(1) to scoop (water);

ɔs-amɛ ʋ-uhae [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he drew water from the well (ɔs-amɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he drew water; ɔsa mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he drew, viz. water, for me).

(2) in sa [ ˥ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] to scoop into (part of a liquid);

v. rhurhɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] (to turn the container over so that all the water is poured out);

tue 1 [ / ] (from vessels with a narrow neck, like calabashes).

(3) to cast (in brass);

ɔsa‿e y-ɛɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ ] or ɔy-ɛɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɔ sa‿e [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he cast him in brass (no. 3 is put in here as the casting in brass also necessitates pouring the brass into the moulds).

to shoot (with gun, bow, and cross-bow);

ɔy-osisi s-uzo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] he shot an antelope with a gun (gbe [ ˥ ] is more used);

ɔsa ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he hit me (same as ɔfi ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] which, however, applies to shooting with a gun only).

(1) to plait one’s hair (of women);

ɔsa‿et-ɛɽe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] she has plaited her hair: v. tue 2 [ / ].

(2) to start weaving or net-making (i.e. to weave, or make, the first stripes);

ɔsa‿ido [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is weaving the first stripes;

ɔsa‿ewa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is beginning a mat.

Iterat. salɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] in sal-eto [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to comb one’s hair;

rhi-oyiya gũ ʋ̃ɛ n-iya sal-eto [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “give me a comb in order that I may take it to comb (my) hair!”

(1) to burst;

ibi-emɔto na saɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ / ˩ / ˩ ] this tyre ( “intestines of motor-car”) is burst;

oɽ̃iʋ̃i na sa ʋ-ɛko [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ / ˩ \ ] this corpse is burst at the abdomen (vɛ [ ˥ ] also used).

(2) to crack (of a falling tree);

erhã na sa, gi-alɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ / ˩ ] this tree is cracking, let’s run!

Iterat. in salɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] kua [ ˥ ] to burst, of several tyres (kua is not used with sa);

v. sɔ [ / ] (of cloth).

to raise;

ɔs-ada lel-oh-ɔ̃xwahɛ [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “he raises the ada sword follows the Ɔxwahɛ priest”: he follows the Ɔxwahɛ priest with raised ada ( ― lel-ɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “follows the Ɔba”).

to jump.

occurs in sã‿ibo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to guess the identity of something hidden, e.g. the contents of a closed box, as test for a new “doctor” or a man chosen by an ihɛ̃ to be his priest;

v. ha‿ibo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], under ha 3 [ / ].

to be able;

ɔɣasaba ɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] he will be able to do it;

ɔsaba ɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ] he knew how to do it;

cf. Port. saber, Pidgin savvy, or sɛ 1 [ ˥ ] (?);

v. s-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ].

to faint;

ɔsahɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he fainted, or, has fainted.

cf. sɛ 2 [ ˥ ].

the fifth generation of children;

cf. ɛɣodĩ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (?);

v. iwu 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

cf. sa 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) to nail;

y-ise s-ɛe [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] “take a nail and nail it”.

(2) to sew (cloth and leather);

ɔs-ukpɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he sews cloth;

ɔs-ohiã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is sewing leather;

cf. ise [ ˩ ˥ ].

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) to reach;

ɔs-ɔe [ ˩ ˥ ‿ / ] he reached it.

sɛ [ ˥ ] ʋ-eriɔ [ \ ] “reach thus”: so far;

or conjugated: ɔsɛ ʋ-eriɔ nɛ n-uɣu-yavã‿eʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] lit. “has it reached so far already that you are not going to branch off here?”: something like: “are you so angry that you do not want to call on us any longer?” (said e.g. to a disappointed lover by relations of the girl).

(The high tone of -ya- indicates the negation.) (s-ɛriɔ [ ˥ / ] is also used).

(2) to come true, v. s-unu [ ˩ ˥ ];

ɛʋ̃ɛ ʋ̃ɛ sɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] my word has come true.

(3) to be enough;

ɔsɛe [ ˩ \ ] it is enough;

ɔmahesɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ] it is not yet enough;

ɔsɛ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] it is enough for me (but: ɔsɛ mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] it is effective for me, viz. a charm or medicine);

ɔsɛ ʋ-eriɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] that is enough (e.g. when pouring out medicine).

(4) to visit;

us-eke n-iye [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ (3-5) ] “have you reached the place where I am?”: have you ever come to see me?

(5) Idiom.: ɔs-umɛɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “what a nuisance”;

an expression of regret or annoyance at some mistake (also ɔsɛ ʋ̃ɛ s-egbee [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ]) one has made oneself;

ɔs-uɛɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “oh, you are a trickster” (to somebody who e.g. has broken a pot, and put the pieces together so that it looks undamaged) (also ɔs-uɛs-egbee [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ]);

ɔs-ɔɽee [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “I’m sorry for him” (when learning of something bad that has happened to a man known to the speaker) (also ɔs-ɔɽe s-egbee [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ]), v. sɛ [ ˥ ] egbe [ ˩ ˥ ].

The lit. meanings are possibly something like “it has reached me, you, him”, but umɛ is a very strange form.

The last vowel is lengthened in these exclamations.

s-ebɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] to make a boundary between two (or more) farms;

gi-ay-ɔka s-ebɛ̃ y-ugbo na [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ] let’s take corn to make a boundary on this farm!

sɛ [ ˥ ] egbe [ ˩ ˥ ] “to reach body”: (a) to befall;

to affect (of curses, not diseases);

(b) to be one’s turn;

ɔs-ɔɽ-egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (a) it befell him;

(b) it is his turn;

hence: n-ɔs-ɔɽ-egbe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the next one;

n-ɔɣis-ɔɽ-egb-ɔna xĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] the next one is this, cf. ɔsegbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], v. zɛ [ ˥ ] lele [ ˩ ˥ ].

s-ɛɽi [ ˩ ˥ ] to give evidence (same as s-osɛe [ ˥ ˩ ]);

ɔs-ɛɽi mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he gave evidence for me;

ɔs-ɛɽi gbe ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] he gave evidence against me.

s-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] to be able (v. m-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ]).

s-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] (a) to begin;

(b) to catch (also: to find out somebody’s guilt by oracle);

is-obɔ mu‿ɛ̃ (or, y-ɔ) [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ] I have caught him, or found him out.

Must not be mistaken for s-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] “to clap hands”, v. so 1 [ ˥ ].

s-osɛe [ ˥ ˩ ] to give evidence;

ɔs-osɛe gb-ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] he bore evidence against him.

s-otɔ [ ˥ ˩ ] “reaching ground”: down;

d-iguɛ s-otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] kneel down!

tota(a) s-otɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] sit down!

sɛ [ ˥ ] ɔkɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] to satisfy;

not of food;

ɔs-ɔʋ̃-ɔ̃kɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “it has satisfied me”: I am content;

ɔs-ɔɽ-ɔkɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “it has satisfied him”: he is content, cf. isɔkɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], v. ɛko [ ˩ \ ];

s-ukpɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] (ukpɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] “beak”) “to poke one’s nose into something”: to interrupt (a talk);

to be “pompo” (too forward);

idiom.: ɔs-ukpɛ ʋ-ɔwɛwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] he is interrupting in the course of the sentence;

ɔʋoxã na s-ukpɛ gbe ʋ-ɔta [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] this boy meddled much in the talk.

s-uma [ ˥ ˩ ] to hold a council;

cf. isuma [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

s-unu [ ˩ ˥ ] (a) to happen;

(b) to come true.

to break;

to split;

sɛ [ ˥ ] fua [ ˥ ] to split off, e.g. a corner of a pot;

uwawa na sɛ fua ʋ-ehɔ [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] this soup-pot has split off at the edge.

s-ivĩ [ ˥ ˩ ] (a) to husk palm kernels;

mu‿egbe n-ugi-aya s-ivĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ / / ˥ ˩ ] “get ready that you let go (that we may) and husk kernels!” (b) to bear twins;

cf. ivĩ [ ˥ ˩ ].

s-akɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ] to file teeth.

This is done by Yoruba people mostly, but also by the Binis of Akurɛ and the people of Usɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ].

With Bini people it is said to be a modern copying only.

The two middle upper incisors are filed mostly and by means of a knife or file;

ɔs-akɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he has his teeth filed;

ɔsɛ ʋ̃-ãkɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] he filed my teeth;

n-akpa s-ɔɽ-akɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] lit. “whom a foetus has filed the teeth”: a man with a natural tooth-gap.

s-iwu [ ˥ ˩ ] to make the tribal body-marks (iwu [ ˩ ˩ ]).

Whether s-iwu belongs to this verb, does not seem to be quite certain.

in sɛ [ ˥ ] ɽae [ / ] to leave;

ɔs-ɔe ɽae [ ˩ (5-4) / ] he left him.

to surpass (means to express the comparative idea);

ɔkpɔlɔ sɛɛ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is bigger than I ( “pass me”);

ɔɽ̃ɛ̃ sɛɛ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] he is becoming cleverer than I (the sɛɛ is spoken on a low falling tone);

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

to revoke a curse;

this is, in the case of a simple curse, done by saying: isɛrhĩ-ɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] I take the curse from you (reduplicated: isɛrhiɛ̃rhĩ-ɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ], shortened into isɛɛrhĩ-ɔ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ / ]).

If it is, however, a curse sworn at an ihɛ̃-shrine, a sacrifice must be made to the ihɛ̃, whereupon water from a cup is spat on the man on whom the curse lies, or into the air if he is absent, and the above mentioned formula is said.

lf the cursed man is absent, the formula is isɛrhiɛ̃rhiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], or isɛrhiɛ̃rhĩ-ɔɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ] “I take the curse from him”.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) to draw;

to pull;

ɔs-ikã ʋ-uw-oha [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “he is drawing ikã in the bush” (ikã is a creeper; when it is wanted, it is cut and pulled down).

si [ ˥ ] maama [ ˩ ˥ ] to be pressed together;

iɽ̃ã si maam-egbe [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] they are pressed together (of a crowd).

si [ ˥ ] xua [ / ] to equip oneself;

to get, be, ready, (lit. “to pull and turn one’s clothes up”).

si amɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] (a) “to draw rain”: to make rain, by charm;

(b) to be lean.

si‿egbe koko [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] to gather, intrans., egbe may be omitted;

wa hia si egbe koko y-eʋ̃a (ʋ-)itere [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] you all gather together here until I come!

s-irhũrhũ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] to become (be) mouldy;

ɔs-irhũrhũ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] it is mouldy, v. mu 1 [ ˥ ].

si osa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to reclaim a debt;

“to draw debt”;

ɔsi osa gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he is too harsh in reclaiming debts.

si ukoko [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] to smoke a pipe;

ɔsi ukoko gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˥ ] he smokes too much.

(2) to crawl (of a baby);

oʋ-uɛ na si nɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ] this your child is crawling already.

(3) to cause, esp. si‿ɛzɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] to cause a “palaver”;

iɣ-ɔsi ɛzɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] it is money that has caused the palaver;

oxuo ɔsi ɛzɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] it is woman that (always) causes palavers;

v. ya 1 [ ˥ ], zɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

in si [ ˥ ] kɛ [ / ] (a) to be near;

owa-ɽe si k-ɔɣ-uʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] his house is near to mine, v. dia [ ˥ ];

(b) to go near;

to go towards a certain direction;

si kɛ‿iyeke [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] go further back!

si k-ɔdɔ [ ˩ ˩ \ ] (odɔ) “go further there”: go further in that direction!

(c) to place near, as in si [ ˥ ] k-ɔtɔ [ / ˩ ] (otɔ) to turn down (the wick of a lamp, but without turning the lamp out);

si ukpa na k-ɔtɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ] turn the lamp down!

cf. si 1 [ ˥ ] (?).

in si [ ˥ ] kpaɔ [ ˥ ] to remove from;

to leave a certain place;

cf. si 1 [ ˥ ] (?).

(1) to give thread (of loom).

(2) to spin;

isĩ oɽuɽu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] I am spinning cotton (but do [ ˥ ] “to weave” is used of the spider).

in sĩ‿ãɽo [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to “give the glad eye” (same as sĩ 1?);

ɔsĩ‿ãɽo dɔɔɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] she is flirting.

sĩ [ ˥ ] ɛɽo [ ˥ ˩ ] to watch;

to observe;

cf. yi 3 [ ˥ ] ɛɽo [ ˥ ˩ ].

to be black;

ɔsieɽe duduudu [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] it is quite black;

cf. usie [ ˩ ˥ ].

to take a pot from the fire;

ɔsi-ɛɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] he took it down.

to deny;

ɔsiɛ̃ ʋ-inɔɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˥ (4-1) ˥ ] he denied (it) when I asked him.

to break down (collapse, fall in, owing to subsidence) (same as suo [ / ]);

uye na siɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ / ˩ / ˩ ] this hole has collapsed.

ɔsiɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ / ˩ ] may also be used in the following case: when cassava has been ground it is put on a bag to dry, and a heavy weight is put on top.

If this weight gradually drops off, the cassava is dry, and can be used.

In this case, ɔsuoɽo [ ˩ / ˩ ] would not be possible.

describes bright moonlight, used with the verb ba [ / ].

describes the dropping of water;

ɔla kua siɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] it is dropping (“passing”) out gradually;

cf. siɛ̃ [ / ].

a word used in the introductory formula of stories;

cf. sĩ 1 [ ˥ ];

v. um-aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ].

very lean;

ɔye sĩgɛ̃sĩgɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] he is very lean;

v. kãgũkãgũ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

tall and lean, of human beings only;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

auxiliary expressing a doubtful question (same as kwe [ ˥ ]: “really”);

ɔsiɣenwina [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] is he really working?

ɔsiɣere [ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ] has he really come?

(-re is actually spoken with a rise from mid to high).

cf. so 3 [ ˥ ].

to shake each other, holding one another at the upper arms;

first phase in wrestling;

after that, the partners let go of each other, and the real match starts;

perhaps the original meaning is “to stick to each other”, “to clasp each other”.

sikã [ ˩ ˥ ] mu [ ˥ ] to stick, gum to something;

ibob-otiɛ̃ sikã mu‿ɛɽ-ukpɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] an otiɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ] (a fruit) skin has stuck to his cloth (mu is low here, not a low-fall);

cf. sikãsikã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

tough, of meat, or wood which does not split easily;

ɔye sikãsikã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] it is tough;

cf. sikã [ ˩ ˥ ].

very lean;

very thin, of plantains;

ɔye simosimo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] it is very lean;

v. kãgũkãgũ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

a specific adverb describing an erect way of sitting;

v. gũkã [ ˩ ˩ ];

ɔtota sioi [ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ] he sits erect.

in the presence of;

sira-ɽe ɽ-okpia na narha [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ / / \ / ] “in his presence it was (that) this man stole”.

cf. sɛ 2 [ ˥ ].

to claim something by force or tricks;

“from somebody” is expressed by gu [ ˥ ];

gu‿ɛe siʋ̃i‿ɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] claim it from him!

to be next of kin to somebody;

m-ɔ (or mɛ-ɽ-ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ])

Ojo is next of kin to me, i.e. brother of the same father and mother;

in this case I am the senior;

perhaps it really means “it is I who claims Ojo viz. as his brother”, v. siʋ̃i 1;

Odɛ eɽ-ɔsiʋ̃i Osagie [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ / \ ] Osagie is next of kin to Odɛ (Odɛ being senior).

(1) to cure;

gũ ʋ̃ɛ siʋ̃i ɔʋ̃a na [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] help me to cure this man.

(2) to protect, e.g. in prayers.

cf. sɛ 2 [ ˥ ].

to stab, knock, push, with something pointed: su‿ɔe [ ˥ \ ] knock it (with a pointed instrument);

espec.

to butt (of rams, goats, cows).

su‿anyɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to tap rubber;

so can mean “to tap juice” from any tree, by means of a curved tapping instrument or knife;

v. bɛ [ / ].

so [ ˥ ] asefɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (su‿asefɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]) to tickle under the ribs with one finger;

ɔso ʋ̃-ãsefɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] he tickled me under the ribs.

so [ ˥ ] iguɛ̃guɛ̃ [ ˥ / / ] (same meaning as the preceding);

ɔso ʋ̃-ĩguɛ̃guɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / / ] he is tickling me.

This word is also used when speaking of somebody’s intrigues or other (magical) exertions to damage a man;

v. ɽ̃ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

so [ ˥ ] obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] to shake one’s hand;

isu‿ɛɽ-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] I shook his hand.

s-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] to knock at the door.

is-obɔ ʋ-ɛxu‿ɛɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] I knocked at his door.

to be dark;

only used with the subject ebiebi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “darkness”, and with oɽ̃uʋ̃u [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “avocado-pear” (in the imperf.) to denote its ripening;

the state of being ripe is expressed by bi [ ˥ ];

cf. Yor. ʃu [ ˥ ].

to make a noise;

amɛ so [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] the rain is pelting down;

ɔso ti-ɛɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he is shouting to call him.

s-ihuã [ ˩ ˥ ] to sing a song;

ɔs-ihuã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he sang a song.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ], so 1 [ ˥ ].

to shake a vessel containing water in order to rinse it;

v. kp-oɣo [ ˩ ˥ ] (to shake a pole, in order to pull it out of the ground).

(1) to leave out;

to exempt, mostly as a butt of one’s boasting;

uɣarhuɔ gie n-ikɛɽe hia, sokpã ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] if you are boasting towards all the others, leave me out.

(2) but.

(3) unless.

name of a village: “Sakpoba”;

its population consists of Jekri people only;

cf. sokpã [ ˩ ˥ ], Ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) to pick, of birds.

(2) to bore a hole with a pointed instrument, v. ha [ ˥ ];

ɔsol-ɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ‿ / ] he bored (or, picked) it.

(3) idiom. to come true, of a suspicion, e.g. eʋ̃i n-ɛd-ɔ hɛkosolo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] “the thing of the other day is graduaIly coming true”;

v. s-unu [ ˩ ˥ ].

describes walking with one sore foot, so that it makes no full footprint;

ɔxiã sologãsologã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] he is walking with one sore foot.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

to grow, of grass and hair;

v. iɽ̃uʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

to be hard;

ɛsɔ̃-ɽ̃-uɽuʋ̃ɛ [ / ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] it is not hard for him to do;

cf. ɛsɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ]: v. lɔɣɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) to split (wood);

ɔsɔ erhã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is splitting wood.

(2) to split (intrans.);

erhã sɔ [ ˩ ˥ / ] the wood splits.

(3) to tear (cloth);

ɔsɔ-ʋ̃-ũkpɔ̃ [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ ] he tore my cloth.

tender, of a child;

ɔmɔ ne sɔgwɔsɔgwɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] the tender child.

(1) to grieve, anger, annoy.

(2) to disgust, be disgusting.

describes something that foams;

v. hu [ ˥ ].

to rebel;

ɔsɔtɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he rebelled;

cf. Yor. ʃɔtɛ [ ˩ ˧ ], ɔtɛ [ ˩ ˩ ], and Bini isɔtɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

Interjection used in calling dogs (same as gba [ \ ]).

(1) to be powdery, of ground or pounded foodstuffs like corn or soup herbs;

ɔsũ [ ˩ \ ] it is (ground and) powdery.

(2) to make powdery;

ɔka n-alɔ sũ gbe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] grinding corn makes (it) very fine, or powdery;

v. lɔ [ ˥ ], duʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) to be sticky (like gum).

(2) to be slow;

usũ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] you are too slow!

(1) to push, with hand;

ɔsua ʋ̃ɛ ɣ-iyeke [ ˩ ˩ ‿ \ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ] he pushed me back.

(2) to “push” into dangerous actions, etc.;

of harmful charms.

cf. so 1 [ ˥ ].

to begin;

ɔʋesuɛ̃ nɛ [ ˩ / / ˥ ] he is beginning again.

describes the sound of some light object dropping into water (small stones, sticks, etc.), but also of some bather jumping straight into the water;

ɔsã fi ɛzɛ suɛ̃ỹ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he jumped into the river plop!

v. gbidii [ ˩ ˩ ].

in aɽo-ɛ suku [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ \ ] “your eyes look full of fear”: you are shy.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

“on the shoulder”, in ɔmu-ɛ̃ sulele [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ] he carried him on his shoulder.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

describes a lazy kind of walk, with a slack limp body, and, possibly, slightly moving arms;

ɔxiã sũnɔsũnɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] he slouches.

cf. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

to collapse, of undermined soil;

same as siɛ̃ [ / ].

dark blue, used with the verb bi 1 [ ˥ ];

same as dũdũdũ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

describes a fixed look such as that of fortune-tellers, but also a foolish gape, v. ohuã [ ˥ ˥ ], gbɔɔ [ ˩ ].