powwow
Use Powwow in a sentence
noun
1.
(among North American Indians) a ceremony, especially one accompanied by magic, feasting, and dancing, performed for the cure of disease, success in a hunt, etc.
2.
a council or conference of or with Indians.
3.
(among North American Indians) a priest or shaman.
4.
Informal. any conference or meeting.
verb (used without object)
5.
to hold a powwow.
6.
Informal. to confer.
00:10
Powwow
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
Origin:
1615–25, Americanism; < Narragansett (E spelling) powwaw Indian priest (and the identical word in Massachusett) < Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa he dreams (used as a derived agent noun meaning “he who dreams”, i.e., one who derives his power from visions)
1615–25, Americanism; < Narragansett (E spelling) powwaw Indian priest (and the identical word in Massachusett) < Proto-Algonquian *pawe·wa he dreams (used as a derived agent noun meaning “he who dreams”, i.e., one who derives his power from visions)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To powwow
Collins
World English Dictionary
powwow (ˈpaʊˌwaʊ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a talk, conference, or meeting |
| 2. | a magical ceremony of certain North American Indians, usually accompanied by feasting and dancing |
| 3. | (among certain North American Indians) a medicine man |
| 4. | a meeting of or negotiation with North American Indians |
| —vb | |
| 5. | (intr) to hold a powwow |
| [C17: from Algonquian; related to Natick pauwau one who practises magic, Narraganset powwaw] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
powwow
1624, "priest, sorcerer," from a southern New England Algonquian language (probably Narragansett) powwow "shaman, medicine man, Indian priest," from a verb meaning "to use divination, to dream," from Proto-Algonquian *pawe:wa "he dreams, one who dreams." Meaning "magical ceremony among N.Amer. Indians"
is recorded from 1663. Sense of "council, conference, meeting" is first recorded 1812. Verb sense of "to confer, discuss" is attested from 1780.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
For all of the dancers, it would be their first powwow.
Going to a powwow is one way to get up close to these arts and meet the artists who carry on their group's traditions.
In a nearby room, another dozen family members were sewing powwow outfits.
The connection between powwow and patron wasn't immediately obvious.
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