-ələ̇st noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from (assumed) New Latin spiritualista, from Medieval Latin spiritualis spiritual + Latin -ista -ist
1. : one whose chief interest is in spiritual things and who tends to interpret things in a spiritual sense : a spiritually minded person : one whose ideas have a spiritual basis
2. : one who maintains the doctrine of philosophical spiritualism
3.
a. : one who believes in spiritualism : one who seeks intercourse with departed spirits
b. usually capitalized : a member of a religious organization practicing or believing in spiritualism