twice-born

[twahys-bawrn]

adjective

1. Hinduism.,  of or relating to members of the Indian castes of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, who undergo a spiritual rebirth and initiation in adolescence.

2. having undergone reincarnation.

3. born-again.

4. denoting any moral or religious experience that brings about a major reorientation of a person's character or personality.

Word History and Origins

Origin of twice-born¹

1400–50, 1785–95 twice-born for def. 1; late Middle English: an epithet of Bacchus