totemism
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to·tem·ism
(tō′tə-mĭz′əm)n.
1. A belief in totems or in kinship through common affiliation to a totem.
2. The practice of establishing affiliation through totems.
to′tem·ist n.
to′tem·is′tic adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
totemism
(ˈtəʊtəˌmɪzəm)n
1. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the belief in kinship of groups or individuals having a common totem
2. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the rituals, taboos, and other practices associated with such a belief
ˈtotemist n
ˌtotemˈistic adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
to•tem•ism
(ˈtoʊ təˌmɪz əm)n.
1. the practice of having totems.
2. the system of tribal division according to totems.
[1785–95, Amer.]
to′tem•ist, to′tem•ite`, n.
to`tem•is′tic, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
totemism
1. the practice of having a natural object or animate being, as a bird or animal, as the emblem of a family, clan, or group.
2. the practice of regarding such a totem as mystically related to the family, clan, or group and therefore not to be hunted.
3. a system of tribal organization according to totems. — totemic, adj.
See also: Society2. the practice of regarding such a totem as mystically related to the family, clan, or group and therefore not to be hunted.
3. a system of tribal organization according to totems. — totemic, adj.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
totemism
Originally a North American term, totemism is used to refer to a mystical or ritual relationship between a social group and a class of objects such as a species of plant or animal.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() belief - any cognitive content held as true |
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