to serve;

ɔga‿e [ ˩ ˥ / ] he served him.

ga [ ˥ ] yi [ ˥ ] to serve for a betrothed girl (with her father);

ɔga y-ɔʋox-ũʋi [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he served for the girl;

cf. ugaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ], ega 1 [ ˩ ˥ ].

to cook;

to be done, of food that is being cooked;

inya na fɛko ga [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ] this yam is cooking (gradually);

v. bie [ / ].

(1) to surround;

v. lɛ [ / ].

(2) to fence, i.e. to set a fence as part of a trap across the bush, cf. ega 2 [ ˩ ˥ ];

or, to put a fence around something, e.g. a tree, or the hole of an animal;

ga ɛzi erhã na n-idoxũ‿ĩfi y-ɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] lit. “fence the base of this tree that I may come and set traps there!” v. gba 2 [ ˥ ].

big (not fat);

of animals, e.g. horses, elephants, bulls, hippopotami, or crocodiles;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. gidigbii [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

to surround;

ɔhɛ‿iɽ̃ã gag-egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he surrounded himself with them (also: ɔv-iɽ̃ã [ ˩ / ˩ ]);

cf. ga [ / ].

describes a manner of walking: a measured walk, with wide steps;

“white-man style”;

used with the verb xiã [ ˥ ];

(the i is not short).

same as de [ \ ].

very high (of a hill);

oke na yo gegeege [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] this hill is very high;

cf. gogoogo [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ];

v. golotoo [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] and geletee [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

an auxiliary verb emphasizing the main verb;

may be translated by “indeed” or similar words;

ɔgeleɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ] in fact he is doing it;

ɔgeleɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] really he did it;

geleta‿e ɣe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] go repeat it!

extraordinarily high (used with the verb yo [ ˥ ]);

cf. golotoo [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

tightly shut.

imitation of the sound of a bell (egogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] ; but v. kɔɣɔkɔɣɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]);

v. also goɣogoɣo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

gi (gu) [ ˥ ] (1) to allow (to do something);

to let;

ɔg-iɽ̃ã ɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ / ˥ \ ] he allowed them to do it;

he let them do it.

In the 1st and 2nd pers. sgl., gũ, gu are used instead of gi: igu‿ɛ ɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˩ / ˥ \ ] (a) I am allowing you to do it;

(b) I am helping you to do it, I am doing it with you;

pf.: ɔgũ ʋ̃ɛ ɽu‿ɛe (a) [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ (4-1) ] he allowed me to do it;

(b) [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ] he helped me to do it.

(v. gu [ ˥ ]).

gi‿a [ ˩ / ] is used in the 1st pers. pl. meaning “let us”: gi‿aɣaxiã [ ˩ / ˥ ˥ ] let’s go.

(2) to permit of something being done (equivalent to English suffix -able);

ɛgi‿ari‿ɔe [ / ˩ / ˥ \ ] it is not edible.

to leak, of a canoe, or house;

okɔ ʋ̃ɛ gĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] my canoe is leaking;

cf. ugĩʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

to cut (with many objects, e.g. a bundle of things, or a cord containing many strings, etc.);

ɔgia‿iri na [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he is cutting these ropes;

cf. giagia [ ˩ ˥ ], giaɣa [ ˩ ˥ ].

to cut into many pieces;

giagi-ab-erhã na (or, bɛl-ab- [ ˩ ˩ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] lop the branches of this tree off!

cf. gia [ / ];

v. bɛlɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

bright red, used with the verb ba 1 [ / ];

v. ɽɛɣɛɽɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

to cut or tear into little pieces;

ɔgiaɣa‿e ku erhã ku iri [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he tore it up (into little pieces) and threw it about (e.g. of an infant tearing paper);

cf. gia [ / ].

cf. gie 2 [ / ].

big;

of yams;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

blazing (sending flames up);

used with the verb ba 1 [ / ];

v. kpoo [ ˩ ], woo [ ˩ ].

strong;

robust;

a riddle: okpia gidigbi mu‿okpia gidigbi gba [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] a strong man catches a strong man and ties (him);

the answer is olodo mu‿ɛ̃xu gba [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the door frame keeps the door tied;

cf. gidigbii [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

very big, e.g. of trees, houses, boxes, rocks;

of an elephant;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. gidigbii [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], gadagbaa [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

(1) to send;

gie [ ˥ ] uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to send on an errand;

ɔgi-ɛɽ-uhuʋ̃u gi-erha‿e [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] he sent him on an errand to his father.

(2) also used as second verb of a combination in order to indicate a direction towards something or somebody (v. above).

(3) to attack, of diseases, the object being the particular spot that is affected (possibly, this item does not belong to gie [ ˥ ]).

to compare;

ɣɛya‿e gie ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ \ ] “don’t take him compare (with) me”: don’t compare him with me!

gie [ / ] ma [ / ] to show something that cannot be taken in one’s hand, or that is at a distance, to somebody;

ɔgi-ugb-ɛɽemaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he showed me his farm (ma is long).

gi-odɛ dã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] ma [ / ] “to show a bad way”: to lead astray (also in a metaphorical sense);

ɔgi-odɛ dã ma ʋ̃ɛ ʋ-inɔ-ɽ-ibude [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ ] he led me astray when I had asked his advice;

v. bibi [ ˩ ˥ ], ya [ ˥ ] dido [ ˩ ˥ ], gu [ ˥ ] dido [ ˩ ˥ ].

to spit, in gi-asɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

gi-exwae [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] to spit on a charm after pronouncing a prophecy or curse, in order to confirm the words spoken, v. Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] songs 7.

gie [ / ] always seems to imply deliberate spitting;

v. tu‿asɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

to laugh;

ɔgiɛ y-ɛʋ̃ɛ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is laughing at my words;

ɔgb-oxoxo giɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is bursting with laughter;

cf. ogiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

to give way;

to break suddenly (of a worn-out cloth).

to burn;

owa giɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ fɛfɛɛfɛ [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] the house burnt (or, is burnt) to the ground;

cf. agiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

to be quick at something;

ɔgiɛgiɛ nwina [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ ˥ ] he is working quickly;

cf. ɛgiɛgiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

very bright;

of weather;

ɛdɛ rãɽ̃ɛ̃ giɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ] the day was very bright.

tall and thin (of men only; v. sigosigo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] which seems to indicate a greater degree of thinness; used with ɔtaɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ] “he is tall”);

v. nwɛɛɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) to he against;

ɛʋ̃ɛ na gĩna‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “this matter is against him”: he is guilty in this matter.

(2) used as second part in the combination;

rhia [ ˥ ] gĩna [ ˩ ˥ ] in agbɔ̃ rhia gĩna‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “life is spoilt for him”, meaning “he is impotent”, or, “he is destitute”;

in case of a woman “she is barren”, or “she has a venereal disease”;

cf. agbegĩnotɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

cf. gie 1 [ / ].

very hot, of boiling water;

used with the verb tɔ̃ 3 [ ˥ ];

v. ɣiɽiɣiɽi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

describes a sudden or unexpected motion;

ɔgwa kpaɔ giri [ ˩ ˥ / ‿ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] he got up suddenly;

v. ha 1 [ / ].

describes the patter of rain, also that of rain not yet on the spot;

ɔso giriririri [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] it patters;

v. kpatakpatakpata [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

describes the falling down (or the noise of it?) of crooked things such as trimmed-off branches, or a lame man;

the characteristic feature seems to be that one part of the falling object (or man) touches the ground before the other;

ɔde gizaka [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] it fell (in the above-stated way).

to shout.

go [ ˥ ] nwa [ / ] to praise somebody in songs (for some accomplishment), Egh. Hist.;

ɔgo nwa ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he praised me;

v. rho 1 [ / ], tiã [ / ].

describes a manner of walking: the walk of a cripple whose feet are bent to one side so that he walks with a list, the foot that is behind moving sideways.

Used with the verb xiã [ ˥ ].

high (e.g. a hill);

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

describes the sound made by a bell (ɛgogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]; but v. kɔɣɔkɔɣɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]);

v. gɛ̃ɣɛ̃ygɛ̃ɣɛ̃y [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

very tall and lean, of man;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ], but also with tota [ ˥ / ], to describe a tall man sitting upright cf. gũkaã [ ˦ ˦ ];

v. rhigɔɔ [ ˦ ˦ ].

very high, used with the verb yo [ ˥ ];

cf. geletee [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

loud;

describes the noise made by a cricket;

used with the verb tu [ ˥ ].

to become, be bent, crooked;

ɔgɔe [ ˩ \ ] it is crooked;

cf. bi [ ˥ ] gɔ [ / ].

in gɔ̃‿(u)gie [ / ˩ ] to hold the (annual?) festival of a juju (not used for ancestor-festivals);

d-ɛɣɛ n-uwa yagɔ̃-gi-ɔxwahɛ yi-ko [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˥ ˦ ] when do you hold the festival of Ɔxwahɛ friend?

cf. ugɔ̃gie [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

upright;

uɽu ihue gɔ̃gɔɔ̃gɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] your nose stands upright (special characteristic of the European, hence the above sentence may be closed with: ʋ-ihu-ebo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “like the nose of a white man”. This feature is considered as funny. On the other hand, an ibue pɛrhɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “flat nose”, said to be: ʋ-ihu-egwi [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “like the nose of a tortoise”, is not thought to be beautiful, either).

describes the walk of a very tall man with the upper part of his body swaying;

used with the verb xiã [ ˥ ];

cf. ogɔlɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. lɔgiɔlɔgio [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a verb indicating (1) that another action is performed by the subject with the help of somebody else, or (2) that the action is reciprocal, e.g. gu [ ˥ ] b-owa [ ˩ ˥ ] to help (somebody) in building a house;

gu [ ˥ ] dɛ [ ˥ ] to buy something from somebody;

wɛ‿igu dɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] I bought it from you.

gu [ ˥ ] dia [ / ] to stay with somebody or something, esp. in order to guard it, e.g. of a hunter’s boy who watches the kill while his master is in the bush.

gu [ ˥ ] dido [ ˩ ˥ ], gu [ ˥ ] fi [ ˥ ] dɔ̃ [ ˥ ] to lead astray by giving false information;

v. gie 1 [ / ], ya 1 [ ˥ ].

gu [ ˥ ] guã [ / ] to talk with somebody.

gu [ ˥ ] gwi [ ˥ ] to quarrel with somebody.

gu [ ˥ ] gbĩna [ ˩ ˥ ] to fight with somebody.

gu [ ˥ ] ho [ / ] to help (somebody) to find something.

In an impersonal use, gu means “to succeed”: ɔgũ ʋ̃ɛ ɽu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “it helped me to do (it)”: I succeed in doing (it);

idiom.: egbe gu‿ɛe ɽu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˦ ] “body helped her to do” or “body did (it) with her”: she had a miscarriage.

gu becomes gũ in front of the objective ʋ̃ɛ “me” and ʋ̃a “us”.

cf. gi [ ˥ ].

(also: guaɽa [ ˩ ˥ ] used by old people) to know how to do a thing;

used with verbs only: igua xa-ɽe [ / ˦ / ˩ ] I don’t know how to say it.

(1) to adulterate;

ɔgu-anyɔ na [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] he has adulterated this palm wine;

ɔgua‿oɽoka na [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he has adulterated (the metal of) this ring (in both cases gua may be [ / ]).

(2) the second example can also mean “he has charmed this ring” (in order to give its owner a certain power, e.g. to fell an opponent in fighting at a single blow);

v. le [ ˥ ].

(1) to cover (with a lid);

g-uwawa na n-ikiã ɣɛtĩ y-ɔ [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ] cover this pot in order that the flies may not get into it.

(2) to be covered;

uwawa na gueɽe [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ / ˩ ] this pot is covered.

very small (same as gyɛɣɛgyɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]);

cf. giɛ(ɛ)ɽɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] (e.g. in ɔɣɛdɛ ne giɛɽɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “banana”).

describes a certain way of sitting down (used with tota [ ˥ / ]);

used e.g. of a vulture perching on a tree;

ɔtĩ y-uhuʋ̃-erhã gũkã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] it has (flown and) perched on a tree.

In the case of a man sitting down, it describes “a huge, big man, sitting down as if collapsing.”.

very lean, but not implying tallness, e.g. people who are lean on account of a disease;

stresses the leanness less than kãgũkãgũ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ];

cf. gokaã [ ˦ ˦ ].

intensifies an impression of flexibility (used with the verb ʋoxo [ ˩ ˥ ]);

of the tail-feather of a cock e.g., or the creeper ikã [ ˥ ˩ ], or the shrub unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃tã [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

deep;

of narrow holes, such as uy-egwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], wells, or deep places in a river;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

to keep quiet;

g-un-uɛ̃ [ ˩ / ] something like “shutup!”;

a milder expression is gi‿ah-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ] lit. “let hear word”;

cf. gue [ / ] (?);

v. hũ [ ˥ ] nwa [ ˥ ].

describes the noise of falling trees when a farm is being made.

(1) to brush with something soft (an oɽokɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] or a brush, or leaves);

to dust (by shaking);

v. bɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], (2) idiom.: gũɔʋ̃-egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “to shake body”: to turn brusquely round when addressed;

ɔgũɔʋ̃-egbe kpaɔ ʋ-igu‿ɛe guã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˥ / / ] he turned round brusquely when I was talking to him.

(3) to wag the tail (of a dog);

the man whom the dogs greet in this way is object of the verb.

to pull (of a canoe), also gw-okɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

gwa [ ˥ ] gbera‿ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to pull somebody across a river.

gwa [ ˥ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] lit. “to pull in it”: to join in pulling;

gwa y-ɔ [ ˩ \ ] join in pulling!

(to men sitting in the canoe without helping).

gw-ɛzɛ [ ˥ ˩ ] to cross a river by canoe.

gw-amɛ [ ˥ ˩ ], given by N.W.Th. with the same meaning, was said not to be used (by A.);

cf. Yor. wa [ ˩ ].

to dig;

gw-ɛhɛ [ ˥ ˩ ] to make a yam-heap (or a heap for planting coco-yam or gari);

cf. Yor. wa [ ˩ ].

to fit;

to be suitable (of rooms);

ɔgwa ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] it fits, suits, me (in space);

wɛ w-eʋa ɣagwa‿e yi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “do you think (lit. “say”) (that room) there will fit him?” (i.e. that there will be enough room for him);

idiom.: Ogbe‿gw-ihɔ̃wa [ ˥ / ˩ \ ˩ ] “Ogbe (a quarter of Benin City) does not fit Ihɔ̃wa (a name)”: it is intolerable;

e.g. in n-uye na, Ogbe‿ʋegw-ihɔ̃wa-ɽɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / / ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] lit. “what you are in now, Ogbe will not fit Ihɔ̃wa any more (ʋe [ / ]) to-day”: the temper in which you are to-day is becoming intolerable (sc. and I can no longer put up with it; e.g. to a nagging wife).

in gwa [ ˥ ] ehiɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ] to scratch (with nails, or birds with their claws);

oxuo na gwa ʋ̃-ehiɛ̃ [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] this woman scratched me;

v. nyi 2 [ ˥ ].

in gwa [ ˥ ] kpaɔ [ ˥ ] to get up.

to search;

ɔgwal-en-ɛwe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he searched for the goat.

gwalɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] kua [ ˥ ] to dig something out (of a heap of similar things e.g.);

ɔgwal-isawɛwɛ kua [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˥ ] he (or, it, e.g. a fowl) is searching, digging out groundnuts;

cf. gwa 2 [ ˥ ].

“to be with”: to be possessed by (somebody);

inya‿irɔ n-iɣaɽe-ɽɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] I have no yam to eat to-day;

answer: ɔgwe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “it is with me”: I have some;

cf. gu [ ˥ ].

(1) to know;

to be accustomed to something;

ɔgw-ebe gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “he knows book much”: he is very clever.

(2) to be a favourite (of a wife or a servant);

ɔgwɛ ʋ̃ɛ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] she is a great favourite with me;

(but: ɔgw-ɛʋ̃ɛ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he knows how to talk well);

also gw-obɔ, gu‿obɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to be intimately acquainted with: igu‿obɔ-ɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ] I am very well acquainted with him;

ɔgu‿obɔ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is my special friend;

ɔgu‿ob-ɔdɔ-ɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ] “she is the special friend of her husband”: she is her husband’s favourite wife;

cf. gu 1 [ ˥ ], gua [ / ].

to sacrifice to one’s head during the igwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ]-festival;

otherwise ɽu‿uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] is used.

At igwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] a special “amen”-formula is used: guaʋ̃ɔnyɛɛ [ / ˩ ˩ ] (otherwise isɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]).

cf. gwa 2 [ ˥ ].

cf. gwa 1 [ ˥ ].

entirely (Egh. Hist.);

ɔrhia mu‿otɔ gwɛzɛgwɛzɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] it is entirely spoilt.

(1) to quarrel;

to be angry with somebody;

magbagwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] we quarrelled with one another;

ɔgũ ʋ̃ɛ gwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he was angry with me (i.e. a master with his servant).

(2) to state one’s case in court;

to litigate;

hence: n-ɔgwi [ ˩ ˥ ] litigant (used in context only).

n-ɔgwi-w-iɽ̃ɛ̃ ʋ̃ɔ‿osɛe [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] the litigant said he had a witness.

n-ɔgu‿ɔʋ̃a gwi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ] “he who quarrels with a man”: plaintiff (v. n-ɔti-ɔʋ̃a ɛzɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]).

n-agu gwi [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “he with whom is quarrelled”: defendant;

accused (v. n-ati-ɛɽ-ɛzɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ]);

idiom.: ɔgwi ɛz-uw-unu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “he is stating case of inside of mouth”: he is grumbling indistinctly (also ɔgwi hũhũhũ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ]).

(4) to drone (of beetles only).

cf. gwɛ [ ˥ ].

cf. gwa 1 [ ˥ ].

to tremble;

to shiver;

ɔgwɔe [ ˩ \ ] he shivered;

v. sɔgwɔsɔgwɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) to get, or, be broken (of glass, earthenware, etc.);

uɣegbe na gwɔɣɔe [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ \ ] this mirror is broken (but can still be used; v. wu [ ˥ ] which means that it is now completely useless).

(2) to break something;

ɔgwɔɣ-uɣegbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] he broke the mirror.

loud, describes the crying of an infant.

of very small size (e.g. of infants or yams);

same as guɛɛɽɛ [ ˩ ˩ ];

inya na biɛe gyɛɣɛgyɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] this yam has yielded very small fruit.