Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
manitou [man-i-too] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural man·i·tous, (especially collectively) man·i·tou.
- (among the Algonquian Indians) a supernatural being that controls nature; a spirit, deity, or object that possesses supernatural power.
Also man·i·to [man-i-toh] /ˈmæn ɪˌtoʊ/, man·i·tu [man-i-too] /ˈmæn ɪˌtu/. Origin of manitou 1605–15; Unami Delaware monə́t·u, reinforced by or reborrowed from Ojibwa manito· and other cognates (all *maneto·wa); spelling influenced by equivalent French word Examples from the Web for manito Historical Examples of manito
Manito, to us, is God—He whom we serve and honour; He whom we love.
Argyll Saxby
The Manito made one or two unsteady steps, but recovered himself.
Cornelius Mathews
“You had great gifts of strength awarded to you,” said the Manito.
Cornelius Mathews
Both the mother and the wife urged Monedowa to be aware of the manito.
Cornelius Mathews
The manito of the Indians taught them how to do many things.
Florence Holbrook
British Dictionary definitions for manito manitou manitu manito (ˈmænɪˌtəʊ) noun plural -tous, -tus, -tos, -tou, -tu or -to
- (among the Algonquian Indians) a deified spirit or force
Word Origin for manitou C17: from Algonquian; related to Ojibwa manito spirit Word Origin and History for manito manitou n.
also manito, “spirit, deity, supernatural being,” 1690s, from a word found throughout the Algonquian languages (cf. Delaware manutoow, Ojibwa manidoo), first in English from Unami Delaware /manet:u/.