the belief that natural objects, phenomena, and the universe itself have desires and intentions (in the philosophies of Plato and Pythagoras) the hypothesis that there is an immaterial force that animates the universe
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
an•i•mism /ˈænəˌmɪzəm/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
an•i•mis•tic, adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Philosophythe belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.
an•i•mis•tic, adj.
an•i•mism
(an′ə miz′əm),USA pronunciation n.
an′i•mist, adj.
an′i•mis′tic, adj.
- Philosophythe belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.
- Philosophythe belief that natural objects have souls that may exist apart from their material bodies.
- Philosophythe doctrine that the soul is the principle of life and health.
- belief in spiritual beings or agencies.
- Latin anim(a) (see anima) + -ism
- 1825–35
an′i•mis′tic, adj.
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