shamanism
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Shamanism — • A vague term used by explorers of Siberia in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to designate not a specific religion but a form of savage magic or science, by which physical nature was believed to be brought under the control of man… … Catholic encyclopedia
Shamanism — Sha man*ism, n. The type of religion which once prevalied among all the Ural Altaic peoples (Tungusic, Mongol, and Turkish), and which still survives in various parts of Northern Asia. The Shaman, or wizard priest, deals with good as well as with … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
shamanism — [shä′məniz΄əm, shähā′məniz΄əm; sham′əniz΄əm] n. the religion of certain peoples, esp. some indigenous to N Asia, based on a belief in good and evil spirits who can be influenced only by the shamans shamanist n. shamanistic adj … English World dictionary
Shamanism — Shaman redirects here. For other uses, see Shaman (disambiguation). Russian postcard based on a photo taken in 1908 by S. I. Borisov, showing a female shaman, of probable Khakas ethnicity.[1] Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a… … Wikipedia
shamanism — shamanist, n., adj. shamanistic, adj. /shah meuh niz euhm, shay , sham euh /, n. 1. the animistic religion of northern Asia, embracing a belief in powerful spirits that can be influenced only by shamans. 2. any similar religion. [1770 80; SHAMAN… … Universalium
Shamanism — Until the arrival of Cossacks in Siberia and the Russian Far East, shamanism reigned as the dominant faith in the region. Even when Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity began to attract converts, most indigenous peoples of Asiatic Russia… … Historical Dictionary of the Russian Federation
SHAMANISM — the indigenous RELIGION of Northern Eurasia where trance and the control of SPIRITS by exceptional individuals or SHAMEN who negotiate between this world and the spirit world is a central feature. Shamanism is found among hunting peoples and… … Concise dictionary of Religion
shamanism — noun 1. any animistic religion similar to Asian shamanism (especially as practiced by certain Native American tribes) • Derivationally related forms: ↑shamanistic • Regions: ↑United States, ↑United States of America, ↑America, ↑the States, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
shamanism — [[t]ʃe͟ɪməmɪzəm[/t]] N UNCOUNT Shamanism is a religion which is based on the belief that the world is controlled by good and evil spirits, and that these spirits can be directed by people with special powers … English dictionary
shamanism — shaman ► NOUN (pl. shamans) ▪ (especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America) a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits. DERIVATIVES shamanic adjective shamanism noun… … English terms dictionary
