Olódùmarè
name
/ō.ló.ꜜdù.mā.ɾè/
Elédùmarè (alternative), Lédùmaè (alternative)
Definitions
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A primordial being of creation in the Yoruba pantheon, regarded as the supreme ruler of the universe and the highest ranking divinity of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe
Similar words
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God
Similar words
Etymology
From oní- + òdùmarè. Many folk etymologies attempt to explain the origin of the term òdùmàrè, but the etymology is ultimately unclear
*A chapter from the Odù Ifa (Yoruba religious text), Ọ̀sá Ògúndá, explains that the etymology comes from the phrase oní odù tí ń tan òṣùmàrè, ultimately from oní- (“one who has”) + odù (“pot”) + òṣùmàrè (“rainbow”), literally “The owner of the pot from which the rainbow comes from”
*Another folk etymology explains it as ultimately meaning odù (“source of creation, pot”) + mà (“does not”) + rè (“to become exhausted, empty”), literally “The Owner of the Source of Creation that does not get exhausted; The All Sufficient One”
* Compare with Òṣùmàrè
*Another theory tends to link the term to àrè, referring to a stranger or someone of unknown background, referring to the mysterious origins associated with Olodumare, thus breaking down to oní- (“one who has”) + òdù (“pot, source”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + àrè (“stranger, foreigner, of unknown background”)
Component words
Wiktionary records 4 different ways of breaking this word down. Each line is one of them, not a further part.
oní-òdùmarè
odùsource of creation, potmàdoes not
rèto become exhausted, empty
4 entries are spelled “rè”. The etymology calls it “to become exhausted, empty”, but that isn't enough to tell them apart — we've linked to the first.
rè
to go
rè
to be
rè
to roast
rè
to nurse, to give specific attention to something or someone
Listed as a similar word by
These words list this one in their own definitions. This word does not list them back, so Wiktionary records the link in one direction only.
The meaning shown next to each is the one that named this word.
alternative form of Olúwa (“God”)
the supreme being and deity associated with the sky, rainfall, and weather. Equivalent to what is now regarded as Olódùmarè, this meaning is still used in the Ekiti Yorùbá equivalent Ọ̀rị̀ṣà, Àbarị̀ṣà.
the supreme sky deity of the Ekiti people, synonymous with Ọ̀rị̀ṣà and Ọbàtálá, likely predating Olódùmọrè; the deity Ọbàtálá
the Creator, God
Source: Wiktionary,
where this word is spelled “Olodumare”.
Reference:
en-Olodumare-yo-name-oPqF4e70