lieved to be taboo to them called
eʋ̃i n-aya b-isusu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “things
that are used to push the isusu,”
i.e. to drive them away; it is tied
to a stick outside the village,
v. bi [ ˥ ]; a curse: isusu‿ɔɽ-ala
ɽuɛ gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “trouble
(or, evil spirits) (it is that) may
enter you much!” (or, possibly:
your body); v. ukpokpo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];
gbe 1 [ ˥ ].
itã [ ˥ ˥ ] (1) proverb. (2) story
(mainly exemplifying a pro-
verb). (3) meaning or moral
contained in a proverb: itã-ɽ̃ɛ̃
[ ˥ / ˩ ] “its meaning”. (4) history
(with an application for life);
with a moral; cf. Yor. itã [ ˩ ˩ ];
v. iʋe [ ˩ ˩ ], fi [ ˥ ].
itã [ ˩ ˩ ] feather-ordeal; was mainly
used to detect adultery, but also
for theft; a feather was stuck
into the defendant’s tongue,
and when it was difficult to pull
it out again, i.e. when there was
a pause, the woman was guilty;
idiom.: itã ya gba [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “the
ordeal (-feather) is stuck”: used
when there is a slight confusion,
and, consequently, a pause, e.g.
in writing a letter, or in talking,
when the ideas present them-
selves too quickly to be ex-
pressed in due order.
itaba [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] tobacco; cf. Port.
tabaco; v. egbɔɣɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].
Itakpa [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] the Nupe people; cf.
Yor. takpa [ ˥ ˩ ].
itaxuɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ] material formerly used
as uke [ ˩ ˥ ], the pad used in hair-
dressing; it is obtained from the
plantain-bark; used also as a
kind of sponge for “rubbing”
(dɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]) walls and floors of
houses; for that purpose it is
