Manitous
/ˈmænɪtuːz/noun
Plural of manitou, a spiritual power or spirit in various Indigenous Algonquian traditions.
Did you know?Manitou is not a single universal deity: across Algonquian-speaking cultures, related forms can refer to spiritual power, spirits, or powerful nonhuman beings, with meanings varying by community.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Algonquian
Proto-Algonquian
*manəto·wa
“Reconstructed term associated with supernatural or spiritual power”
17th Century
Cree
manitow
“A spirit or supernatural power”
17th Century
Ojibwe
manidoo
“A spirit or spiritual power”
17th Century
English
manitou
“A spirit or supernatural being, borrowed from Algonquian languages”
Modern English
English
manitous
“Plural of manitou”