mana means power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people. It carries an Arena rating of 1529, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, mana ranks #1,076 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #1,588 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #2,117 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #3,208 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
mana is pronounced /ˈmɑː.nə/.
Why “mana” is a great word
An impersonal supernatural force, spiritual power, or prestige, pervasive in Polynesian and Melanesian belief, subsequently generalized to signify a reservoir of magical energy. Borrowed from Māori mana, from Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana; the use for 'magical energy' in fantasy contexts originated from Larry Niven's 1969 short story 'Not Long Before the End'. Unlike charisma, a magnetism of personality, or energy, a quantifiable pulse, mana is an ambient, transferable potency—a sacred charge that sanctifies a chieftain's lineage, a warrior's weapon, or a carved stone. It is the quiet authority in a chiefly silence, the palpable sanctity of a taboo place, and the invisible currency spent to work magic; it is the hum of the world when the mundane veil grows thin.
Etymology
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.
noun
- Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.
- Magical energy.e.g.“Mana is the name we give to the power behind magic.” — 1969 April, Larry Niven, “Not Long Before the End”, in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- manaism 74% match — The belief in the supernatural energy called mana. vs mana →
- manaia 65% match — A bird-headed mythological creature and symbol of protection in Māori mythology. vs mana →
- maya 56% match — Magic; supernatural power as held by the gods. vs mana →
- kanaima 54% match — A destructive possessing spirit according to the beliefs of parts of South America. vs mana →
- maoritanga 51% match — Māori culture, traditions, and way of life; Maoriness. vs mana →
- orenda 51% match — A mystical power thought by the Iroquois to pervade all things. vs mana →
- atua 50% match — A spiritual being in Polynesian culture; a god or demon. vs mana →
- wairua 50% match — A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs. vs mana →