mana

The story

1. Proto-Oceanic · derived from*mana
2. Proto-Polynesian · derived from*mana
3. Māori · borrowed frommana
4. English todaymana

Borrowed from Māori mana, ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana. The use of "mana" for "magical energy" in role-playing games originated from Larry Niven, when he wrote the short story, "Not Long Before the End", in 1969. It was later popularised by his The Magic Goes Away setting.

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.