The term 'zeitgeist' is a German word that literally translates to 'time spirit' and is used to refer to the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, and political CLIMATE of an era. The two crossword solutions for this term are 'ETHOS' (5 letters) and 'CLIMATE' (7 letters). ETHOS refers to the moral character or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or culture, while CLIMATE is a broad term used to describe the average weather conditions of a region over a long period of time. Together, these two words can be used to describe the zeitgeist of an era, which is the collective beliefs, values, and attitudes of a particular time period.