Zeitgeist

Zeit·geist  (tstgst, zt-)

n.

The spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation: "It's easy to see how a student . . . in the 1940's could imbibe such notions. The Zeitgeist encouraged Philosopher-Kings" James Atlas.

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[German : Zeit, time (from Middle High German zt, from Old High German; see d- in Indo-European roots) + Geist, spirit; see poltergeist.]

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Zeitgeist [tsite-guyst]

Noun

the spirit or general outlook of a specific time or period [German, literally: time spirit]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Zeitgeist - the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation flavor, flavour, feel, spirit, smell, feeling, look, tone - the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; "the feel of the city excited him"; "a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting"; "it had the smell of treason"