Where does “animism” come from?
Animism derives from Latin anima meaning soul or life force, from Proto-Italic anamos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- meaning to breathe or blow.
animism (English): A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes...
Definitions
- A belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes...
Ancestry of “animism”, step by step
animism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English anima
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | anima | The soul or animating principle of a living... |
| 2 | Latin | anima | soul, spirit, life; air, breeze; breath |
| 3 | Latin | animus | That life-giving aspect which animates: life... |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | anamos | breath; spirit, soul, life force |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁mos | breath |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁- | to breathe |
via French animisme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | animisme | animism |