| 释义 |
metempsychosis|mɛˌtɛmpsaɪˈkəʊsɪs|
Pl. -oses |-ˈəʊsiːz|. Also 6 metempsichosis, 7 metempsuchosis, metemsychosis, metampsycosis, 7–8 metempsycosis.
[Late L. metempsȳchōsis, a. Gr. µετεµψύχωσις, formed on the analogy of other nouns of action from µετα- meta- + ἐν in + ψῡχή soul. Cf. F. métempsychose.
Formerly often stressed metemˈpsychosis: cf. metamorphosis.]
Transmigration of the soul; passage of the soul from one body to another; chiefly, the transmigration of the soul of a human being or animal at or after death into a new body (whether of the same or a different species), a tenet of the Pythagoreans and certain Eastern religions, esp. Buddhism.
c1590Marlowe Faust. (1604) F 2 b, Ah Pythagoras metem su cossis [sic] were that true, This soule should flie from me, and I be changde Vnto some brutish beast. 1591Jas. I Furies 1059, Poet. Exerc. E 3 b, The Fond Metempsichosis straunge. 1606Dekker Newes from Hell Non-Dram. Wks. (Grosart) II. 103 Into whose soule (if euer there were a Pithagorean Metempsuchosis). 1659T. Pecke Parnassi Puerp. 2 Suppose Pythagoras the white did kiss, When he talkt of a Metemsychosis. 1661A. Brome To Mr. J. B. Poems 111 How great a joy 'twould be, how great a bliss, If we could have a Metampsycosis! 1682Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. iii. §23 Dream not of any kind of Metempsychosis or transanimation, but into thine own body, and that after a long time, and then also unto wail or bliss, according to thy first and fundamental Life. 1757J. H. Grose Voy. E. Indies 297 Their belief of the Metempsychosis makes them [Gentoos] extend it to every animated creature. a1862Buckle Misc. Wks. (1872) I. 330 In the oldest Hindoo book we find the metempsychosis into animals.
b. transf. and fig.
1619Purchas Microcosmus lix. 593 If..it [Athens] be there sunke into the ground, and be by some Metempsychosis reuiued in England. a1834Coleridge Shaks. Notes (1849) 25 Follow the wandering spirit of poetry through its various metempsychoses, and consequent metamorphoses. 1864Lowell Fireside Trav. 298 Departed empire has a metempsychosis, if nothing else has. |