Anam

/ˈænæm/ noun

Definition

A term used in Irish folklore and mythology referring to a soul or spiritual essence.

Etymology

From Middle Irish 'anam' meaning soul, derived from Proto-Celtic *anamo-. Related to Old Irish spiritual and religious vocabulary. The word reflects pre-Christian Celtic beliefs about the immaterial part of living beings.

Kelly Says

The Irish word 'anam' survives in modern Irish culture and phrases like 'mo anam' (my soul), showing how ancient Celtic spiritual concepts remained embedded in language even after Christianization.

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