anitos
|a-ni-tos|
🇺🇸
/əˈniːtoʊz/
🇬🇧
/əˈniːtəʊz/
(anito)
ancestral/folk spirits
Etymology
'anito' originates from Proto-Austronesian, specifically the reconstructed word '*qanitu', where '*qanitu' meant 'spirit, ancestor'.
'anito' changed from the Proto-Austronesian word '*qanitu' and passed into Philippine languages (e.g. Tagalog 'anito'), later appearing in English as a borrowed term often used in anthropological contexts ('anitos' as plural).
Initially, it meant 'spirit; ancestor', and over time it has remained close to that sense, also extending to the carved figures or idols that represent those spirits.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'anito': spirit beings or ancestor spirits in indigenous Philippine (especially Tagalog) belief systems; often invoked, honored, or propitiated.
Many families kept small anitos on a shelf to honor their ancestors.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/14 01:37