Ananse

noun

Anan·se

variants or Anansi

ə-ˈnän(t)-sē

: character in folklore of West Africa and the Caribbean usually depicted as a spider known for trickery and sometimes considered the god of stories

Word History

Etymology

Twi anánse "spider"

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Ananse was in 1705

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Ananke

Ananse

ananym

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Ananse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ananse. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Ananse

Anan·se

variants or Anansi

ə-ˈnän(t)-sē

character in folklore of West Africa and the Caribbean usually depicted as a spider known for trickery and sometimes considered the god of stories

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Ananse

noun

Word History

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