noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A reverence for animal life or belief in animal powers and influences, as among primitive groups. dated, uncountable
2. 2
   A former doctrine claiming that the phenomena of life are due to a peculiar vital principle; the theory of vital force. dated, uncountable

Etymology

Derived from Ancient Greek [Term?].

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.