| 释义 |
‖ Manitou|ˈmænɪtuː|
Also 7 maneto, 8 menitto, 8–9 manitoo, 9 manito, manitu, (-ido), moneto.
[Algonquin manito, manitu.
According to Dr. Trumbull (Trans. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 1876, p. 167) manit is the active pple. of a vb. meaning to surpass, while manitu contains a predicative suffix, and so is equivalent to ‘he or it is manit’. In 1587 Hariot says that the Indians of Virginia ‘beleeue that there are many gods, which they call Mantoac’ (Hakluyt III. 276).]
Among some American Indians, a spirit (of good or of evil) which is an object of religious awe or reverence; also, anything which is regarded as having supernatural power, as a fetish.
1698G. Thomas Pensilvania (1848) 2 They offer their first Fruits to a Maneto, or suppos'd Deity. 1701C. Wolley Jrnl. N. York (1860) 37 They are of opinion that when they have ill success in their hunting, fishing, &c. their Menitto is the cause of it. 1804C. B. Brown tr. Volney's View Soil U.S. 416 First, they believe in a great Manito, or genius, who rules the world or universe. Under his supreme power are numberless Manitos, who traverse earth and air, and govern all things. 1817J. Bradbury Trav. Amer. 24 The Indians..often apply this term Manitou to uncommon or singular productions of nature which they highly venerate. 1856Bryant Painted Cup iii, The gentle Manitou of flowers. 1860Schoolcraft Ind. Tribes U.S. V. 74 When a turtle, bird, quadruped, or other form of animated nature is adopted as the guardian spirit or moneto. 1895W. J. Hoffman Begin. Writing 77 Fig. 31 represents the otter as a spirit or manido. 1899Jrnl. Anthropol. Inst. I. 140 His Manitu or spirit, in trappers' jargon his medicine. |