pythonismn.
/ˈpʌɪθn̩ɪz(ə)m/, /ˈpʌɪθənɪz(ə)m/, /ˈpɪθn̩ɪz(ə)m/, /ˈpɪθənɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˈpaɪθəˌnɪz(ə)m/, /ˈpɪθəˌnɪz(ə)m/ Now rare.
Communication with or possession by a spirit; occult power derived from this; divination.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > familiar or possessing spirit > possession by
wood dreameOE
demoniacal possession1601
possession1601
obsession1607
pythonism1654
demoniac possession1698
endiablementa1734
endemoniasm1751
demon possession1838
demonic possession1853
spirit possession1854
bedevilment1861
diabolepsy1886
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > familiar or possessing spirit > possession by > power derived from
pythonism1654
1654 T. Nicols Abridgem. Whole Body Divinity 59 Pythonisme is when one is possessed with an unclean Spirit, and doth immediatly use the help of the same Spirit to charm with, or to reveal, and discover secrets by.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ ii. vi. §16. 202 This is much like what another of their Doctors sayes,..that Elisha his raising the child to life, and curing Naamans leprosie [etc.]..might all come to pass by the influence of the stars, or by Pythonisme.
1713 tr. L. E. Du Pin Compend. Hist. Church (1715) II. iv. 137 We have nothing of his [sc. Eustathius] but some Fragments of his Homilies..and a Treatise of Pythonism.
1874 Ladies' Repository Nov. 367/1 With the latter he has nothing to do, and thus separates himself by an impassable line from believers in the commonly reported facts of modern Pythonism.
1901 W. F. Fleming tr. Voltaire Wks. VIII. 227 If any one has seen them [sc. the dead] during sleep, why may he not see them when he is awake... To bring this spirit of pythonism into successful operation it is only necessary that one party should be a knave and the other a fool.
1973 H. L. Nieburg Culture Storm viii. 142 Under whatever name or religious interpretation, whether known as ecstasy, pythonism, devil-dancing..or rock music festivals, similar rituals occur in all cultures.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1654