metempsychose

transitive verb

me·​tem·​psy·​chose
məˈtem(p)sə̇ˌkōs,
ˌmetə̇mˈsīˌk-,
-ōz
variants or less commonly metempsychosize
məˌtem(p)sə̇ˈkōˌsīz,
ˌmetə̇mˌsīˈk-
-ed/-ing/-s
: to translate or transfer (as the soul) from one body to another

Word History

Etymology

metempsychose, back-formation from Late Latin metempsychosis; metempsychosize from Late Latin metempsychosis + English -ize

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near metempsychose

Cite this Entry

“Metempsychose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metempsychose. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!