1. Plural of manitou; spiritual beings or forces in Algonquian and other Native American belief systems, often understood as supernatural powers inhabiting natural objects or phenomena.
Usage: From Algonquian languages; Often capitalized when referring to specific spiritual entities; Used in anthropological and religious contexts

Examples

• The Ojibwe people recognized manitous in animals, plants, and natural features of the landscape.
• According to traditional beliefs, manitous could be benevolent or malevolent depending on how they were treated.
• Scholars of Native American religions study the concept of manitous across different tribal nations.
• The manitous were thought to guide hunters and protect communities from harm.
• In Algonquian cosmology, manitous represented the spiritual essence of the natural world.