mana
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.ma·na
noun \ˈmä-nə\Definition of MANA
1
: the power of the elemental forces of nature embodied in an object or person
2
: moral authority : prestige
Origin of MANA
of Polynesian origin; akin to Hawaiian & Maori mana mana
First Known Use: circa 1843
mana
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Among Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, a supernatural force or power that may be ascribed to persons, spirits, or inanimate objects. Mana may be either good or evil, beneficial or dangerous, but it is not impersonal; it is never spoken of except in connection with powerful beings or things. The term was first used in the 19th century in the West in connection with religion, but mana is now regarded as a symbolic way of expressing the special qualities attributed to persons of status in a hierarchical society, of providing sanction for their actions, and of explaining their failures. See also animism.
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