metempsychosis

noun, plural me·tem·psy·cho·ses [muh-tem-suh–koh-seez, -temp-, met-uh m-sahy-] /məˌtɛm səˈkoʊ siz, -ˌtɛmp-, ˌmɛt əm saɪ-/.

1. the transmigration of the soul, especially the passage of the soul after death from a human or animal to some other human or animal body.

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

1. the migration of a soul from one body to another
2. the entering of a soul after death upon a new cycle of existence in a new body either of human or animal form

n.1580s, “passing of the soul at death into another body,” from Late Latin metempsychosis, from Greek metempsychosis, from meta “change” (see meta-) + empsykhoun “to put a soul into,” from en “in” + psyche “soul” (see psyche). Pythagorean word for transmigration of souls at death. Related: Metempsychose (v.), 1590s.