orenda
[ aw-ren-duh, oh-ren- ]
/ ɔˈrɛn də, oʊˈrɛn- /
noun
a supernatural force believed by the Iroquois Indians to be present, in varying degrees, in all objects or persons, and to be the spiritual force by which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for.
Origin of orenda
1902; coined by U.S. ethnologist J.N.B. Hewitt from the supposed Huron cognate of Mohawk
orę́˙naʔ inherent power (akin to
karę́˙naʔ song; compare Seneca
oęnǫʔ power, song with power,
kaęnǫʔ song)
Words nearby orenda
oreide,
orekhovo-zuyevo,
orel,
orem,
orenburg,
orenda,
orense,
oreo,
oreodont,
oreopithecus,
oreshoot