Horme
/ˈhɔːr.mi/noun
A vital instinctive force or inner drive toward activity, especially in Montessori educational theory.
Did you know?Maria Montessori used horme to describe an innate life energy that guides children toward development, echoing ancient Greek ideas of impulse and purposeful motion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ser-
“A reconstructed root associated with flowing or setting something in motion; its exact connection to Greek hormē is not completely certain.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὁρμή (hormḗ)
“Impulse, onset, rush, assault, or an inner movement toward action.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὁρμάω (hormáō)
“To set in motion, urge forward, rush, or attack.”
19th Century
English
horme
“A specialized borrowing meaning an impulse or driving force.”
Early 20th Century
English
horme
“A vital force in psychological and educational writing, especially in Montessori’s terminology.”
Modern English
English
horme
“An innate life-drive or developmental energy, chiefly used in Montessori and philosophical contexts.”