multitheism

M3U1L1T1I1T1H4E1I1S1M3

noun

The existence of multiple forms of theism, as in a society.

OriginEnglish theism ← Latin theo- ← Ancient Greek θεο- (theo-) →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounmultitheism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe existence of multiple forms of theism, as in a society.

    But for rudeness of manners, idolatry, and multitheism, no people in the world ever went beyond them.

    1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 574
    3 more examples

    This led to multitheism and idolatry, a condition which would have grown increasingly confused, had God not decided to give mankind some better direction.

    1990, Edward Malcolm Batley, Catalyst of Enlightenment, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, page 317

    But I am convinced that it is time for us to understand all our theisms as aspects of a global multitheism.

    2001, Diana L. Eck, "Honest to God:The Universe of Faith" in Marcus J. Borg, Ross Mackenzie, God at 2000, p. 48

    By the unprecedented intensity of the finale's rhetoric, by the multitheism of its symbolism — the Greek mythic signposts, the Christian-medieval gestures embedded in the Andante maestoso, and the orientalism of the Alla marcia's "Turkish Music".

    2003, Maynard Solomon, Late Beethoven: Music, Thought, Imagination, page 226
  2. dateduncountablePolytheism.

    This forceful imposition of monotheism and impossibly high moral standards on the slow evolutionary process of multitheism in which people were still learning to live with their gods created guilt, anxiety and fear of the new god.

    1933, Buddhist Society (London, England), The Middle Way, p. 90

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*moltos
  2. Latinmultus
  3. Latinmultī
  4. Middle Englishmulti-
  5. Englishmulti-
  6. Proto-Hellenic*tʰehós
  7. Ancient Greekθεός (theós)
  8. Ancient Greekθεο- (theo-)
  9. Latintheo-
  10. Englishtheo-
  11. Englishtheism
  12. Englishmultitheism

From multi- + theism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

multitheism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitheism

MLA

“multitheism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitheism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “multitheism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multitheism.

Source: multitheism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.