carrying out the laws of metempsychosis.

From Project Gutenberg

Does Plato take metempsychosis seriously, as one would be tempted to believe after reading the Republic?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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• recovery
• rehabilitation
• rejuvenation
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• renewal
• restoration
• revival