gba1 [ '][g͡bá] {SS::} adv. indicates that the ac-
tion in the main vb. was performed
collectively: Iran gba rrievbare
“They ate together”
.

inline

gba [ `][g͡bà] {SS::} vb. to tie; to bind: ya
irri gbae
“Use a rope to tie it:
Tie it with a rope”
.

inline

gba3 [ '][g͡bá] {SM::} vb. 1. to be complete; to
be accurate; 2. to assemble; to gather
(of people): Ẹvbo gba ye evba
“People are gathered there.”
Ígho
nii gbae
“That amount is accurate.”

inline

gbakhẹẹ [ ` `'][g͡bàxɛ̀ɛ́] {SS::} vb. to waylay; to
lie in wait for.

inline

gbaa [ `'][g͡bàá] {SS::} vb. to know somebody
thoroughly, (especially his/her weak-
nesses or failures): Iran hia gbaa ruẹ
nẹ
“They all know all your weak-
nesses already.”

inline

gbaan [ `'][g͡bã̀ã́] {SS::} vb. to shift; to cause to
%%

inline

move or fall by brushing against:
Ọ ya ukoko-obọ gbaan mwẹn emiowo
fua vbe obọ
“He used his elbow
to knock down my meat from my
hand”
.

inline


gbadaa [ ' ''][gbádáá] {SS::} adj.; adv. (with ye)
wide and expansive (e.g. field; lake).
(also gbalaa; gbalazaa, gbodoo).

inline


gbae [ '`][g͡báè] {SS::} vb. to be big; to be
full-sized (also digba).

inline


gbaẹngbe [ ` '][g͡bã̀ɛ̃gbé] {SS::} vb. (< gbaẹn-
egbe): “to shift body”: to move out
of the way for something/someone;
to shift one’s position; to avoid.

inline


gbaghada [ ` ` `][g͡bàɣàdà] {SS::} adv. describes a
manner of falling: like the fall of
something with branches or extensions
(e.g. a person falling from a height
with the limbs spread out).

inline


gbaigbai1 [ ` ` ][g͡bàig͡bài] {SS::} adv. with the
$Page 053$

inline


verb yunnu: to open and close re-
peatedly; to gasp: ọ ghi yunnu gbaigbai
vbene ọ khian wu
“He is now
gasping like someone about to die.”

inline

gbaigbai2 [ ` ` ][g͡bàig͡bài] {SS::} adv. describes a
manner of walking: with confident
strides: ọ gha ze owe gbaigbai: “He
is striding confidently”.

inline

gbakiyẹyẹ [ ' ' ` '][g͡bákíyɛ̀yɛ́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-
akiyẹyẹ) “to make a joke”, to make
a fool of; to make a joke of: Iran gha
yae gbakiyẹyẹ
“They are making
a fool of him”
.

inline

gbakpan1 [ ' '][g͡bákpã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-akpan)
to be bald.

inline

gbakpan2 [ ' '][g͡bák͡pã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-akpan):
“to cause obstruction with foot”:
1. to obstruct or intercept someone
walking along by causing him/her
to stumble over his/her foot:
gbakpan yọ mwẹn owẹ, i na de

“He caused me to stumble, and I fell”
:
to cause to falter in one’s walk: Ukpọn
ne ọ rhuaen gbakpan ye ọre owẹ
“The cloth she had wrapped around
her caused her to falter in her walk.”

inline

gbalama [ ' ` `][g͡bálàmà] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ―
alama) to be meddlesome; to under-
take responsibilities that normally
belong to others.

inline

gbalaza [ ' ' '][g͡bálázá] {SS::} adj.; adv. cf. gbadaa.

inline

gbaleto [ ` ` '][g͡bàlètó] {SS::} vb. (< gbalọ ― eto)
“to wrap hair”: to wear a head-scarf.

inline

gbalọ [ ` '][g͡bàlɔ́] {SM::} vb. 1. to wrap; 2. pl.
or iter. sense of gba: to tie several
objects; or to tie a rope round and
round several times.

inline

gbangbanangban [ ' '' '][g͡bã́g͡bã́ã́g͡bã́] {SM::} adj.;
adv.
1. (introduced by the verb
ye): strong; tight; 2. (used with
%%

inline

other verbs): tightly; firmly: Ọ ya
ise kan iran kugbe gbangbanangban
“He nailed them together firmly.”

inline


gbangbanangban [ ` `` `][g͡bã̀g͡bã̀ã̀gbã̀] {SS::} adj.;
adv.
erect; stiff; rigid.: ọ mudia
gbangbanangban
: “It stood erect.”

inline


gbankangbankan [ ` ` ` `][g͡bã̀kã̀g͡bã̀kã̀] {SS::} adj.;
adv.
describes shape: big and thick
(of several objects).

inline


gbannọ [ ` '][g͡bã̀nɔ̃́] {SM::} vb. 1. to clear; to
brighten up; (e.g. of cloudy weather):
Iso hia gbannọ nẹ“The entire sky
has cleared. (i.e. it won’t rain any
longer)”^
; 2. (of sickness) to improve:
Oni ne ọ gbẹe fẹko gbannọ nẹ“The
fever that had afflicted him is now
gradually improving.”

inline


gbaroghee [ ' ` `'][g͡báɽòɣèé] {SS::} vb. (< gbe2
aro ― ghee): to take care of; to look
after: Rẹn ẹre ọ gbaroghe mwẹn vbe
asikito
“He was the person who
looked after me in the hospital”
.

inline


gbasan [ ' '][g͡básã́] {SM::} vb. 1. (< gbe3 ― asan)
“to beat (with) cane”; to whip; to
cane; 2. (idiomatic); to urinate (of
male only).

inline


gbe1 [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to hatch: ọkhọkhọ
mwẹn gbe ihinrọn
“My hen hatched
seven (chicks)”^
; 2. to break (of day):
Ẹdẹ ma he gbe“The day has not
broken: It is not yet daybreak.”
;
3. to force open (e.g. door) Urho-
iyekowa ẹre oyi gbe laọ owa
“It
was the back door that the thief
forced open to get into the house.”
;
4. (with ete olighi, etc.): to pre-
cipitate something; to cause; to bring
about: Ọ gbe olighi ye iran iko
“He caused a disruption in their
meeting.”

inline


gbe2 [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to dance: Iran gha
gbe ugho
“They are dancing ugho
$Page 054$

inline


dance”. 2. to move: ọ gha gbe yo
gbe re
“It is moving back and
forth; i.e. it is not stable”
.

inline

gbe3 [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to beat; flog: Iye
Ozo gbẹẹ ye emwin ne ọ mu-fua

“Ozo’s mother beat him on account
of the thing he lost”
. 2. to catch
in a trap: Ọ ya ifi gbe uzo“He
caught an antelope with his trap.”

3. to kill; imọto gbe arhunmwenva
vbe odẹ Ẹdo
“A car killed two
people along the Benin road.”

inline

gbe4 [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to pick leaves of a
plant by hand: I khian ya gbe
ebuwọnmwẹn vbe iyekowa
“I
am going to pick vegetables from
the back-yard.”

inline

gbe5 [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to undertake; to do;
to make; to produce; gbugbo gbe
ugbo): “to do farm” ― to make a
farm, or to engage in farming
.

inline

gbe6 [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. (usually with liquids)
to pour, to spill: Ọ gbe amẹ ye otọ
“He poured water on the ground”
;
2. to expose to; to come into contact
with: Ọ ya egbe gbe amẹ“He got
his body wet.”
3. to soil; to make
dirty: Ọ gbe ukpọn gbe“she wears
out cloth too readily.”

inline

gbe7 [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to be forfeited; to be
gone for good: Igho hia ne o zẹ ye
ovbokhan ren uhunmwun gbee

“All the money he had paid on his
wife’s head (i. e. as bride-price) is
forfeited.”

inline

gbe8 [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} adv. 1. very well; very
much: ọ mose gbe“She is very
beautiful”
; 2. excessively; too much.
Ọghue bun gbe“Yours are too
plentiful i.e. Yours are more than
you should have.”

inline

gbè [ `][g͡bè] {SS:loc:} prep. against: Ọ mu uh-
%%

inline

unmwun gbe ẹkhu“He hit his
head against the door.”

inline


gbè-gué [ ` `'][g͡bègwèé] {SS::} vb. to protect
one’s secrets or weakness; to cover
up for someone.

inline


gbè-kaan [ ` ' ][gbèkã́ɛ̃] {SS::} vb. “to move and
touch”: to venture into contact with;
to cross somebody’s path (in an
adventurous sense): Ghẹ gbe-kaan
rẹn ighẹ ẹ i maa
“Don’t cross his
path, for he is not good!”
.

inline


gbe-kue [ ` '][g͡bèkweé] {SS::} vb. “to break and
spill over”: to abuse vituperatively;
to revile a person. Okhuo nii ghi
gbe-kue Ozo nẹ, ekhue na ghi mu
ẹnrẹn
“After that woman had
reviled Ozo, he became ashamed.”

inline


gbe-muotọ [ ` ' `][g͡bèmwótɔ̀] {SM::} vb. “to beat to
the ground” 1. to ruin completely;
to exhaust someone’s resources; 2.
to deface; to wreck.

inline


gbe-rua [ ` '][g͡bèɽuá] {SS::} vb. “to beat to the
limit”: to kill. (also gbua).

inline


gbee [ `'][g͡bèé] {SM::} vb. 1. to slant: Owẹ
ọvbokhan na gbeere
“This child’s
legs are slanted i.e. they are not
straight.”
2. Iran mu erhan
gbee odẹ
“They placed a stick
across the road to block it.”

inline


gbegbeegbe [ ' '' '][g͡bég͡béég͡bé] {SS::} adv. all
(without exception); totally: Iran
hia kpaa gbegbeegbe
“They all
left totally.”

inline


gbei [ '][g͡beí] {SS::} adv. usually occurs after a
clause or sentence to denote that the
action expressed by the verb in the
clause/sentence was performed in vain:
Vbene iran gualọ ọre sẹ, gbei, a ma
miọẹn
“In spite of how hard they
looked for it, it was in vain; it was
not found.”

$Page 055$

inline


gbehẹn [ ' `][g͡béhɛ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3 ― ehen)
“to catch fish”: to fish.

inline

gbenbe [ ` '][g͡bẽ̀bé] {SS::} vb. (< gbẹn-ebe) “to
write book”: to write; to write a letter.

inline

gbele [ ` '][g͡bèlé] {SS::} vb. pl. or reit. of gbe:
ya asan gbele iran
“He flogged
them with a cane.”

inline

gberraa [ ` `'][g͡bèràá] {SS::} vb. to pass; to cross;
to go through.

inline

gbẹbẹn [ ' `][gbɛ́bɛ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe2-ebẹn) “to
dance (with) ẹbẹn”: to toss ẹbẹn in
the ceremonial dance performed by
chiefs while paying their respects
to the Ọba.

inline

gbẹhun [ ` '][g͡bɛ̀hṹ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ẹhun)
“to break into a decayed state”: to
decay from insect contamination.

inline

gbẹmwẹnho [ ` ` '][g͡bɛ̀ɱɛ̃̀hó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-
ẹmwẹn-ẹho): to spell out the mean-
ing of a word in direct terms; to
speak in direct, rather than idiomatic
language.

inline

gbẹn1 [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to write; to carve; to
mark.

inline

gbẹn2 [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to deflesh a piece of
meat; to chew around bone.

inline

gbẹn3 [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to clear off grass from
a plot: gbẹn irunmwun“cut grass”.

inline

gbẹngbẹn [ ` '][g͡bɛ̃̀gbɛ̃́] {SM::} vb. 1. intensive
sense of gbẹn2; 2. to narrate in great
detail, especially in secret: Emwin
hia ne iran ru ẹre vbe iyẹe i rre owa,
ọ na doo gbẹngbẹn ehia ma iyẹe

“All the things that they had done
to her when her mother was away
from home, she then narrated it all
in great detail to her mother”
.

inline

gbẹnnẹ [ ` '][gbɛ̃̀nɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. pl. and reit. sense
%%

inline

of gben1: Ọ gbẹnnẹ emwin ye aro
“She has marks on her face.”

inline


gbẹro [ ' '][g͡bɛ́ɽó] {SS::} vb. to be exterminated.
U gha gbẹro“May you become
exterminated”. (a common curse)
.

inline


gbẹtẹ [ ' `][g͡bɛ́tɛ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ẹtẹ): to
have an ulcer or a sore (usually on a
leg or foot).

inline


gbẹu [ ` ][g͡bɛ̀u] {SS::} adv. describes a sudden
and hard fall.

inline


gbidii [ ' ''][g͡bídíí] {SS::} adv. with the verb
(hunwan): mute; without uttering a
sound. I tuẹ ọre: ọ hunwan gbidii ―
“I greeted him; he remained dead
silent.”

inline


gbìdii [ ` ``][g͡bìdìì] {SS::} adv. describes the sound
of something heavy, such as a tree
falling into water.

inline


gbigiawẹ [ ` ' `][g͡bìgyáwɛ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe2
igiawẹ) to move with loud steps:
to stamp around; to step firmly and
loudly.

inline


gbigunma [ ` ' `][g͡bìgṹmã̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe5
iguma) to grunt (e.g. with pain or
fatigue).

inline


gbigbi [ ` '][g͡bìg͡bí] {SS::} vb. to spread like the
wind: Iyẹn nii gbigbi se ehe hia nẹ
That news has spread everywhere
(like the wind)
.

inline


gbigbigbi [ ` ` `][g͡bìg͡bìg͡bì] {SM::} adv. describes 1.
the sound of a forceful knock on
the door; 2. the movement of a
strong wind or storm.

inline


gbigbo [ ' `][g͡bíg͡bò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3 ― igbo)
“to hit a top”^: to play the game of
igbo (in which a top is spinned in
sand, by means of a piece of string
tied to a stick).
$Page 056$

inline


gbii [ ''][g͡bíí] {SS::} adj.; adv. (with ye) nu-
merous; very many.

inline

gbighidi [ ` ` `][g͡bìɣìdì] {SS::} adv. describes the
falling of a big and heavy object.

inline

gbikhiavbọ [ ' `][g͡bíxyavɔ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3
ikhiavbọ) to beat okro in a wooden
mortar with a pestle (the traditional
method of preparing okro for use
in soup.)

inline

gbinna1 [ ` '][g͡bĩ̀nã́] {SS::} vb. to fight.

inline

gbinna2 [ ` '][gbĩ̀nã́] {SS::} vb. to seek the pro-
tection of somebody (from an
adversary).

inline

gbinrunmwun [ ' ` `][g͡bĩ́ɽũ̀ɱũ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbẹn
― irunmwun): to clear grass.

inline

gbirhu1 [ ` '][g͡bìřú] {SS::} vb. (< gbe5 ― irhu)
to make a roost (of a bird) to sit
on eggs; to brood.

inline

gbirhu2 [ ` '][g͡bìřṹ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe5 ― irhu)
“to make a shade” to cast a shade.

inline

gbirro [ ' `][g͡bírò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― irro):
to pose a riddle.

inline

gbiyarre [ ` ' `][g͡bìyárè] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-iyare)
“to shout ‘Iyare’”: to wish well
somebody who is embarking on a
challenging enterprise by uttering
“Iyare” (May you go and come);
to wish safe return from the per-
formance of a feat.

inline

gboba [ ' `][g͡bóbà] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― oba): to
be dented; to cave in.

inline

gbobodo [ ' '` `][g͡bóbóòdò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ―
obodo): “to dance obodo”: to
pirouette; to spring and spin round
and round on one foot.

inline

gbodan [ ' '][g͡bódã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― odan):
to interrupt; to obstruct.
%%

inline

gbodoo [ ' ''][g͡bódóó] {SS::} adj.; adv. very
wide, broad (also gbodoo [ ` ``][gbòdòò];
gboo).

inline


gbogiẹ [ ` '][g͡bògyɛ́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ogié)
laugh at; to make fun of.

inline


gbohio [ ` '][g͡bòhyó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ohio):
to cave in; (of ground): to give way.

inline


gbokoo [ ' ''][g͡bókóó] {SS::} adj. (used with ye)
well-built; (of human beings); tall
and stout.

inline


gbokhokho [ ' `][g͡bóxoxò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3
okhokho): to hit on the head with
the knuckles.

inline


gbokhokheve [ ` ' ` '][g͡bòxóxèvé] {SS::} vb. (<
gbe1 ― okhokho-evẹ): to burst into
tears; gbokhokhogie: “to burst into
laughter”.

inline


gboo [ ''][g͡bóó] {SS::} adj. cf. gbodoo.

inline


gbotọ1 [ ' `][g͡bótɔ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3 ― otọ):
to wear routinely; to wear everyday.

inline


gbotọ2 [ ' `][g͡bótɔ̀] {SS::} adv. (< gbe ― otọ):
against the ground; down: Ọ de gbotọ:
“It fell down”; “it dropped”
.

inline


gbọfọ [ ][g͡bɔfɔ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ọfọ): to
break out (with) sweat: to become
damp; to be wet.

inline


gbọhun [ ' ''][g͡bɔ́hṹṹ] {SS::} adj.; adv. of hu-
man beings: to be tall and stout (e.g.
an over-grown child).

inline


gbọọ [ `'][g͡bɔ̀ɔ́] {SS::} vb. to bark (of a dog).

inline


gbọọ [ `'][g͡bɔ̀ɔ́] {SS::} vb. to plant seedlings or
cuttings: Ọ gbọọ iyan“He planted
yam seedlings.”

inline


gbọọọ [ ```][g͡bɔ̀ɔ̀ɔ̀] {SS::} adv. staring foolishly;
looking agape.
$Page 057$

inline


gbọrho [ ' `][g͡bɔ́řɔ̀] {SM::} vb. (< gbe1 ― ọrho):
“to hit mud”: 1. to be muddy, to
get into mud; 2. to move around in
the mud.

inline

gbọtọn [ ' `][g͡bɔ́tɔ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe1 ― ọtọn)
to break out with rust: to become
rusty.

inline

gbọvo [ ` '][g͡bɔ̀vó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe5 ― ọvo―)^:
to begrudge; to resent.

inline

gbua [ `'][g͡bùá] {SS::} vb. (see gbe-rua).

inline

gbubi [ ' `][g͡búbì] {SS::} vb. (< gbe3 ― ubi):
to slap (somebody).

inline

gbugbo [ ' '][gbúgbó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe5 ― ugbo)
%%

inline

“to make farm”: to farm.

inline


gbuke [ ' `][g͡búkè] {SS::} vb. (< gbe2 ― uke):
“to dance uke dance”: to dance with
joy by stamping around to a beat.

inline


gbukegbuke [ ' ' ' '][g͡búkég͡búké] {SS::} adv. de-
scribes a revolting smell: Ọ wia
gbukegbuke
It smells very badly.

inline


gbukpukpẹ [ ' ' `][g͡búk͡púk͡pɛ̀] {SM::} vb. (< gbe2
― ukpukpe) 1. to dance “ukpukpe”
dance; 2. to trek back and forth
anxiously.

inline


gbuu [ ``][g͡bùù] {SS::} adv. describes a bad
smell; (e.g. of fermented cassava.).

inline