orisha means A divine entity in Yoruba religion that possesses the supernatural capability of reflecting some of the manifestations of Olódùmarè. It carries an Arena rating of 1568, earned across 44 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, orisha ranks #886 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words, #1,264 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #3,511 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #4,771 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
orisha is pronounced /ˈɒɹɪʃɑː/.
Why “orisha” is a great word
ORISHA — [Noun] A divine entity in the Yoruba religion, understood as a manifestation or emissary of the supreme being Olódùmarè. Borrowed from Yoruba òrìṣà. Unlike "deity"—a generic, placeless term—or "loa"—a spirit of Haitian Vodou with its own relational dynamic—an orisha is a specific refraction of the singular divine into a force of nature given personality and will. It is the sudden rage of a thunderstorm in the hands of Ṣàngó, the molten resilience of iron at the forge of Ogun, and the serene, maternal sweep of the ocean where Yemoja dwells—each a path through which the infinite touches the finite, a theology written in water, iron, and wind.
Etymology
Borrowed from Yoruba òrìṣà.
noun
- A divine entity in Yoruba religion that possesses the supernatural capability of reflecting some of the manifestations of Olódùmarè
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.
- aborisha 61% match — A devotee of the orishas; a practitioner of Yoruba religion. vs orisha →
- perogun 53% match — A kind of shrine to the orishas. vs orisha →
- bokono 53% match — An exceptional diviner in the Ifá (Fá) religion and system of divination of the Fon and Yoruba people. vs orisha →
- archdivinity 52% match — A chief or reigning divinity, particularly in a polytheistic system. vs orisha →
- yorubian 52% match — A Yoruban. vs orisha →
- babalawo 50% match — In Yoruba culture, a priest of Ifa. vs orisha →
- oloye 50% match — A traditional chief of the Yoruba people. vs orisha →
- god 50% match — A deity or supreme being; a supernatural, typically immortal, being with superior powers, to which personhood is attributed. vs orisha →