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
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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 fool or simpleton; ninny.
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
The constant mantra of money management advisers is this: Save, save, save.
The old mantra: route service calls overseas to cut costs in half.
There are days, however, that I find his stop-and-smell-the-roses mantra almost
  cruel.
Still, it seemed less an informed decision than a mantra.
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