mana
/ˈmɑ.nə/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.29 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "They further required that a certain number of the old Chiefs should be liberally pensioned by the Government, and placed upon a footing of equality with European gentlemen of independent means, in consideration of their resigning their "mana" as Chiefs in favor of the new system […]"
- "The human tribe partakes of the mana or life-force of the animal, and is strengthened […]"
- "But in popular estimation their essential virtue derived from the personal mana of the sovereign."
- "It can be seen, therefore, that mana is a nonvisible changing measure; it can remain static, increase, or decrease, depending on the actions or inaction of the recipient, and it can be enhanced or diminished."
- "Among the Maori sovereignty was the result of mana—power based on hereditary rank and personal achievement. Manas could coexist and overlap, as they did in the medieval times in Europe."
- "On a number of occasions in recent years apologies have been offered to Māori because of past offences to their mana and invasions of their rights as tangata whenua."
Etymology
Borrowed from Māori mana, ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana. The use of "mana" for "magical energy" in role-playing games originated from Larry Niven, when he wrote the short story, "Not Long Before the End", in 1969. It was later popularised by his The Magic Goes Away setting.
Word Breakdown
- Root: *mana
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɑ.nə/
- British English: /ˈmɑː.nə/