Der Zeitgeist
Example: Der Zeitgeist der 1960er Jahre spiegelte große gesellschaftliche Veränderungen wider.
Definition
"Der Zeitgeist" refers to the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history, reflecting the prevailing ideas, beliefs, and cultural climate of that time. It often captures the general intellectual and cultural trends influencing society during an era.
Etymology
The term "der Zeitgeist" comes from German, combining "Zeit" meaning 'time' and "Geist" meaning 'spirit' or 'ghost.' It literally translates to 'spirit of the time,' emphasizing how the word encapsulates the essence or atmosphere of a specific historical period.
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"Der Zeitgeist" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 210 commonly used words.
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the spirit of the times