oriṣa

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See also: orisa and Orisa

Yoruba

Ère òrìṣà Èṣù

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Òrìṣà. The precise etymology of the term is unknown, (possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìsà, Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-rɪ̀cà, or Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìcà), but several folk etymologies exist, the main one suggesting it comes from orí (“head, conscience, destiny”) +‎ ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ ṣà (“to be selected, to choose”), literally “The head that is specially selected”. (This is unlikely though as this term only fits the Yoruba definition of òrìṣà, but not the cognate versions in other languages or even in other Yoruba dialects).

The term òrìṣà, which is a general name for all deities in the Yoruba religion, likely derived from the proper noun form Òrìṣà, in reference to a specific arch-divinity of the sky and creation (now known as Òrìṣàńlá and Ọbàtálá). In other related languages, and some dialects of the Yoruba language, the cognate term has retained its proper noun definition, referring to a specific high-ranking male divinity associated with the sky, creation, and government. These cognates include Itsekiri Òrìtsẹ̀, Igbo Òlìsà, Urhobo Oyise, Èkìtì Yoruba Ọ̀rị̀ṣà, Edo Osa, Oisa, Ebira Oricha, and Fon Lisà

Pronunciation

Noun

òrìṣà

  1. (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, religion) orisha (deity in Yoruba religion)
    Synonym: ẹbọra

Derived terms

Descendants

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