‖Modimo, noun
/mʊˈdiːmʊ/
- Origin:
- Sotho, SetswanaShow more Sotho and Setswana, ‘God’; with small initial, also in the senses ‘god’, ‘ancestral spirit’ (plural badimo (see badimo) and medimo).
- Note:
- In the orthography of Lesotho this word is represented as Molimo /mʊˈdiːmʊ/. It appears that the earliest form was Morimo.
Especially among speakers of Sotho or Setswana: the supreme being; the Christian God; also used as an interjection; Molimo; Morimo. Cf. Tixo, morena sense 3. See also badimo.
[1933 A. Werner Myths & Legends 41The Bapedi (a branch of the Basuto living in the Transvaal) say that their High God (Modimo o mogolo) is called Huveane, and they pray to him for rain.]
1988 M. Manyanye in Pace May 22We know that our ancestors, whom we call ‘badimo’ are mediators between us and our God, whom we call ‘Modimo’.
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