manitou

A manitou is believed to dwell within the ancient forest.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A spirit or deity in the belief systems of certain Indigenous peoples of North America, particularly the Algonquian nations: "manitou" refers to a supernatural force or being that is believed to inhabit the natural world and influence human affairs. It can be either benevolent or malevolent.
   • A charm or talisman: In some contexts, "manitou" also denotes an object imbued with spiritual power, used as a protective or sacred artifact.

Usage Examples

• (A supernatural being in Indigenous spirituality.)
• (A charm or talisman with spiritual significance.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a manitou": to possess a personal spirit or guardian spirit.

  • According to tradition, every warrior had a manitou that protected him in battle. (A personal spiritual companion.)

• "manitou of the hunt": a specific spirit associated with hunting success.

  • The hunters offered tobacco to the manitou of the hunt before setting out. (A specialized supernatural entity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Manitou (n): the singular form, as defined above.
  • The manitou of the lake was said to calm storms. (The spirit of the lake.)
• Manitous (n): plural form.
  • The different manitous of the region were honored with ceremonies. (Multiple spirits or deities.)

Synonyms

• Spirit: a supernatural being or essence.
• Deity: a god or goddess.
• Talisman: an object believed to have magical powers.

Related Idioms

• Manitou of the place: a spirit believed to be the guardian of a specific location.

  • The old rock formation was considered the manitou of the valley. (A protective spirit of a place.)

• Great manitou: a supreme or all-powerful spirit in some traditions.

  • The people prayed to the Great Manitou for a bountiful harvest. (A high deity or ultimate spiritual force.)