zeitgeist
noun /ˈzaɪtɡaɪst/
/ˈzaɪtɡaɪst/
[singular] (from German, formal)- the general mood or quality of a particular period of history, as shown by the ideas, beliefs, etc. common at the time synonym spirit (6)Topics Historyc2Word Originmid 19th cent.: from German Zeitgeist, from Zeit ‘time’ + Geist ‘spirit’.