Make Your Point > Archived Issues > MANA

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explore the archives: If you don't like the cheesy Austin Powers vibe in the word "mojo," then "mana" is the synonym for you! :) And if you're an MMORPG player, you're probably already familiar with it. But let's say you prefer words with a scientific flavor rather than a magical one. Instead of "mana," you might use the word "v______," meaning "the power to attract or repulse people and make them behave a certain way," or possibly "m_________," meaning "the power to be irresistibly charming and attractive." make your point with... "MANA" Specifically, mana is a supernatural power in some cultures that can be transferred through people or objects. More generally, mana is someone's personal power, respectability, and authority. Pronunciation: MON uh (rhymes with "Donna") Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the mana," "such mana," "a lot of mana," "no mana," and so on, but don’t say "manas.") Other forms: None, but you can make compounds for phrases like "mana-charged place" or "mana-filled object." How to use it: Talk about someone's mana, finding or gaining mana, possessing mana or radiating mana, investing something with mana, losing mana, and so on. Mana is usually something belonging to an individual person, but you can also talk about a group's mana, a place's mana, or an object's mana. examples: I'm not easily taken in by superstitions, and maybe it was just the feeling of reverence it inspired, but that statue of King Kamehameha seemed to exude mana. Considering the hefty price he charges attendees at those "exclusive retreats," I'd hope that Tony Robbins is actually doling out his mana to them. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "mana" means when you can explain it without saying "prestige" or "personal effectiveness." try it out: Think of someone you know, or someone famous, who has a strong personality and easily influences other people, and fill in the blanks: "More than just charisma, there's mana in (Person). You can see it when _____." Example: "More than just charisma, there's mana in Tom. You can see it when everyone gets quiet to hear him tell a funny story." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on! Yesterday's question:  In accept, concept, deception, except, intercept, perception, precept, reception, and susceptible, what does “cept” mean? Answer: To take.  Try this one today: In depose, expose, impose, oppose and opposite, pose, position, positive, postpone, and suppose, what does “pos” mean? review today's word: 1. The closest opposite of MANA is A. LUCK B. DEFIANCE C. MEEKNESS 2.  For someone who possesses such mana, his autobiography is surprisingly _____. A. humble B. detailed C. broad-minded Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. C 2. A