totem

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“
The top of this totem is an exact replica of our narwhal horn.

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Definitions (8)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun An animal, plant, or natural object serving among certain tribal or traditional peoples as the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian.
  2. noun A representation of such an object.
  3. noun A social group having a common affiliation to such an object.
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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • Listening. "Your totem is here," whispered the voices. —  F ;SF; - vol 090 issue 05 - May 1996
  • A few reasons, 1 the totem is actually cheaper ... go figure, 2, all our totems have a gcd of only 1 second, 3, chances are that someone else in your party is going to get poisoned / diseased again. —  DSLreports - front page
  • A totem was a creature, plant or animal that the tribe believed they descended from.
  • The Totem Battle, which offers players a chance to PVP for the control of a totem is very popular in game. —  SPAWNPOINT.COM - Gaming News Feed
  • All products can be used as a totem, a billboard, or an amusement ride. —  Press Releases
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Ojibwa nindoodem, my totem.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. American Indian; given as from “Massachusetts Indian wuhtohtimoin, that to which a person or place belongs” (Webster's Dict.); Algonkin dodaim (Tylor); Algonkin otem, with a prefixed possessive pron. nt'otem, my family token.
 

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/ˈtoʊtɛm/
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