metempsychosis

noun

me·​tem·​psy·​cho·​sis mə-ˌtem(p)-si-ˈkō-səs  ˌme-təm-ˌsī- 

: the passing of the soul at death into another body either human or animal

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek metempsychōsis, from metempsychousthai to undergo metempsychosis, from meta- + empsychos animate, from en- + psychē soul — more at psych-

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above