Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Hinduism A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities.
- n. A commonly repeated word or phrase: "Today's edutainment software comes shrinkwrapped in the magic mantra: 'makes learning fun.'” ( Clifford Stoll).
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A Vedic hymn of praise and prayer; collectively, the matter of the Sanhita or first division of the Veda, as distinguished from the liturgical matter, called the brahmana.
- n. A sacred text used as a charm or incantation by Brahmans and Yogis.
Wiktionary
- n. The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of these used as a prayer.
- n. A phrase repeated to assist concentration during meditation, originally in Hinduism.
- n. A slogan or phrase often repeated.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A prayer; an invocation; a religious formula; a charm.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a commonly repeated word or phrase
- n. (Sanskrit) literally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns
Etymologies
- Sanskrit mantraḥ; see men-1 in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“The word mantra is a Sanskrit word derived from “man” (mind) and “tra” (deliverance).”
“The "free-market" mantra is code for grab all you can, don't worry about the government getting in the way of throwing out the unions, preventing the spewing and dumping of pollution, cutting costs on safe products and a safe workplace, or preventing the most avaricious from gaining a monopoly and dictating prices.”
Endorsing Ron Paul, and Why Progressive Dems Should Support Ron Paul
“The term mantra meant first, a thought; then thought expressed; then a Vedic hymn or text; next a spell or charm.”
The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji
“Yes, there are times when he should talk but his mantra is the same as in the past.”
“I was going to ask one of you if I could borrow yours, but a mantra is a very personal thing and I'd probably return it to you in bad shape with crud on the phonemes.”
“Your mantra is all religions lead to the same place.”
Sound Politics: "Christmas trees are going back up at Sea-Tac airport."
“Our forces are run by people who get to the top by towing the party line and signing up for whatever mantra is being spouted that week.”
“My mantra is "it's easier to clean something that is clean than something that is dirty.”
Use A Cleaning Schedule To Conquer Messes | Lifehacker Australia
“October 1st, 2009 10: 13 pm ET its a shame that the stop snitching mantra is the status quo for children in chicago and the rest of th united states.”
“Spending less and saving more, sounds like the frugality mantra is catching on.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘mantra’.
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Logolepsy
"Luciferous Logolepsy is a collection of over 9,000 obscure English words. Though the definition of an 'English' word might seem to be straightforward, it is not. There exist so many adopted, deriv...
Anschauung, Areopagus, Argus, Briarean, Dei gratia, Dei judicium, Deo volente, Duecento, Foehn, Geflugelte Worte, Gegenschein, Hakenkreuz and 9230 more...
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Emblematics
Sigility: avatars and representative figures. Types of symbols: academic, religious, abstract.
avatar, representative, emblem, sigil, semiotics, personification, totemic, creaturism, placeholder, iconolatry, egregore, thoughtform and 24 more...
bilby Art, name no tub time. Emit but one mantra. Nov 23, 2009