maurin.
/ˈmaʊri/, U.S. /ˈmaʊri/, New Zealand English /ˈmʌuri/, /ˈmæuri/ New Zealand.
A life force or essence, an animating principle; the inherent quality of something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > vital principle > [noun]
souleOE
lifeOE
spiritusOE
bloodOE
ghostOE
life and soulOE
quickship?c1225
quicknessc1230
breatha1300
spirita1325
spark1382
naturec1385
sparkle1388
livelinessa1398
rational soula1398
spiracle1398
animal spirit?a1425
vital spiritc1450
soul of the world1525
candle1535
fire1576
three souls1587
vitality?1592
candlelight1596
substance1605
vivacity1611
animality1615
vividity1616
animals1628
life spring1649
archeus1651
vital1670
spirituosity1677
springs of life1681
microcosmetor1684
vital force1702
vital spark (also flame)1704
stamen1718
vis vitae1752
prana1785
Purusha1785
jiva1807
vital force1822
heartbeat1828
world-soul1828
world-spirit1828
life energy1838
life force1848
ghost soul1869
will to live1871
biogen1882
ki1893
mauri1897
élan vital1907
orgone1942
1897 Star (Christchurch, N.Z.) 25 Sept. 2/3 The mauri of a forest, which protect the birds thereof, are of two kinds.
1936 in M. P. K. Sorrenson Na To Hoa Aroha (1988) III. 227 No doubt the face presented by the ensemble of marae and camp organisation,..together with the mauri of the meeting of diverse, scattered tribal elements, might be characterised as excellent.
1985 Nat. Hist. (Nexis) July 36 You can look at my moko. But you can't photograph it. Because if you do that you are taking away some of my mauri.
1999 Dominion (Wellington) (Nexis) 10 Sept. 9 Maori people see a river as having a mauri, a life force.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1897