past-life
UK[ˈpɑːst ˌlaɪf]US[ˈpæst ˌlaɪf]
n
A person's life or existence in a time before their current birth, especially as believed in some spiritual or religious traditions.
n
(by extension) A previous period in a person's current existence, especially one involving a different career or identity.
Morpheme Breakdown
past
life
past
time before
life
existence
Etymology
The compound 'past-life' is a modern English formation built from two native Germanic words. 'Past' evolved from the concept of time that has "gone by," rooted in the idea of being completed or finished. 'Life' carries the ancient sense of continued existence and vitality. When combined, the term creates a literal, transparent meaning of "a life that is in the past." Its specific application to concepts of reincarnation or pre-birth existence is a semantic development within modern spiritual and metaphysical discourse, layering an abstract, doctrinal meaning onto the straightforward temporal and biological components of the original words.
Analysis
Structure: past (time before) + life (existence)
past: From Middle English, from Old English, ultimately from the past participle of the Proto-Indo-European root peh₂- ("to protect, feed"). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning "gone by in time."
life: From Old English 'līf', from Proto-Germanic libą, from the PIE root leip- ("to stick, adhere; fat"). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including growth and functional activity."
Examples
Some people believe they can recall vivid memories from a past-life through hypnosis.
Before becoming a teacher, his past-life as a musician heavily influences his classroom style.
The novel explores the idea of souls meeting again, connected by their past-life relationships.