mana

Where does the word "mana" come from? It comes from Polynesian mana, and was adopted directly into English (1800s-1900s).

Mana’s story begins in Polynesian: mana meant “spiritual power, prestige.” A supernatural or spiritual power believed to inhabit people and objects. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as mana. Robert Codrington's 1891 study 'The Melanesians' introduced the idea to anthropology. Today, mana means a quality of spiritual power, authority, or prestige, from Polynesian tradition.

1. Stage 1 · Polynesian · ancient mana "spiritual power, prestige", a supernatural or spiritual power believed to inhabit people and objects.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s-1900s mana "a sense of authority, prestige, or spiritual power", Robert Codrington's 1891 study 'The Melanesians' introduced the idea to anthropology.