man·tra

[man-truh, mahn-, muhn-]
noun
1.
Hinduism. a word or formula, as from the Veda, chanted or sung as an incantation or prayer.
2.
an often repeated word, formula, or phrase, often a truism: If I hear the “less is more” mantra one more time, I'll scream.
Also, man·tram.


Origin:
1800–10; < Sanskrit

man·tric, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
mantra (ˈmæntrə, ˈmʌn-) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  Hinduism any of those parts of the Vedic literature which consist of the metrical psalms of praise
2.  Hinduism, Buddhism any sacred word or syllable used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power
 
[C19: from Sanskrit, literally: speech, instrument of thought, from man to think]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Mantra is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

mantra
1808, "that part of the Vedas which contains hymns," from Skt. mantra-s "sacred message or text, charm, spell, counsel," lit. "instrument of thought," related to manyate "thinks." Sense of "special word used for meditation" is first recorded in Eng. 1956.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Yoga was for sincere, mantra-chanting people who liked to do tree poses in public.
The mantra is plastered on billboards across the state and is a popular refrain
  in the locker room.
That's her internal monologue and, for much of the time at least, the mantra
  soothes her.
Purchaser beware should be the mantra of all consumers.
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