manito

Variant of manitou

manitou definition

☆ mani·tou (man′ə to̵̅o̅′)

noun

any of various spirits or supernatural forces believed in by the Algonquian Indians and variously conceived of as nature spirits of both good and evil influence
also manitu man′i·tu′ or manito man′i·to′ (-tō′)

Etymology: Fr, replacing earlier manito, etc. < Delaware manēt˙u: cf. Ojibwa manidoo

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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