twice-born
Americanadjective
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Hinduism. of or relating to members of the Indian castes of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, who undergo a spiritual rebirth and initiation in adolescence.
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having undergone reincarnation.
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denoting any moral or religious experience that brings about a major reorientation of a person's character or personality.
Etymology
Origin of twice-born
1400–50, 1785–95 twice-born for def. 1; late Middle English: an epithet of Bacchus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The collection’s French-born founders, John and Dominique de Menil, were observant Roman Catholics and also observant modernists — twice-born utopians, you might say, anti-extravagance, pro-transcendence.
From New York Times ● Nov. 29, 2018
By its performance he becomes Dvija or twice-born, and the highest importance is attached to the change or initiation.
From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume II by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)
Before us, kings twice-born, cradled in purple, are as naught.
From The White Plumes of Navarre A Romance of the Wars of Religion by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
But thou wert twice-born, and the Fates to thee —To make all sure—doubled thy misery.
From Poems of Henry Vaughan, Silurist, Volume II by Chambers, E. K. (Edmund Kerchever)
Mantras, necessary to rites of twice-born, 4 10 ...
From Hindu Law and Judicature from the Dharma-Sástra of Yájnavalkya by Edward Röer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
