spiritism
spiritism Lexical Profile
spiritism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A religious and philosophical doctrine, founded in 19th-century France by Allan Kardec, holding that human spirits survive bodily death, undergo reincarnation, and can communicate with the living through mediums.
"In Brazil, Kardecist spiritism has grown into a widespread movement known for its charitable hospitals and community centers."
The general belief that the spirits of the dead can communicate with living people, especially through a medium; spiritualism.
"During the late Victorian era, interest in spiritism led many grieving families to attend private séances."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'spiritualism', 'Spiritism' (frequently capitalized) specifically denotes the 19th-century French doctrine codified by Allan Kardec, which emphasizes reincarnation and moral evolution alongside spirit communication.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French spiritisme, a term coined in 1857 by the French educator and author Allan Kardec (Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail) from Latin spiritus ('breath, spirit') and the suffix -isme.