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- DictionaryTo·tem/ˈtōdəm/
noun
- 1. a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem.
A totem (from Ojibwe: ᑑᑌᒼ or ᑑᑌᒻ doodem) is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system.
In its most specific sense, totem refers to an emblematic depiction of an animal or plant that gives a family or clan its name and that often serves as a reminder of its ancestry. The term is also used broadly for any person or thing having particular emblematic or symbolic importance.
totemism, system of belief in which humans are said to have kinship or a mystical relationship with a spirit-being, such as an animal or plant. The entity, or totem, is thought to interact with a given kin group or an individual and to serve as their emblem or symbol.
noun. a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group. an object or natural phenomenon that a family or descendant group considers themselves closely related to.
Totem pole, carved and painted log, mounted vertically, constructed by the Native Americans of the Northwest Coast of the United States and Canada. There are seven principal kinds of totem poles: memorial poles, grave markers, house posts, portal poles, welcoming poles, mortuary poles, and ridicule poles.
Totemism - Animism, Symbols, Clans: Among the Wiradjuri, an Aboriginal people who traditionally lived in New South Wales (Australia), totem clans are divided among two subgroups and corresponding matrilineal moieties. The group totem, named “flesh,” is transmitted from the mother.
TOTEM definition: 1. an object that is respected by a group of people, especially for religious reasons: 2. an…. Learn more.
Totems are pictures — usually on badges or emblems — of animals or plants that represent a group of people, especially an extended family or clan. A totem could be a grizzly bear, oak tree, catfish, or just about any other living thing. Like a flag, a totem means a lot to the people it represents.
a person or thing that is thought of as a symbol of a particular quality or idea. The Hampden Park football stadium is a totem of Scottish identity. Word Origin. See totem in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Check pronunciation: totem. Definition of totem noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Jun 20, 2023 · What are Totems? Totems are natural objects or living things including plants and animals which come to be representative of a clan, tribe, or group. They are believed to have some form of spiritual connection either in the form of protector, ancestor, or helper.
