Totem
['təʊtəm] or ['totəm]
Definition
(noun.) emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians).
(noun.) a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object.
Checked by Aubrey--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A rude picture, as of a bird, beast, or the like, used by the North American Indians as a symbolic designation, as of a family or a clan.
Edited by Emily
Definition
n. a natural object not an individual but one of a class taken by a tribe a family or a single person and treated with superstitious respect as an outward symbol of an existing intimate unseen relation.—adj. Totem′ic.—ns. Tō′temism the use of totems as the foundation of a vast social system of alternate obligation and restriction; Tō′temist one designated by a totem.—adj. Tō′temistic.
Editor: Patrick
Examples
- We may outgrow our adoration of the Constitution or Private Property only to establish some new totem pole. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- They adopt a totem or symbol of the family and this is generally some animal, the turtle, bear and wolf being favorites. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The tribes are represented by their totems, martens, bear, manfish, and catfish, led by the crane. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Typed by Elroy