from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
New Thought \New` Thought"\
Any form of belief in mental healing, other than (1)
Christian Science and (2) hypnotism or psychotherapy. It was
practised in the 19th century, and its central principle was
affirmative thought, or suggestion, employed with the
conviction that man produces changes in his health, his
finances, and his life by the adoption of a favorable mental
attitude. As a therapeutic doctrine it stands for silent and
absent mental treatment, and the theory that all diseases are
mental in origin. As a cult it has its unifying idea the
inculcation of workable optimism in contrast with the "old
thought" of sin, evil, predestination, and pessimistic
resignation. The term is essentially synonymous with the term
{High Thought}, used in England. -- {New` Thought"er}, n. --
{New` Thought"ist}, n.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]