Manitou

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈmanɪtuː/
• US IPA: /ˈmænÉ™tu/

Origin

From Pidgin Delaware Manétto, from Unami manətːu and Munsee manutoow (manə́toːw) (later influenced by French manitou, from Montagnais); from Proto-Algonquian *maneto·wa ("supernatural being").

Full definition of manitou

Noun

1. A god or spirit as the object of religious awe or ritual among some American Indians.
• 1819, s:Author:Washington Irving, s:The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, The favourite abode of this Manitou is still shown. It is a great rock or cliff on the loneliest part of the mountains, and, … is known by the name of the Garden Rock.
• 1826, James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans, 1888 p. 319:If it were possible to translate the comprehensive and melodious language in which he spoke, the ode might read something like the following: "Manitou! Manitou! Manitou! Thou art great, thou art good, thou art wise: Manitou! Manitou! Thou art just."
• 1987, John A Grim, The Shaman, p. 143:Each Ojibway shaman's method of communication with the manitou patron is unique and is related to a personal dream experience.

Usage notes

Sometimes used as a proper noun, in which case it is often capitalized.

Anagrams

• tinamou