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totemic

 - 2 dictionary results

to⋅tem

  [toh-tuhm]
Use totemic in a Sentence
–noun
1. a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.
2. an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or sib considers itself closely related.
3. a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group.
4. anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol.
Origin:
1750–60, Americanism; < Ojibwa ninto⋅te⋅m my totem, oto⋅te⋅man his totem (prob. orig. my clan-village-mate, deriv. of s. o⋅te⋅- dwell in or as a village; cf. o⋅te⋅na village)

Related forms:
to⋅tem⋅ic  [toh-tem-ik] , adjective
to⋅tem⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To totemic
to·tem   (tō'təm)   
n.  

    1. An animal, plant, or natural object serving among certain tribal or traditional peoples as the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian.

    2. A representation of such an object.

    3. A social group having a common affiliation to such an object.

  2. A venerated emblem or symbol: "grew up with the totems and taboos typical of an Irish Catholic kid in Boston" (Connie Paige).


[Ojibwa nindoodem, my totem.]
to·tem'ic (-těm'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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