palingenesis

American  

[pal-in-jen-uh-sis] / ˌpæl ɪnˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun

1. rebirth; regeneration.

2. Biology.

   1. embryonic development that reproduces the ancestral features of the species.

   2. Obsolete. the supposed generation of organisms from others preformed in the germ cells.

3. baptism in the Christian faith.

4. the doctrine of transmigration of souls.

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palingenesis British  

/ ˌpælɪnˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, ˌpælɪndʒəˈnɛtɪk /

noun

1. Christianity spiritual rebirth through metempsychosis of Christian baptism

2. biology another name for recapitulation

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Other Word Forms

• palingenesian adjective
• palingenetic adjective
• palingenetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of palingenesis

1615–25; < New Latin < Greek pálin again + génesis genesis

Example Sentences

They inspire him with strong fancies of palingenesis, of the illusion of death, of the continuity of life.

From Project Gutenberg

The period was also one of palingenesis for our camels. 

From Project Gutenberg

This apparent death is but the beginning of a new existence, as it were, one ring more added to the unlimited, uninterrupted chain of successive lives—a regular palingenesis. 

From Project Gutenberg

Mary had heard, and in the palingenesis disclosed she saw space wrapped in a luminous atmosphere, such as she fancied lay behind the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

The idea of palingenesis appears to have no little significance for the existence of the homunculus production.

From Project Gutenberg