palingenesis

American  

[pal-in-jen-uh-sis] / ˌpæl ɪnˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun

1. rebirth; regeneration.

2. Biology.

   1. embryonic development that reproduces the ancestral features of the species.

   2. Obsolete. the supposed generation of organisms from others preformed in the germ cells.

3. baptism in the Christian faith.

4. the doctrine of transmigration of souls.

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palingenesis British  

/ ˌpælɪnˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, ˌpælɪndʒəˈnɛtɪk /

noun

1. Christianity spiritual rebirth through metempsychosis of Christian baptism

2. biology another name for recapitulation

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Other Word Forms

• palingenesian adjective
• palingenetic adjective
• palingenetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of palingenesis

1615–25; < New Latin < Greek pálin again + génesis genesis

Example Sentences

The plot is a palingenesis of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mary had heard, and in the palingenesis disclosed she saw space wrapped in a luminous atmosphere, such as she fancied lay behind the sun.

From Mary Magdalen by Saltus, Edgar

After having spoken of natural palingenesis, he concludes—"And thus we see how little cause there is to attribute these appearances to the return of souls to earth, or to demons, as do some ignorant persons."

From The Phantom World or, The philosophy of spirits, apparitions, &c, &c. by Christmas, Henry

The palingenesis of Leroux or Fourier removes the radical injustice.

From The Idea of Progress An inguiry into its origin and growth by Bury, J. B. (John Bagnell)

All true philosophers have been attracted by the mystery of palingenesis, and have found that its acceptance has thrown a flood of light on the questions that perplexed them.

From Reincarnation A Study in Human Evolution by Rothwell, Fred