Micronesia

Micronesia
   A subdivision of Oceania or the Pacific Islands (along with Polynesia and Melanesia), inclusive of more than 2,000 islands east of the Philippines. Like the other subdivisions, it does not always refer to clear cultural or geographical distinctions. Among references to shamans in the region is a Chamorro trickster tale (retold by Bo Flood) in which a shaman called Lepe’ pee’ l mo’ng defeats a cannibal monster having first brewed a protective potion. Combat against malevolent beings is also important in Ifaluk, where shamans are required to exorcise possessed patients or clients and thereby restore social harmony (as discussed by Melford Spiro). The possessing agents are ghosts whose malevolence continues from their bad character during life. Shamans are aided by beneficent ghosts (again, those who established themselves as good people during life). As among the Chewong of Malaysia, Ifaluk shamanic stories and activities serve to encourage people to be cooperative, helpful, and sharing rather than aggressive and greedy.

Historical dictionary of shamanism. . 2007.

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  • Micronesia — [mī΄krə nē′zhə, mī΄krə nē′shə] [ModL < MICRO + Gr nēsos, island (see NATANT) + IA] country on a group of islands in the W Pacific: 271 sq mi (702 sq km); pop. 108,000; cap. Palikir: official name Federated States of Micronesia …   English World dictionary

  • Micronesia — 1840, from Italian, lit. the region of small islands, Modern Latin, formed on model of POLYNESIA (Cf. Polynesia) from micro small (see MICRO (Cf. micro )) + Gk. nesos island (see CHERSONESE (Cf. Chersonese)). Related: Micronesian …   Etymology dictionary

  • Micronesia — This article is about the greater region. For the independent state, see Federated States of Micronesia. Micronesia is one of three major cultural areas in the Pacific Ocean …   Wikipedia

  • Micronesia — /muy kreuh nee zheuh, sheuh/, n. 1. one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising the small Pacific islands N of the equator and E of the Philippines, whose main groups are the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Marshall …   Universalium

  • Micronesia — Mapa de Micronesia. Puesta de sol en Yap …   Wikipedia Español

  • Micronesia — La Micronesia es el nombre de una región del Océano Pacífico y también el nombre común por el que se conoce a los Estados Federados de Micronesia. La región consiste en cientos de pequeñas islas repartidas sobre una amplia extensión del Pacífico… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Micronesia — noun 1. a country scattered over Micronesia with a constitutional government in free association with the United States; achieved independence in 1986 • Syn: ↑Federated States of Micronesia, ↑TT • Instance Hypernyms: ↑country, ↑state, ↑land …   Useful english dictionary

  • Micronesia — Lage Mikronesiens Mikronesien (griech. kleine Inseln) ist ein Inselgebiet im westlichen Pazifischen Ozean. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Geografie 2 Kultur …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Micronesia — noun /ˌmaɪ.kɹəʊˈniː.zi.ə,ˌmaɪ.kɹəʊˈniː.ʒə,ˌmaɪ.kɹəʊˈniː.ʃə,ˌmaɪ.kɹoʊˈniː.ʒə,ˌmaɪ.kɹoʊˈniː.zi.ə/ a) One of the geographical subregions of Oceania. b) A country in Oceania. Official name: the Federated States of Micronesia …   Wiktionary

  • Micronesia — small islands of the western Pacific also known as the Trust Territory including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau in the Carolines as well as many very small islands covering an area as wide as the United States …   Eponyms, nicknames, and geographical games

  • Micronesia — n. one of the three principal island groups in the Pacific Ocean, island group in the north Pacific to which the Marshall Islands belong; Federated States of Micronesia …   English contemporary dictionary

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