Spiritist Vocabulary¹²

Agénère (from the Greek, a, privative, and géiné, géinomai, to beget; that which has not been begotten). Variety of the tangible apparition; state of certain spirits who can momentarily assume the form of a living person, so as to create a complete illusion.

Agénère (from the Greek a, meaning “not,” and géiné, géinomai, meaning “to beget”; that which has not been begotten). A type of tangible apparition. It is the state of certain spirits who can briefly take the form of a living person, creating a complete illusion.

Erraticity. State of wandering spirits, that is to say, of spirits not incarnated, during the intervals of their corporeal existences.

Erraticity. The state of wandering spirits, or spirits that are not incarnated, between their lives in physical bodies.

Medianimic. Quality of the power of mediums. Medianimic faculty.

Medianimic. Relating to the power of mediums. Medianimic faculty.

Medianimity. Faculty of mediums. Synonym of mediumship. These two words are often used indifferently; if one wished to make a distinction, it might be said that mediumship has a more general sense, and medianimity a more restricted sense. He has the gift of mediumship. Mechanical medianimity.

Medianimity. The ability of mediums. A synonym for mediumship. These two words are often used interchangeably. If a distinction is made, mediumship might be said to have a broader meaning, and medianimity a narrower one. He has the gift of mediumship. Mechanical medianimity.

Medium (from the Latin, medium, middle, intermediary). Person who can serve as intermediary between spirits and men.

Medium (from the Latin medium, meaning middle or intermediary). A person who can act as an intermediary between spirits and people.

Mediumate. Providential mission of mediums. This word was created by the spirits. (See Chap. XXXI., communication XII.)

Mediumate. The divinely appointed mission of mediums. The spirits created this word. (See Chapter XXXI, communication XII.)

Mediumship (see Medianimity).

Mediumship (see Medianimity).

Périsprit (from the Greek, péri, around). Semi-material envelope of the spirit. In the incarnate, it serves as link or intermediary between the spirit and matter; in wandering spirits, it constitutes the fluidic body of the spirit.

Périsprit (from the Greek péri, meaning around). The spirit's semi-material covering. In an incarnate being, it links the spirit to matter. In wandering spirits, it forms the spirit's fluidic body.

Pneumatography (from the Greek, pneuma, air, breath, wind, spirit, and graphô, I write). Direct writing of spirits, without the aid of the hand of a medium.

Pneumatography (from the Greek pneuma, meaning air, breath, wind, or spirit, and graphô, meaning I write). Writing produced directly by spirits, without using a medium's hand.

Pneumatophony (from the Greek, pneuma, and phoné, sound or voice). Voice of spirits; oral communication of spirits without the aid of the human voice.

Pneumatophony (from the Greek pneuma and phoné, sound or voice). The voice of spirits. Spirits speaking without using a human voice.

Psychographer (from the Greek, psuké, butterfly, soul, and graphô, I write). One who practises psychography; writing medium.

Psychographer (from the Greek, psuké, butterfly, soul, and graphô, I write). Someone who practices psychography, or a writing medium.

Psychography. Writing of spirits by the hand of a medium.

Psychography. Writing by spirits through the hand of a medium.

Psychophony. Communication of spirits by the voice of a speaking medium.

Psychophony. Communication by spirits through the voice of a speaking medium.

Rapping. Quality of certain spirits. Rapping spirits are those who reveal their presence by raps and by noises of various kinds.

Rapping. A quality of certain spirits. Rapping spirits make their presence known through raps and other kinds of noises.

Reincarnation. Return of the spirit to corporeal life; plurality of existences.

Reincarnation. The return of the spirit to life in a body. Multiple lives.

Sematology (from the Greek sêma, sign, and logos, discourse). Language of signs. Communication of spirits by the movement of inert bodies.

Sematology (from the Greek sêma, sign, and logos, discourse). The language of signs. Communication by spirits through the movement of inanimate objects.

Spirit. In the special sense of the spiritist doctrine, spirits are the intelligent beings of the creation, who people the universe outside of the material world, and who constitute the invisible world. They are not beings of a particular creation, but the souls of those who have lived on the earth or in the other spheres, and who have left their corporeal envelope.

Spirit. In spiritist doctrine, spirits are the intelligent beings of creation. They inhabit the universe beyond the material world and make up the invisible world. They are not separately created beings. Rather, they are the souls of those who lived on earth or in other spheres and have left their physical bodies.

Spiritism. Doctrine founded on the belief in the existence of spirits and in their manifestations.

Spiritism. A doctrine based on the belief that spirits exist and manifest themselves.

Spiritist. That which relates to Spiritism; partisan of Spiritism; one who believes in the manifestations of spirits. A good, a bad spiritist; the spiritist doctrine.

Spiritist. Relating to Spiritism. A supporter of Spiritism, or someone who believes that spirits manifest themselves. A good spiritist, a bad spiritist, the spiritist doctrine.

Spiritiste. This word, employed at first to designate the adherents of Spiritism, has not been sanctioned by usage; the word spirite has prevailed.

Spiritiste. This word was first used for followers of Spiritism, but it never caught on. The word spirite became more common.

Spiritualism. Said in the sense opposed to that of materialism (Academy); belief in the existence of the spiritual and immaterial soul. Spiritualism is the basis of all religions.

Spiritualism. Used as the opposite of materialism (Academy). Belief in the existence of the spiritual, immaterial soul. Spiritualism is the basis of all religions.

Spiritualist. That which relates to spiritualism; partisan of spiritualism. Whoever believes that all in us is not matter is a spiritualist, which in no way implies belief in the manifestations of spirits. Every spiritist is necessarily a spiritualist; but one may be a spiritualist without being a spiritist; the materialist is neither the one nor the other. We say: the spiritualist philosophy. A work written in spiritualist ideas. Spiritist manifestations are produced by the action of spirits on matter. Spiritist morality flows from the teaching given by the spirits. There are spiritualists who turn spiritist beliefs into ridicule.

Spiritualist. Relating to spiritualism, or a supporter of spiritualism. Anyone who believes that not everything in us is matter is a spiritualist. This does not necessarily mean believing in manifestations of spirits. Every spiritist is also a spiritualist, but a spiritualist does not have to be a spiritist. A materialist is neither. We say: Spiritualist philosophy. A work written from a spiritualist point of view. Spiritist manifestations result from spirits acting on matter. Spiritist morality comes from the teachings of spirits. Some spiritualists ridicule spiritist beliefs.

In these examples, the substitution of the word spiritualist for the word spiritist would produce an evident confusion.

In these examples, replacing spiritist with spiritualist would clearly cause confusion.

Stereotity (from the Greek stéréos, solid). Quality of tangible apparitions.

Stereotity (from the Greek stéréos, solid). The quality of being a tangible apparition.

Typter (from the Greek tuptô, I strike). Variety of mediums apt for typtology. Typter medium.

Typter (from the Greek tuptô, meaning “I strike”). A type of medium suited to typtology. Typter medium.

Typtology. Language by raps; mode of communication of spirits. Alphabetic typtology.

Typtology. Communication by raps, a way for spirits to communicate. Alphabetic typtology.