The beliefs, practices, or lifestyle of fakirs, particularly Hindu or Muslim ascetics who renounce worldly life for spiritual devotion.
From 'fakir' (from Arabic 'faqir' meaning poor person, referring to Muslim or Hindu ascetics) plus '-ism' (meaning doctrine or practice). The term entered English through colonial trade routes.
Fakirs fascinated Victorian Europeans so much that 'fakirism' entered English texts in the 1800s—yet Western observers often misunderstood their spiritual practices, sometimes treating them as magicians rather than philosophers.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.