Source etymology 1
Original entry ↗noun
Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventoryPower, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people. · Magical energy.
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.
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{
"templates": [
{
"name": "bor+",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "mi",
"3": "mana"
},
"expansion": "Borrowed from Māori mana"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "poz-pol-pro",
"3": "*mana"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Polynesian *mana"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "poz-oce-pro",
"3": "*mana"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Oceanic *mana"
}
],
"links": [
[
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],
[
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],
[
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"Reconstruction:Proto-Oceanic/mana"
]
],
"references": [],
"descendants": [],
"lexical": [
{
"pos": "noun",
"glosses": [
"Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.",
"Magical energy."
],
"tags": [
"uncountable",
"usually"
],
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