transmigrate

American  

[trans-mahy-greyt, tranz-] / trænsˈmaɪ greɪt, trænz- /

verb (used without object)

transmigrated, transmigrating

1. to move or pass from one place to another.

2. to migrate from one country to another in order to settle there.

3. (of the soul) to be reborn after death in another body.

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verb (used with object)

transmigrated, transmigrating

1. to cause to transmigrate, as a soul; transfer.

transmigrate British  

/ ˌtrænzmaɪˈɡreɪt /

verb

1. to move from one place, state, or stage to another

2. (of souls) to pass from one body into another at death

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Other Word Forms

• transmigration noun
• transmigrational adjective
• transmigrative adjective
• transmigrator noun
• transmigratory adjective
• untransmigrated adjective

Etymology

Origin of transmigrate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin trānsmigrātus (past participle of trānsmigrāre to depart, migrate). See trans-, migrate

Explanation

You're most likely to come across the word transmigrate in a religious context. Your soul, some people believe, will transmigrate into a new body after death. Another way to say transmigrate is reincarnate, or be born again after death. Many religions believe that people transmigrate after they die, including Buddhism and Hinduism as well as some Native American beliefs. Rarely, the verb transmigrate is used to mean "move to a new country," although migrate is much more common. The root is the Latin word transmigrat, "move from one place to another," from the prefix trans, "across or beyond," and migratus, "to move."

Example Sentences

Ladder�If the 20th Century does not suit, transmigrate to the 25th.

From Time Magazine Archive

They think the soul will transmigrate many times before being finally united to Brahma.

From The Student's Mythology A Compendium of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Hindoo, Chinese, Thibetian, Scandinavian, Celtic, Aztec, and Peruvian Mythologies by White, Catherine Ann

So we may justly say that this "character"—this moral and intellectual essence of a man—does veritably pass over from one fleshy tabernacle to another, ana does really transmigrate from generation to generation.

From Aphorisms and Reflections from the Works of T. H. Huxley by Huxley, T. H.

"Now we will transmigrate ourselves into robins and do the 'babes in the wood' act!"

From Peggy-Alone by Craig, Anna B.

The Person is One in all the manifold phases of the Many, through which we transmigrate, and we find ourself perpetually, because we cannot lose ourself personally in the mazes of the many.

From Transcendentalism in New England A History by Frothingham, Octavius Brooks