pron. (personal) of the 2nd pers. sgl. abbreviated form;

ugb-ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ‿ / ] you killed him;

uɣare [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] shall you come?

F.D. list: a tree, Ochrocarpus africanus;

cf. ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. otiɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ].

a women’s drum;

of varying length, may be as long as 4 feet;

beaten alternatively with a drumstick and the hand;

played during ugie [ ˩ ˩ ] and ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a tree, Strombosia pustulata.

the son of one amoug the Ogiaʋ̃ɛs [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ];

his name has become a symbol for wickedness, hence: ɛd-ubi [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] a bad day;

v. Ɛweɽɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

pointed stick used by farmers for making the holes for yam-sticks;

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], ogba 2 [ ˥ ˩ ], asɛgiɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

a slap;

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

a leopard-like animal, but smaller.

a creeper, with a very thick stem;

fruit eaten by monkeys.

stockings (the word is not much used);

cf. Yor. ibɔsɛ [ ˧ ˩ ˩ ].

act of building;

cf. bɔ 1 [ ˥ ].

act of predicting;

prediction;

cf. bɔ 2 [ ˥ ].

(1) a tree, Vitex rivularis.

(2) stocks (for offenders);

ɔkã-ɽ̃ɛ̃ y-ububã [ ˩ / ˦ ˧ ˧ ˩ ] he put (lit. fixed) him in the stocks.

being numerous;

great number;

crowd;

ubũʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋo iɽ̃ã ya ɣade [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ / ˥ ˦ / ] they were coming in crowds;

cf. bũ [ ˥ ].

coral-bead strings (about 6) tied round the forehead (worn by the Ɔba and some big chiefs);

cf. ɛhae [ ˩ ˩ ].

a small blue and red lizard;

said to be poisonous (?).

an attribute of Osa [ ˩ ˩ ]: Osa n-Udazi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ]: the meaning is not clear.

enlarged spleen (mainly as a babies’ disease) (visible swelling in the abdomen, movable; a pinching feeling; sleepiness and lack of appetite);

v. oʋa [ ˥ ˩ ] (name of the organ).

advice;

ude n-ubu ʋ̃ɛ ɽe ma gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ˩ / ˦ ] the advice you have given me is very good;

cf. ibude [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. bu 2 [ / ].

“fallen into the world”: a man without any support (“backstay”, v. oseɣe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

a full orphan;

v. de 1 [ ˥ ], fi [ ˥ ], agbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

“fall-break”: (1) a tree, Swartzia fistuloides;

produces a seed which is used as soap by poor people, v. eʋ-axuɛ [ ˩ / / ].

(2) a long hanging coral necklace;

cf. de 1 [ ˥ ], gwɔɣɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a kind of palm-wine;

v. exwɛxwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

cf. de 1 [ ˥ ], gbe 1 [ ˥ ], otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

“fall-upon”: (1) a big kind of hawk with white wing-tips, “gives a whistling sound”.

(2) a man who has committed a rape;

cf. de 1 [ ˩ ], rhu 2 [ ˥ ].

oil from fried palm-kernels, grease;

cf. Ibo udɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

(1) the oil palm, Elaesis guineensis;

udĩ‿uxuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] a drink obtained from the oil palm;

the cut starts from the spot where the palm bunch begins, no other part of the tree suffers (lit. “palm of the topside”);

this is the best kind of drink to be given as an offering to a god.

(2) a kind of white water-yam which is very long (hence the appellation).

tsetse-fly;

udĩ-eni [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “elephant-fly”: a big stinging fly.

courage: cf. dĩ 1 [ ˥ ].

being deep;

depth;

cf. diʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ].

thinness;

leanness;

cf. dɔ̃ [ ˥ ].

(1) liver;

in udu n-ɛko [ ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] “udu of the abdomen”.

(2) lungs;

in udu n-ohoɣa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the “empty udu”.

(3) heart;

v. ɛkokodu [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ], ɔkãdi [ ˩ / ˥ ].

lump: udud-ugbe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] (note the tone!) “a lump of a stone”;

udud-uʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] a lump of salt, v. ukp-uʋ̃ɛdugie [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˩ ] (the better expression);

udud-uʋ̃ɛ̃-bo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] a lump of sugar;

ududu‿eʋaxuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / / ] a ball of soap (native soap is sold in balls);

v. oso [ ˩ ˥ ], osɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

a tree, with light wood, Sterculia tragacantha.

(also udeʋ̃udi) suddenly;

ɔde kũ ʋ̃ɔ̃-duʋ̃udĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] he dashed against me all of a sudden (unintentionally).

any instrument blown from one end;

fife, bugle, whistle (the player is olufeɽe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]), (for whistle, enwiso [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] (Engl.) may be used);

cf. Yor. fere [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛkpeɽɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] flute, i.e. an instrument played from the side.

act of “clearing” the bush;

cf. fie [ / ];

v. ifie [ ˩ ˥ ].

end: eʋ̃i re‿ɔmaʋ̃ɔ-foʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] “things do not happen that have (ʋ̃ɛ [ / ]) no end”: everything has an end;

cf. fo [ ˥ ].

also ɔfɔe [ ˩ \ ] the messenger of Ogi-uwu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ], the King of Death;

its head is in the middle of the body, hands and feet issuing immediately from the head (feet up, and hands downward);

it seizes sick people and carries them to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], and it becomes visible to a man who is about to die;

if the patient is delirious, it means that he is going to be seized by it.

This is invariably regarded as fatal;

consequently when this is likely to happen the witch doctor is called in at once;

he dances in order to please ufɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] and avert it from its prey.

Another name for it is ukɔ n-ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i zɛe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ / \ ] “the messenger which the underworld has sent”.

a kind of ikpɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ] “red yam”, but white.

small vertical poles between the uhoho [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] at eru [ ˩ ˥ ] (yam stack);

the yams are tied to them by means of creepers and cane.

two trees, Bridelia micrantha and Cuviera nigrescens (F.D. list ogangan).

(1) act of serving, e.g. for a wife, to one’s father-in-law;

e.g. eʋ̃i‿ugaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] gifts made as part of that service for a wife.

(2) Church-service;

cf. ga 1 [ ˥ ].

cowries of the value of about 6s. 6d. (obsolete).

the first Ishan-speaking village on the Ekpoma Road;

six miles north of Ehɔ [ ˥ ˩ ].

twenty.

(1) (next) occasion;

(next) time;

ugi-ɛki [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] the next market (ɛki n-ɔgbera [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ] the last market);

ɣade ugie n-ɔde [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ] “come at the next occasion!”, i.e. at an indefinite time (said when there is no time to attend to a guest).

(2) Any of the Ɔba’s ceremonies.

The principal ugies are: ugi-ama [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] (ama [ ˩ ˥ ] is one of the Ɔba’s gods);

ugi-azama [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] (for the Ɔba’s children);

ugi-oʋi‿ozuɔɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ / ˥ ] (at which titles are given);

ixurhɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (devoted to Otɔe [ ˩ ˩ ], the ground);

ugi-ɔɽɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (a cycle of ugies opened by ami-ɔɽɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], it consists of ugies devoted to the Ɔba’s ancestors which take place at intervals of five days, and which are called ugi-iɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] or iɽɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ], and ends with ugi-erh-ɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], the ugie made for the Ɔba’s father, after about three months).

After this period, the annual ancestors’ festival ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] seems to be celebrated in Benin.

After ehɔ, there is, according to one informant, another cycle of ugies devoted to the royal ancestors which is called ngi-igũ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], and which again consists of ugi-iɽɔ̃’s leading up to ugi-erh-ɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

After this, i.e. after about four months, orhu [ ˩ ˥ ] is performed, and an ugie called emobo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (?).

This is followed by igwɛ, the annual festival devoted to one’s Head, which is performed first by the Ɔba, then by his people.

After igwɛ, the annual war-procession isiokuo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] was held (no longer now) which included egbala [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] and amufi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

Then comes agwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ], the New-Yam festival at the Ɛguae, which is followed by the general practice of ihuã [ ˩ ˥ ], giving new yam to the gods, and finally agw-ɔɣɛnɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ].

(The order of these ugies is very doubtful, and the collected statements differ, neither is their number complete).

comparison;

cf. igieʋ̃i [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], gie 1 [ / ].

act of burning;

blaze;

cf. giɛ̃ [ / ].

leaking;

cf. gĩ [ ˥ ].

a sort of red yam (ikpɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ]) which has gone wild;

v. ogigbã [ ˩ \ ˩ ], ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

two villages distinguished in the following way: Ugo n-iyek-orhiɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] “the Ugo behind the Ossiomo River”;

and: Ugo n-iyek-ikpoba [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “the Ugo behind Ikpoba” (lying on the road to Agbor).

(1) act of shouting.

(2) songs accompanying the akaba [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] dances of the Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] cult;

sung by the head-dancers while the women dancers clap hands.

When the head-dancers pause, the women sing uke [ ˥ ˩ ] songs, and both groups stamp their feet as accompaniment (gb-uke [ ˥ ˩ ]);

cf. go [ ˥ ].

worship (Akugbe): cf. gɔ̃ [ / ], ugie [ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) Bini name for the Sobo tribal marks: a straight line leading from the middle of the forehead to the tip of the nose.

(2) ugɔ̃g-ĩyeke [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] spine (same as uv-ĩyeke [ ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ], v. uviɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ]);

cf. gɔ̃gɔ̃ɔ̃gɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

a tree, Saccoglottis gabonensis;

its bark is pounded and mixed with palm wine in order to make it red;

ugu mu‿anyɔ na‿ɛsɛse [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ] the ugu has changed this wine very much.

vulture, Common or Hooded V.;

cf. Yor. igũ [ ˧ ˥ ].

lit. “you do not help an old man to cut it”: a tree with very soft wood, Discoglypremna coloneura.

(1) lid, cover (e.g. of a pot);

ugw-ɛkpokĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “cover of leather box”: a tree, Hannoa klaineana.

(2) ugw-akpata [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “cover of native harp”: (besides the literal meaning) a curved tuft of hair above the forehead, worn by the Ɔba and by all the chiefs as a sign of their rank;

also: tuft of feathers on the head of some birds, e.g. awɛ [ ˥ ˥ ] and esikpoɣo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ].

(The latter meaning was disputed by A. who said that osusu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] should be used for a tuft of feathers).

(3) shade.

“does-not-fit-foot”: natural cutting or hollow (without water), so narrow that both feet cannot be placed together in it;

there is one near the village of Ɔgba [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. gwa 3 [ ˥ ], owɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] (the “not” is contained in the high u- [ ˥ ]);

v. iya [ ˩ ˩ ], ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

a dance performed e.g. at second burials;

the dancers, with rattles round their feet, move in revolving circles, sideways;

cf. d-ugba [ ˥ ˩ ].

“killer of fowls”, a disease of chickens: the victims are sleepy first, then giddy;

they spread their wings, gasp, and knock their heads on the ground;

watery discharge from the beak;

same as lukuluku [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], adiyɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

v. okuku [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (dull, cold weather is said to be mainly responsible for this disease).

(1) eye-brow;

forehead.

(2) face;

cf. aɽo [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. uhaɽo [ ˥ \ ˩ ].

missile;

stone (that is thrown).

swelling of lower abdomen, probably due to distended bladder.

writing utensils;

cf. gbɛ̃ [ ˥ ], ebe [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. ukeke [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ].

side of body;

cf. efɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

“hair-clipper”: scissors;

this is the native Bini expression, but v. alumagazi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], etuheɽu [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ];

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], eto [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) flogging, (2) dancing;

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

a tree, Antrocaryon micraster;

the fruit, called gbɛezaɽo [ \ ˥ ˩ ], has a shell covered with many cavities;

the shells are put over objects in order to keep thieves away from them.

A. was in doubt about the existence of the name ugbezaɽo and described gbɛezaɽo as the fruit of iyɔha [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

when;

probably originally “time”, because it is followed by the relative particle n- or ʋ- “in”;

further, there is ugbɛ̃-so [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

(a) sometimes;

at times;

ugbɛ̃-soɔɣar-owa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] at times he will be at home.

(b) perhaps, v. kɛe [ / ];

ugbɛ̃-s-ɔɣar-owa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ] perhaps he is at home;

cf. ugbugbɛhia [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ].

belt;

cf. gba [ ˥ ], ɛkũ [ ˩ ˥ ].

deplaced fontanelle (with a baby);

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ] (here, perhaps, “to push in”), ɛrherhe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

cork-screw (also ugbizĩ, ugbezĩ, ugbuzin);

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], ezin [ ˩ \ ].

farm;

ugb-ɔgbɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] new farm;

gi-aɣari-ugbo [ ˩ / ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] let us go to the farm;

v. ogo [ ˩ ˩ ].

(ugbodioko, or -lioko are also heard);

bone;

ugbodok-ɔsa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “bone of chimpanzee”: a tree, Randia dadantha;

its wood is very durable;

v. uvɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) a monster living at ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

it has three (or seven) heads and a human body;

it breathes flames, blood, smoke, etc.;

was believed to be the senior of the iɣele [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] age-group at ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

Occasionally carved in wood.

It is only considered as a kind of bogey, and there is no belief in it.

(2) jocular appellation for somebody who has lost his incisor-teeth;

cf. ogie [ ˩ ˩ ], oɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) the shea-butter tree, Parkia biglobosa.

(2) shea-butter (obtained from Hausa people).

a tree, Kigelia africana (?);

its bark falls off in patches;

v. rhuã [ / ].

a tree, Bombax buonopozense.

“tsetse-killer”: fly-killer;

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], udiã [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) tree with scaffold on which victims of certain Bini sacrifices (to the sun and the rain) were crucified.

(2) Cross (in the Christian sense).

(3) crosswise;

ɔmu‿erhã (u)gbugbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he is carrying the tree (or stick) crosswise (so as to block the whole breadth of the path; boys do so to stop their playmates overtaking them on the road).

(1) often;

ugbugbɛ hia eɽ-iyas-eʋa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ \ ] “it is often (that) I go (lit. ‘reach’) there”.

(2) always;

imi-ɔ̃(ɛ̃‿u)-gbugbɛ hia ʋ-i‿aɣari-ugbo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ / ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] ( “ɛ̃‿u” [ ˩ ˩ ] are left without tone-marks above; ri-ugbo is possibly [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] in slow speech) I see him always when I am going to the farm;

cf. ugbɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] (identical?).

a quadrangle in the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ] where an Ɔba is buried and has his shrine;

formerly, each Ɔba had his own quadrangle which was made after his death.

difference;

uɣa(ɛ̃) ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] the difference is this;

uɣaɛ̃ ni xĩ ɽa [ ˩ / ˩ \ ˩ ] is that different?

cf. l-uɣaɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ].

a village with mixed Jekri-Sobo population, on or near the boundary of Warri Province.

(1) thunderbolt;

believed to be thrown by Ogi-uwu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “the King of Death”, i.e. the god of Thunder (Yor. ʃãŋgo [ ˩ / ]);

it is used in the awasɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] that is kept on the shrine of Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ].

It is obtained by pouring four tins of oil into the hole where it has fallen down: then it comes up and can be exhumed.

The uloko [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] tree ( “Iroko”) is believed to withstand the uɣ-ãvã, while other trees are broken to pieces;

this is due to its importance for witches.

Uɣ-ãvã are, therefore, said to be found if uloko wood is sawed;

cf. uɣã- in uɣaʋ̃a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], avã [ ˩ ˥ ].

(2) the main “pebble” on the shrine of Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ];

it is red, and in the shape of an axe (Ɔxw.).

axe;

uɣaʋ̃-ɔ̃ra [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] an axe with a broad blade;

formerly used for splitting wood;

cf. uɣãvã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

(1) being dear, i.e. expensive;

dearness.

(2) pride, (in a bad sense);

cf. ɣã [ / ].

same an eɣae [ ˩ ˥ ];

act of dividing;

cf. ɣa(e) [ / ].

dances;

any performance;

show;

cf. ɣe [ / ].

entrance of a village;

v. agba [ ˩ ˩ ], egbɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ], omɛ [ ˥ ˥ ].

“look body”: (1) mirror.

(2) glass (but not vessel!).

(3) uɣegb-aɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “eye-glass”: spectacles;

cf. ɣe [ / ], egbe [ ˩ ˥ ].

look, appearance;

uɣeʋ̃e ɽ̃uɛ̃ m-ohã gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˦ ˧ ˨ ] your appearance is terrible (e.g. when a man is ill, or angry; or referring to a masked dress);

cf. ɣe [ / ], uɣe [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) “day-looker”: clock;

watch;

v. utɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], umuɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ɛgogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

(2) spectacles (older than uɣegb-aɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

cf. ɣe [ / ], ɛdɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) name of a Bini village near Ɛkɛhuã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] through which the Bini people made their first contacts with Europeans: “Gwatto”;

a certain sib has its central area at Uɣɔtɔ̃;

their headman is the oh-ɔ̃kũ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] there, i.e. the priest of Okũ [ ˩ ˥ ] or Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ].

Other members of the sib are found at Jesse (Ijehe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ]) where there is also an hereditary priest and chief Oh-ɔ̃kũ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

Jesse is said to have Sobo population.

The sib-greeting is la‿okũ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

closed room in a Bini house with one or two entrances;

v. ɔgwa [ ˩ ˥ ], ikũ [ ˩ \ ];

cf. uɣa [ ˩ ˩ ].

(different) species, kinds, sorts, ways;

uɣuɣã dɔʋ̃adɔɣɔe nwa [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] lit. “in a different way everyone is sensible”: every man has different ways of thought (if something is interpreted in several ways);

cf. uɣaɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

empty shell of a snail.

(1) stump of tree that is nearly level with the ground.

(2) also: roots of trees swelling out of the ground;

v. ɛzi [ ˩ ˩ ], utukpuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

bow (for shooting);

cf. abɔ, obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. ifɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], ikã [ ˥ ˩ ].

well;

uhae na‿ir-amɛ [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] this well does not hold (rɔ 1 [ / ]) water;

uhae na s-agba-eha [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] (sɛ [ ˥ ]) this well is three layers deep.

swallow;

cf. iso [ ˩ ˥ ] (?).

(1) a small plank used as a pad when carrying yams.

(2) uhãh-ɛ̃kũ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the small of the back.

forehead;

cf. ɛhae [ ˩ ˩ ], aɽo [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ugbaɽo [ ˥ \ ˩ ].

(1) lower end of a long object: uh-inya [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] lower end of a yam;

uh-ɔɣɛdɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] do.

of a plantain;

cf. uh-erhɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ];

uh-erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] lower part of a felled tree that is standing upright.

(2) bottom of a vessel: uh-axe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] bottom of a pot;

uh-odo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] bottom of a mortar.

(3) vulva.

(4) anus.

a stick of firewood one end of which has caught fire, also uw-erhɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ];

cf. uhe [ ˩ ˥ ] (?).

Ifɛ (Yor. tones: [ ˧ ˩ ]);

the name occurs also in the morning greeting of a certain sib, de la‿uhɛ o [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

a village on the Bini-Yoruba boundary.

breathing;

breath;

cf. hɛwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

law;

custom;

uhi na wegbe gbe [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] this law is very strict.

(1) keeping up appearances.

(2) struggling (to recover one’s health);

cf. hia [ / ].

a big kind of monkey (N.W.Th.: baboon).

swelling (of a whole limb);

uhiʋ̃iaʋ̃-obɔ ʋ̃ɛ na mu ʋ̃-ohã gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] lit. “the swelling of this my hand makes me afraid much”;

cf. hiʋ̃ia [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. hue [ / ].

a trap for birds: lime obtained from a creeper.

the Sobo people;

uhoboriahe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] lit. “the Sobos are guilty”: a kind of red yam that is said to have come from the Sobo country comparatively recently;

its surface is “hairy ”, and it ripens within five months.

the space between two main poles (utɔ̃yotɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]) of a yam stack (eru [ ˩ ˥ ]);

equals 2 ɛkp-ɔxɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ];

2 uhoho equal 1 ɛwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

pawpaw;

uhoɽ-ebo rhiɛ̃rhiɛ̃ gbe [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “European pawpaw” (a special kind of p.) is very good.

a kind of leaf covered with pimples;

also called eb-uhosa [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] and uhosa n-ofi fi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ];

cf. osa [ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

swelling (not a whole limb);

uhueʋ̃-eke n-ɔxia ɽuɛ so fua gɔgɔɔgɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˦ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “the swelling at the place that pains you bulges out”;

cf. hue [ / ];

v. hiʋ̃ia [ ˩ ˥ ].

an influence or power (spirit?) which causes people to do things that are to their disadvantage, and seem to be senseless.

Uhuki is said to be caused by ill-treatment of, or lack of consideration for, one’s wife or husband in the preceding reincarnation.

The actual cause seems to be the “swearing” uttered during one’s previous reincarnation by the injured party against the offender.

Offences leading to this swearing and consequent uhuki are e.g. a man’s not giving his wife food and clothes, or not having intercourse with her on the day when she purifies herself after menstruation, or a wife’s promiscuous way of living (so that the husband forsakes her), or her omitting to mourn for her deceased husband properly (v. xiɛ̃ [ / ]);

uhuki ɔkpokp-ɛe [ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ] “uhuki (it is that) is troubling him (or her)”.

The “trouble” caused by uhuki may manifest itself in very different ways, and in different degrees of intensity.

A man may refuse to marry and may hate women, or even be temporarily impotent or mad;

with a woman it is believed to be the cause of frigidity and certain misdemeanours.

A sacrifice can “bring them (i.e. the uhukis) to sense”: a “doctor” makes an image representing the husband or wife, respectively, of the preceding reincarnation, and makes a sacrifice to it.

Afterwards, the image is buried with the sacrifice (ɔɽe‿uhuki [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] he buried the uhuki).

The uhuki was said not to be the dead man (or woman) himself.

(1) once;

ɽu‿ɛe‿uhukpa [ ˩ / ˥ / ˥ ] do it once (and also: “at once”).

(2) at once;

ikɛk-ɔɽe wamu bũ-hukpa [ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ / / ˥ ] his bicycle broke at once.

sickness (general term);

uhuʋ̃ova lɔɣɔ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “sickness is paining me”: I am ill;

cf. emiaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) head;

it is believed to report to one’s Ɛhi [ ˩ ˩ ] every evening about one’s doings, and it is given sacrifices, v. gwɛ [ / ];

hence uhuʋ̃u dã [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] “bad head”: bad luck;

uhuʋ̃u‿esi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “good head”: good luck;

an idiomatic expression is uhuʋ̃u ya y-ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ] “head takes for it”: you, or he, will get into hot water for it (when scolding somebody for some mischief he has done), (in a proverb).

uhuʋ̃-oɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “head of corpse”: skull: uhuʋ̃-elao [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] wooden sculptures representing heads, forming part of the ancestral shrines (v. erha [ ˥ ˥ ] and iye [ ˥ ˥ ]) in Bini houses.

The Ɔba’s and Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] uhuʋ̃-elao are of brass.

(2) upside;

upward;

on top;

uhuʋ̃-ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] on top of it;

uhuʋ̃-ɛ̃zɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] up-stream;

uhuʋ̃-oke [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] up-hill: uhuʋ̃-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “top of house”: roof (from outside, v. ɛrhũrhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]).

(3) message (in connection with gie [ ˥ ] “to send”);

cf. uhuʋ̃ova [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

period of nine days (2 ekɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ]);

uɣade ʋ-uhuʋ̃uɽ̃ũ [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] you should come within nine days;

uhuʋ̃u-ɛ̃ɽɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] (ɽ not nasalised) nine days from to-day;

cf. ihĩɽ̃ĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

straw-hat, usually ɛrh-ukata [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

cf. Yor. akata [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

smallness;

small size;

cf. kaʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) top of a thing lying on the ground, e.g. a load that has been put down, or a tree lying on the ground (ogwe [ ˥ ˩ ]), v. uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

mu-ɛ̃ y-uk-ɛɽe [ ˥ \ ˩ / ˩ ] put it on top of it!

(2) a pad used to raise women’s hair in some styles of hair-dressing, e.g. okuku [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ];

it was mostly made of itaxuɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ].

(3) a stopper put into native guns in order to prevent the powder and charge from falling out;

it is made from rolled coconut fibre;

the gun is charged as follows: first the powder (exae [ ˥ ˩ ]) is put in, then uke, then igele [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (shot) or efu [ ˩ ˩ ] (bullet) which is again followed by an uke.

(4) a small round drum used by men.

stamping (in dancing);

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) (cross-legged) cripple.

(2) porter at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ]: cripples are doing the service of porters at the Ɛguae, because they are reliable: they do not steal nor commit adultery at the Ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] (harem), because they cannot run away.

(3) crooked, in uk-adɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] hook for picking fruit;

v. aɽɔe [ ˩ ˩ ].

something hollow: (1) tortoise-shell, also uk-egwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

(2) lap, when followed by egbe [ ˩ ˥ ] “body”: uk-egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

ɔmu‿ɛ̃ nya uk-egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] she (or, he) took it on her (his) lap (a baby e.g.).

stick;

ukeke n-aya gbẽbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “stick for writing”: pen;

ukeke n-aya kpɛ̃ma [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “stick for playing drum”: drumstick;

ukeke n-aya bowa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “sticks for house-building”: beams put on the walls in order to support the rafters (n-aya: lit. “which one takes”);

ukek-ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “sticks of Ɔvia”: two sticks knocked against each other by the masked dancers of Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ] (there is no drumming at these dances);

the correct name is, however, ikpata [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) a wooden mallet.

(2) piece of wood (stuck through an iron cramp behind the door): door-bolt.

(1) moon;

uki de ɽo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “the moon has hidden herself”: the moon is covered by clouds;

uki h-em-ota (hɛ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ / (4-1) ˩ ] “the moon is carrying the evening fufu”: the moon is coming out late in the night, e.g. when it is full moon;

uki ota [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “evening moon”: early moon (when waxing and still small);

uki‿ɔgbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] new moon (i.e. the very small waxing moon);

oʋi agb-ɛ̃dɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ˥ ] (meaning not clear, it means perhaps: “makes the night bright like the day”): praise-name of the moon when shining brightly;

uki ra uki de [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ / ] “moon passes, moon comes”: the period when there is no moon;

during this time all the evil forces are believed to be “travelling”;

ɣade ʋ-uki n-ɔba [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ] come while the moon is shining!

(2) month;

cf. aki- [ ˥ ˩ ];

v. hɔ‿uro [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], ko-ro [ / ˩ ], hĩ [ / ], bɛlɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], vɛwae [ ˥ \ ].

calabash;

uk-edɔlɔ [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] a pot or calabash where some itaxuɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ] is kept with water and red mud, for the purpose of rubbing (dɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]) the walls of a house.

uk-ɛgbo [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] calabash for holding water and other liquids;

uk-axuɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] calabash used in taking a bath (also uk-ɛgb-axuɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ]), v. uwawa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

uk-eʋ-axuɛ [ ˥ ˥ / / ] calabash for holding soap.

also ukoɣobozo, Latham’s or Forest Francolin (or bush-fowl).

“head-supporter”: pillow;

cf. ke 1 [ / ], uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

pipe.

(1) swelling, e.g. ukokod-iyeke [ ˥ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˩ ] swelling on the back.

(2) Something bulging out, in ukok-owɛ [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] ankle;

ukoko-bɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] can be used instead of igu-abɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “elbow”;

v. igwɛ 1 [ ˩ ˩ ].

calabash used for storing medicines;

cf. uko [ ˥ ˥ ].

kitchen, at the women’s side of the Bini house.

hair-pin;

cf. Yor. ikoti [ ˩ / ˥ ].

(1) messenger;

uk-ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] messenger of the Ɔba;

ukw-ekɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] attendant of an Ɔba or chief, going in front of his master;

also supposed to be with the ihɛ̃s Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] and Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] and Igbaɣɔ̃ [ ˥ / ˩ ] when they are “travelling”;

uk-ɛbɔ [ ˥ \ ˩ ] (a) (invisible) messenger of a god affecting offenders against the god with sickness;

(b) man employed by a Native Court to lead litigants to a shrine in order to take an oath;

(c) man leading a procession of juju masqueraders.

He picks up anything that drops out of the masquerade-dress;

uk-usuɛbɔ [ ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ] “messenger of accompanying (or, leading) juju”: same as uk-ɛbɔ.

(2) worry;

v. kãɛ̃ 4 [ / ].

(idiomatic) (1) irreparable damage;

ɔna ɽ-ukɔ̃ɣɔ̃ɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (ɽe [ ˥ ]) this damage cannot be recovered;

v. also mu [ ˥ ].

(2) action of always reminding a debtor of his debt;

dunning.

(1) act of planting.

(2) act of erecting the shrine of a god, or of Erha [ ˥ ˥ ] (at the “second burial”, on the day when the arha [ ˩ ˩ ]-ceremony is finished);

cf. kɔ [ ˥ ].

being foolish;

foolishness;

cf. kɔ̃ 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) grazing, of cattle;

cf. kɔ̃ 2 [ ˥ ].

(2) wandering of a doctor in search of practice.

a praise-name of the Ɔba;

cf. Ibo uku [ ˥ ˥ ];

v. Ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ].

act of injuring oneself;

ukuãʋ̃-ɛ̃nyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] snakebite;

cf. kuã [ / ].

belt;

ukugb-oʋi‿aɽueɽue [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “belt of small pulsing boils”: probably chronic inflammation of groin glands, e.g. due to syphilis.

(1) a piece of cloth or some leaves forming a round pad which one puts on the head when carrying loads.

(2) pad for silencing doors.

calabash rattle mostly used by women when dancing, by men, e.g. at the ohoɣo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ugba [ ˥ ˩ ], and emaba [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] dance.

act of playing;

cf. ku [ / ], iku [ ˩ ˩ ].

“ɛbɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] folder, or, lowerer”: title of a chief who carries the Ɔba’s ɛbɛ̃ (sword) when the Ɔba goes out;

he also hands the ada [ ˥ ˥ ] (sword) to the ɔmada [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] who is going to carry it in front of the Ɔba (when ɛbɛ̃ is used, ada is left behind).

So he is in charge of both the ceremonial swords.

Ɛbɛ̃ is raised only in presence of the Ɔba, otherwise it must be lowered;

cf. kuɔ [ / ] (here “to lower”), ɛbɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

(artificial) light;

lantern;

cf. urhukpa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a wooden plate used to wash hands before eating fufu;

cf. kpe [ ˥ ], abɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

hollow in the floor of Bini and Yoruba houses, in the rooms called ikũ [ ˩ \ ], to which the rain falling through an opening in the roof is led, cf. the Roman piscina at the atrium;

ukpaf-õgboɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] hollow along the inside of the front part of odĩ [ ˥ ˥ ], the compound wall;

it goes as far as the gate-part of odĩ is roofed.

toothpick, chewing-stick;

ukpak-ẽka [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “toothpick of Eka (Ika) people”: two trees, viz. Lonchocarpus griffonianus and Hymenostygia afzelia;

cf. kpe [ ˥ ], akɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. edia nukpakɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

a dangerous disease called “black-tongue”, due to bowel complaints (ezɛgizɛgi‿uw-ɛko [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] “diarrhoea of inside of abdomen”);

there is a small swelling over the stomach and lack of appetite, pain in the joints, headache, and no stool;

in the beginning there is a slight fever.

two trees, used as firewood only;

ukpe n-exwi [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], “black” u., Phialodiscus unijugatus;

ukpe n-ɔfua [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], “white” u., Blighia sapida.

visible pulsation of heart;

palpitation.

(1) tip, point;

ukp-aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] tip of the tongue;

ukp-ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] ear-lobe;

ukp-enwɛ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] tip of breast (male and female);

ukp-asoɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] point of a spear.

(2) beak, also ukp-ahĩaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] beak of a bird;

ukp-ɔxɔxɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “beak of a fowl”: a style of hair-dressing worn by the wives of an Ɔba (iloi [ ˥ ˥ ]);

there are said to be two different sub-styles.

This ukp-ɔxɔxɔ can be seen on the female attendants accompanying the idol of the goddess Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] and Igbaɣɔ̃ [ ˥ / ˩ ].

ukpɛ ɽ-ɛɣodĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] a leaf used in composing charms;

very sweet, used as a cough cure for children.

a hook thrown during ibako [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], hunting by encircling an area of bush;

they are used in the areas of Isi [ ˩ ˩ ] and Iyek-orhiɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

year;

ukpukpo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] every year;

ukpukp-okpia na yaz-ihãna [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] every year this man (usually) makes ihãna (the ordinary sacrifice to one’s father; the sentence implies that the man is very poor because he makes ihãna only, instead of ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]);

the year is worshipped at Ɔza [ ˥ ˩ ];

during its annual festival, called eh-oxoxo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ], and denoting the end of the year, the priest asks whether the coming year will be ukpo n-aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “a female year”, or ukpo n-ɔwɛe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ], “a male year”;

the first expression means “a mild year”, the second, a year of bad luck and many deaths (in the English of my informant a “leap-year”);

the worship of the year is possibly of Ika origin;

cf. (e)ne [ ˥ ].

something raised: (1) altar.

(2) same as ogiukpo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] dais, where the Ɔba or a chief receives visitors.

(3) couch, bed, a raised niche in Bini houses;

ukp-ekɛ̃ [ ˥ \ ˩ ] mud-bed;

ukp-erhã [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] wooden (European) bed.

(4) (modern usage) Government road, the point of comparison being either its being broad and smooth;

or perhaps its being cut out and, therefore, having high borders.

(5) rank, position (relative to that of others);

ukpo n-uye kpɔlɔ gbe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] the rank in which you are is very high (lit. “great”).

a single cowrie;

many cowries.

ukpoɣ-uzo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “cowrie of antelope”: something white in the eye-ball of the uzo [ ˥ ˩ ] antelope;

hence, a disease of the eye;

the affected eye looks like that of uzo, i.e. the middle of the eye-ball has a white spot;

it impairs the sight considerably.

(Not identical with aɽo n-ɔs-oze [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ].) cf. iɣo [ ˥ ˥ ].

staff, stick, for walking or fighting.

trouble.

the Black Bee-eater (and also name for all the sunbirds, e.g. the Scarlet-Breasted Sunbird);

“a yellow bird, smaller than ɔkpã [ ˩ ˥ ]; has no nest, but digs holes in the sides of pits”.

cloth;

ukp-ẽhe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] cloth worn during menstruation.

a squirrel similar to uxɔrhɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], but a little smaller (ɔtã [ ˩ ˩ ] is still smaller, and axiɛxiɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] the smallest).

It lives in tree-holes, but it is not “smoked out” like axiɛxiɛ;

its holes are covered with mud at night so that it is choked and can be taken out by means of uk-adɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] (v. uke 1 [ ˩ ˩ ]);

it is eatable.

being large;

big size;

cf. kpɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) cup.

(2) tin;

ukpu‿enw-ɛmila [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] (cow)-milk tin.

(3) a kind of round water-yam (white);

v. igioɽua [ ˥ ˩ / ].

a kind of dance or physical training for men and boys accompanied by singing;

in tightly closed files the dancers quickly advance and retire perhaps originally a war-dance, it is now mostly danced before wrestling, in order to attract others to join the match, or when a chief who has obtained a title goes around the town in a procession in order to thank the Ɔba and the chiefs.

a tree, Bosquiea angolensis;

its latex looks like blood;

“doctors” rub their exwae [ ˥ ˩ ] charm with it in order to make it unbreakable, because the latex gums it together;

its leaf is greatly liked by goats, but it intoxicates them and kills them if eaten in large quantities.

a lump of salt found in salt-bags, as the result of dampness;

v. ududu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

red soil used in house-building: where the mud is too black or too sandy, it it mixed with ulakpa;

cf. Yor. ilɛkpa [ ˩ ˩ ˧ ].

sound, of instruments, bells, rattles, and any piece of iron;

cf. la 2 [ ].

small ant-hills in the bush made by the ant eriri [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

there are two different sorts: ulelef-odĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “dumb ant-hill”: an ant-hill without a “cap” or top;

ulelefe n-ɔrhu‿ɛrhu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “capped ant-hill”;

the top or cap is shaped like an umbrella.

running away;

cf. lɛ [ / ].

a charm with a bell attached to it, worn round the neck by pregnant women;

it is worn during the whole day, but is especially important at meals;

thus the child in the womb is made to partake of the food;

it also prevents miscarriage;

cf. la [ ˥ ] (?), ɛko [ ˩ \ ].

idiomatic word for a special sort of calabash used for drinking palm-wine by the old people (young people drink out of tumblers), and by wine-tappers for scooping the wine out of the big clay wine-pot (ax-anyɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], v. axe [ ˩ ˥ ]);

same as ope [ ˥ ˩ ].

the Iroko tree, Chlorophora excelsa;

gives good timber;

it is said to produce the tsetse-fly;

uloko n-Enyaɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] the Iroko tree of Enyae, a meeting-place for witches, but other Iroko trees have the same repute;

cf. Yor. iroko [ ˩ / ˩ ];

v. isi [ ˩ ˥ ].

corn-cake: maize is fried in a pan, then pounded or ground, and finally baked;

cf. lɔ [ ˥ ], ɔka [ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) stopping of passers-by near a place where secret ceremonies are performed, as done e.g. by a rope and “bull-roaring” (Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ]-society), “bull-roaring” alone (Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ]), or by people armed with whips (at some ugie [ ˩ ˩ ]).

(2) secret performance (at Ɔvia and ugie);

cf. lɛ [ / ], ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ];

v. ɛmila [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], usa [ ˥ ˩ ], unwɛrhiɔ̃tã [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ].

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

(1) private council or discussion held before reaching a decision as e.g. that of the court chiefs, or a council of war.

(2) um-aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “council of animals”: fable, story;

um-aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ de wu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ \ ˥ ] “the story has fallen and died” (formula denoting the end of a story);

um-aɽ̃aʋ̃-ɔ̃kpa siɛ̃siɛ̃siɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “a story is threading along” (formula beginning a story).

(3) um-ɛnwaɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] a wise, intelligent man;

v. sɛ 1 [ ˥ ], oxa [ ˩ ˥ ], itã [ ˥ ˥ ].

a tree, Standtia stipitata.

name of a Bini village on the Siluko Road.

the camwood tree, Pterocarpus osun;

a red dye is obtained from it which is used for dyeing mats, and by women to paint their faces (as a sign of the gods Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] and Akɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]).

Fulani cattle;

cf. Yor. malu [ ˩ \ ].

name of a sib;

the senior is chief Ɛɽiyo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] at Benin City;

the sib comes from Uhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ];

its morning salutation is la‿umodu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

royal family of Benin;

its head is the Ɔba;

descended from Ile Ifɛ [ ˧ ˥ ˧ ˩ ];

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

a sib;

the chief Ɛɽo [ ˩ ˥ ] belongs to it;

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

sword.

a woman who bears many children;

a fertile woman;

cf. biɛ [ ˥ ], ɔmɔ [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. agã [ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) step-son, -daughter, (2) foster son;

umɔb-erha [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] (1) stepfather, (2) fosterfather;

v. erha [ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) a straight line, or road;

ya-e y-umɔdia [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] make it straight!

umɔdia na tã gbe [ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ] this straight road is very long.

(2) also used for “mile”;

cf. dia [ ˥ ];

v. ibiɽiki [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

native iron hammer.

catapult, used by boys to kill birds.

a tree, Pycnanthus kombo (F.D. list has umoghan);

cf. umɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] (?).

“chicken-killer”, a carnivorous animal (N.W.Th. has “serval”);

usually called “fox”;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ], adiyɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

v. umuɔxɔxɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

clock;

a new word;

not considered by A. as the correct term (v. utɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], uɣɛdɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]);

it would literally mean “a punctual instrument”;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ];

v. ɛgogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

same as umuadiyɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “serval”.

(1) a tree, Xylopia aethiopica.

(2) fruit of the above;

it is an ingredient in a pepper-soup also called uniɛ which is drunk by women after delivery, and also by sick people;

the soup is not cooked with oil;

v. aɣako [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

family;

v. ɛgbɛe [ ˩ \ ].

(the -ɛɽɛ is not nasalised) in four days’ time;

cf. ɛɽɛ [ ˥ ˩ ];

v. ɛdɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

“thing that always asks”: a name for the ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-divination;

occurs in one of the ogwɛga words;

cf. nɔ [ / ].

mouth;

unu‿iya [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] gate in Ɔzuɔla’s big wall and ditch.

“mouth cannot reach”: an old expression equivalent to oloi [ ˥ ˥ ] “wife of the Ɔba”.

the senior chief at the Iwebo [ ˩ \ ˩ ]-society;

he is in charge of the Ɔba’s dresses, and especially his coral-beads.

He used to act for three years as the Ɔba when an Ɔba had died, during which three years the Ɔba’s death was kept a secret (this practice was not followed the last time);

thus he was (and still is in theory) the only man to wear the Ɔba’s dresses;

the title is hereditary, or, at least, it remains in the family (Igiesã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ]): if the son of an Unwagwɛ is too young, a near relative takes the title.

brightness (of day or weather);

unwaʋ̃-ɛ̃dɛ n-ɛɽɛ l-uɣaɛ̃ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “the brightness of to-day is very different”: to-day it is much brighter than usual (ovɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] might be substituted above for unwaʋ̃ɛ);

cf. nwa 2 [ / ].

a god of the Ɔba’s;

v. Ɔsa [ ˥ ˩ ], Osuã [ ˥ ˩ ].

whip;

idiom.: ɛse rhi-unwɛrhiɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “kindness has taken a whip”: things have taken a bad turn, or, something well intended has had a bad end (e.g. an advice not taken);

ʋeɣe ʋ-ɛse rhi-unwɛrhiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “see again how kindness has come out wrong”.

unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃tã [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “squirrel’s whip”: a shrub, Glyphaea laterifolia;

F.D. list: unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃t-ɛ̃gbo [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] (ɛgbo [ ˥ ˥ ] “bush”) same as asuɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ] (A.) (?);

a shrub, Grewia coriaceae.

The unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃tã is kept in all ihɛ̃ and ɛbɔ shrines (except the ancestral shrines, Erha [ ˥ ˥ ] and Iye [ ˥ ˥ ]) as the juju’s whip.

When the oracle has found out that a man is a witch, or has sworn ɛbɔ to kill somebody, the priest of the shrine whips him three times with the unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃tã in telling him so, and the man will confess.

(Women keep it at the Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] shrine.) The urho n-isɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] use unwɛrhĩ-ɔ̃tã on many occasions to whip onlookers away, e.g. when fetching palm-wine for the royal household, as nobody must see the contents of their loads, or when fetching water for the Ɔba (he never drinks water from Ɔgba).

It is (was) also used by the Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ] and Ekpo [ ˩ ˩ ] societies.

a small tree, Alchornea cordifolia;

its leaves are used by the Yoruba people as a mild purgative for children.

soup;

its main ingredients are: ize n-ɔfua [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] (crayfish);

ɛhiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] (native popper);

eʋ-ariɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] ( “native butter”);

uʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ] (salt), and ofigbɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] (palm-oil).

There is also ocro soup: unwɔʋ̃-ĩxiaʋɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] and afɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] soup: unwɔʋ̃-ãfɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], the latter prepared e.g. with oɽiwo [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] ( “bitter leaves”) or eb-itɛtɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (spinach) or eb-ɔdɔ̃dɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ], ikp-ogi [ ˩ \ ˩ ], etc.

tray;

unyɛgb-emuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] ash-tray.

a tree, Monodora cornifolia.

a kind of rat, brown, with two white stripes on its back, running from head to tail.

custom;

manners;

unyiʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋo na ma ke fo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / / ˥ / / ‿ ˩ ] “the custom of this country does not suit (finish)”: is not perfect, wants improving;

unyiʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ ke gbe [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ / ˦ ] “his manners are very suitable”: he has good manners;

ɛʋ̃ɔ‿unyiʋ̃ɛ [ / ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] he has no manners;

cf. nyi [ / ].

dry season;

cf. nyuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ].

joining in a song;

uraʋ̃-ĩhuã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “taking-up song”: chorus.

a tribal mark on the forehead worn by women, mostly found at Oke [ ˩ ˩ ] and Urho n-igbe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ];

cf. ur-ɛɣele [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

a beauty-mark for women consisting of dots on the breast, produced by a knife;

originally a Jekri custom;

lit. “able to hold (rɔ [ / ]) a full-grown man (ɛɣele [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ])”+;

cf. urɛbo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

residue of water in the mould where palm kernels have been “mashed”;

left when the palm-oil which is floating above has been taken off.

a seed similar to that of ixiʋ̃i [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ];

it lathers well and is, therefore, used as an ingredient in native soap (eʋ-axuɛ [ ˩ / / ]);

it is also used alone as soap (by poor people, called eʋ-axu-oʋi‿ogue [ ˩ / ˦ ˦ ˧ ˧ (2-1) ] “poor man’s soap”), but no longer nowadays, when mostly em-uxuɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] and udɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ] are used.

far away;

cf. re [ / ].

a smooth-skinned lizard, also called alimiɔ̃ɣɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ].

a tree, Cordia aurantiaca;

its fruit contains gum.

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

(1) a round wooden tray on which pepper is ground, v. oʋi‿uɽ̃uʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

(2) hole on isɛ [ ˥ ˩ ] board (used for keeping the gained isɛ in the game of isɛ, same as ogi-uro [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

ur-isɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] isɛ board;

v. ogie [ ˩ ˩ ].

name of a Bini village.

gate;

urh-eɣɛɣɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] private passage leading from the apartment containing the Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] shrine to the outside;

occasionally also passage from od-uw-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] (private rooms of husband) to od-ɛriɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] (women’s appartment);

urh-owa [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] lane between market stalls;

urhon-isɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “the five gates”: young servants at the Ɛguae;

they accompany the iloi [ ˥ ˥ ], and carry water, etc., for the Ɛguae as well;

furthermore, they collect material wanted by the ewaisɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

the entrance to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] in Bini folklore;

said to have been closed by one Ɔba;

cf. urho [ ˩ ˩ ], okpe [ ˩ ˥ ], ɔta [ ˩ ˥ ].

“the ten gates”: name of a populous Bini town in the south-east of the Benin Division;

often called “Usonigbe”.

(1) neck;

idiom.: ɔʋ̃aʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ y-ɔʋ̃-ũrhu (ʋ̃aʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “he is forming words on my neck”: he is adding something wrong to my words that belies them, e.g. in court;

he contradicts my (true) testimony;

urhu ʋ̃ɛ gu-ɔna (gwa 3 [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “my neck does not fit this”: I cannot bear this (e.g. a fine that is to be payed).

urhu‿abɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “neck of arm (or, hand)”: wrist;

urhu‿awɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “neck of foot”: ankle (i.e. not only the bone);

v. ɛho [ ˩ ˥ ].

(2) voice;

v. ɛho [ ˩ ˥ ].

“blinder”: a cactus, same as ɔɽɔ [ ˥ / ].

lantern;

cf. rhu 1 [ ˥ ], ukpa [ ˥ ˥ ];

Yor. atukpa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

burial;

cf. ɽe [ / ].

two hundred.

line;

ya‿e y-uɽo [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] put it (arrange it) in a line!

tɛ̃ y-uɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] fall in line!

ɽu‿ɛɽe uɽuuɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] do it as it should be done!

(“line by line”).

uɽ-odɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] pathway of road;

uɽ-eha [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] a style of hair-dressing worn by women during the eighth month of pregnancy;

it consists of three rows of hair, one in the middle of the head and one at each side;

v. uviɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ].

a crowd of people.

(1) a Bini village on the Sapele road;

its inhabitants are said to be very shy and retiring.

(2) shy;

idiom.: Uɽoho n-ɛgu‿ob-ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “a shy man who does not make the acquaintance of anybody”.

name of a Bini village, seat of an Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] shrine.

(1) small gutter leading off (under the floor) the rain-water gathered in ukpafɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

(2) a direction, something like west: when clouds appear there, rain is certain to fall;

cf. amɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) a big clay demijohn (such as are used e.g. in stores);

y-uɽu ni yak-ɔgɔ re [ ˩ / ˦ / ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “take that demijohn, go (and) buy (ka [ ˥ ]) palm-wine (and) come!”: fetch some palm-wine in that demijohn!

(2) a pot dug into the earth at every juju shrine, containing water mixed with chalk and charms;

this mixture is said to drive evil spirits away;

the priest splashes it (instead of chalk, v. orhue [ ˩ ˩ ]) over supplicants, e.g. sick people, men wanting an ordeal, or pregnant women.

the Borassus palm, Borassus flabellifera;

a rattle is made from its leaves (v. ɛgwɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ]).

(1) hook;

barb;

ifɛʋ̃-uɽubu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] barbed arrow.

(2) a trap made of pointed iron rods.

a smooth-skinned lizard, bigger than alimiɔ̃ɣɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]: it is said fo be able to kill snakes.

a tree, Pterocarpus mildbraedii;

an example of it is to be found near ɛki‿ɔba [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], the central market of Benin City, where it is given sacrifices under the name of emotã [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

(It stands now in front of the C.M.S. bookshop, opposite the entrance of the market.)

boil;

cf. Jekri urubɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] or [ ˧ ˩ ˧ ].

a trap for climbing animals: across a long path cut through the forest, sticks or ropes are fixed by means of which climbing animals, e.g. monkeys, try to cross to the other side of the forest;

in the middle of the stick or rope, they enter the trap fastened to it, touch a trigger (ɣɛxueʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]) and are strangled.

The trap can be entered from both ends.

Existing clearings in the forest with creepers hanging across are used in the same way, and, then, the “lane” can be dispensed with.

secret performances forming part of the worship of the ihɛ̃ Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ], during which passers-by are stopped by “bull-roaring” or messengers;

v. ulɔʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

hut built at the Ɔlɔtɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] quarter for the Ɔba’s coronation.

matches;

cf. Yor. iʃana [ ˩ / ˥ ].

name of a trading centre in Warri province, Sapele;

some old people call it Usakpele.

mutual help between neighhours in bigger tanks of farm work, in mud treading, etc.

a Bini village situated on the road leading to Siluko (Is-iloko [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ]).

a village near the Yoruba boundary.

poverty, want;

usɛ s-ɔe [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] (sɛ 1 [ ˥ ]) “poverty is reaching him”: he is in a state of want;

us-ɔmɔ ɣis-ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ / ] “may want of child not reach you”: may you never lack children;

thanksgiving after a meal used by women towards a senior woman or man.

a period of five days, i.e. a native week with both rest days (ɛd-ekɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]) included.

us-ɛ̃ki [ ˩ \ ˩ ] native market held every five days;

us-ɛ̃ki n-ɔgbera [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ] the market of five days ago;

us-ɛ̃ki n-ɔde [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ / ] the market coming within five days, v. ugie [ ˩ ˩ ].

usĩ‿ɛ̃ɽɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] (ɽ not nasalised) in five days’ time (including to-day);

v. ɛdɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

us-ũsɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] every five days, or, native week;

us-ũs-ãyadu‿ɛki‿enyaɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (do [ ˥ ]) every five days the market of Enyaɛ is held;

cf. isɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

starch obtained from cassava;

v. ebɔbɔzi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

for a long time;

ɔs-eʋ̃a nɛ‿(u)sĩ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ] (sɛ [ ˥ ]) he has been (lit. “reached”) here a long time.

black coloured border on lower part of walls in Bini houses produced by “rubbing” them with ogbigbo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], about 3 feet high;

cf. sie [ / ].

noise, of water and crowds;

cf. so [ ˥ ].

(1) line, row, of people;

usũ n-ɔxiã ni eɽ-en-okpia ye [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] “(among) the line (of workers) that is moving on over there (it is, that) the man is”;

(2) among.

v. otu [ ˩ ˩ ].

usugb-ema [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] round lump of fufu.

trousers;

cf. owɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides;

used as firewood only.

hillock, only a few feet high;

a praise-name of the Ɔba is;

nɔhĩ‿utete n-ɔɣ-uɣe s-ɔʋ̃a (sɛ [ / ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “he who climbs the hill that looks at the dance (show) more than anybody else.”

“time-teller”: clock;

a new, and perhaps the best word besides ɛgogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ];

cf. ta [ ˥ ], ɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. umuɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], uɣɛdɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a praise-name of the Ezɔmɔ: Ezɔmɔ n-Uti [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

v. Ɔnya [ ˩ ˥ ].

act of calling;

call;

cf. tie [ / ], itie [ ˩ ˥ ].

iron arrow-head;

uto-pe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] oval iron arrow-head;

v. ope [ ˥ ˩ ].

“dug-in-ground”: (1) main pole in eɽu [ ˩ ˥ ] (rack where yams are kept).

(2) a big clay pot sunk into the ground so that its mouth is at a level with it, in order to keep water cool;

cooler;

cf. tɔ̃ 2 [ ˥ ], yi 1 [ ˥ ], otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

mushroom.

a sacred symbol erected on farms, corresponding to the inyatɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] in villages, i.e. it is the ground that is thus worshipped;

it has no shrine, but is only an ixiʋ̃i [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] tree;

part of every meal is given to it;

without utu being planted nobody may have intercourse with his wife on the farm.

stump of a felled tree;

v. uɣũɣuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ɛzi [ ˩ ˩ ], isi [ ˩ ˥ ].

shouting;

cf. tu [ ˥ ].

spine with adhering ribs;

backbone;

cf. va [ ˥ ], aɽaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] (because butchering starts at the backbone).

bone;

cf. ahũvɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ugbodoko [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Tetrorchidium didynostemon.

(1) line, row, rank, file;

iɽ̃ã xiã ʋ-uviɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] they are walking in single file;

ya‿e y-uviɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] put it in a row;

uv-ĩyeke [ ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ] hollow line along the back;

ʋ̃aʋ̃a‿ɛ̃ y-uvĩ-ũviɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] arrange it line by line, systematically (probably also: group by group).

(2) in divining, group of combinations belonging together;

v. ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

weeping;

uviɛʋ̃-ɔ̃kpa [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] the cock’s crow.

small hole, also of an animal;

uvũ‿ehɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] ear-hole;

uvũ‿ĩhue [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] nostril;

v. uye [ ˩ ˩ ].

a small clay pot used for fetching water or preparing “medicine”;

idiom.: k-iri k-uvua de‿uhae [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “rope as well as water pot have fallen into the well”: a woman who was with child has died.

scarcity;

dearth;

uʋeʋ̃-ĩgaɽi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] scarcity of gari;

cf. ʋe 2 [ / ].

(1) girl, in ɔʋox-ũʋi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (besides ɔʋox-õxuo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]) also in uʋi n-esã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “the girl of Ishan”: a timber-tree, Entandrophragma cylindrium;

very tall, straight and smooth;

otherwise the word is rarely used in that sense, and when standing alone it mostly means (2) daughter of the royal house of Benin and the Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] family;

v. okoɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ].

salt;

uʋ̃ɛ mu‿ɛ̃ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˨ ] “salt has caught it (too) much”: it is salty (food).

(in quick speech also uʋ̃ɔuʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ]) (1) equal (in height e.g.);

iɽ̃ã ya y-uʋ̃ɔuʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ (3-1) ˩ ] they are equal (in height, said of people, trees, etc.).

(2) also used in the meaning of ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ].

pronoun (disjunctive) of the 2nd pers. pl.: you;

cf. wa [ ˩ ].

riches;

pleasure (old word).

a clay pot for cooking soup;

uwaw-ugwe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] soup pot with cover;

uwaw-ezɛxɛrhɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] a kind of flat pot, used by the Jekri people for cooking pepper soup;

uwaw-axuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] wash basin.

telegraph;

cf. Engl. wire.

pronoun (disjunctive) of the 2nd pers. sgl.: you;

cf. u- [ ˩ ].

being lost;

cf. wi [ / ].

a tree, Albizzia, occurring in the following species: uwɔwɛ n-ugu [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ] Albizzia ferruginea;

uwɔwɛ n-aba fũ [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] Albizzia sassa, cf. ba [ / ], fũɛɛ̃ [ ˩ ] (“that glows faintly”);

uwɔwɛ n-ɔlaɣ-abɔ [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] Albizzia sassa, cf. laɣa [ ˩ ˥ ], “to spread” abɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] ( “waving, or, spreading, branches”);

uwɔwɛ n-ɔl-ema ɽe [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] Albizzia zygia ( “that cooks fufu and eats”).

All of them are used as firewood only.

inside;

ʋ-uw-owa [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] in the house;

v. odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

death;

cf. wu [ ˥ ], Ogi-uwu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ].

boundary between two villages, or between the farmland of different families cultivating the same plot.

a timber tree.

act of telling, deciding;

decision;

uxaʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ na ke gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˩ / ˦ ] the decision of this matter is very wise ( “suitable”);

cf. xa [ / ].

(process of) tiring;

uxãʋ̃ɛ n-ɛʋ̃ɛ na xã ʋ̃ɛ kpɔlɔ gbe [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ / / (4-1) ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “the tiring which this palaver tires me, is very great”: this matter makes me very tired;

cf. xã 2 [ / ].

a tree, Fagara macrophylla and xanthoxyloides;

the juice from its stem is put on loose teeth to fix them.

a village famous for the skill of its inhabitants in setting fractured bones;

v. ko 1 [ / ].

door-hinge;

cf. xɛ [ / ], ɛxu [ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ukelu [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

a big, blue-black bird with grey feathers on its head and a long tail;

its cry is believed to spell evil.

half;

fĩ-ũxiɔ̃ʋ̃ɛ mɛ ʋ-inya ni [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] “cut me half of that yam”.

navel.

a squirrel (bigger than ɔtã [ ˩ ˩ ]);

it lives in a hollow tree and comes out once only in the morning to look for food.

a tree, Alstonia congensis;

its bitter bark is prepared with cold water as a medicine against a certain fever.

gag put into a man’s mouth and stretched so as to prevent him from crying;

applied to victims of human sacrifices in the old times.

inheritance, heritage;

v. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ].

seed (the sprouting tip).

remains of palm fruit after the kernels have been removed;

they are burnt and the ashes (em-ũxuɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]) used in the preparation of native soap (eʋaxuɛ [ ˩ / / ]);

v. erhe 1 [ ˩ ˩ ].

same as axuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]: bathing, having a bath;

cf. xuɛ [ / ].

a carved stick, a few feet long, forming part of the ancestral shrines (Erha [ ˥ ˥ ] and Iye [ ˥ ˥ ]) and the shrines of the ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ] (e.g. Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ], Ɔvia [ ˩ ˥ ] and others).

During prayers they are knocked on the ground in order to confirm the words.

uxurh-ɔhɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] a kind of tree;

its branches form the most essentiaI part of an ancestral shrine (and of others, v. below), because these branches are believed to ensure communication with the spirits of the dead (“to speak to them and to hear them”).

The branches of uxurh-ɔhɔ have joints and fall off when old;

its leaves resemble those of the gum tree;

uxurh-ɔhɔ (i.e. the branch) is found on the shrines of the ihɛ̃ who were once human beings, i.e. not on that of Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] (and some others).

It is likewise found under some inyatɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], i.e. the trees where otɔe [ ˩ ˩ ], the ground, is worshipped.

various.

(the) top side;

above;

cf. odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], avã [ ˩ ˥ ].

time when the yam-creepers are still growing up along the poles and when there is no food left (in every year about March);

then the women go to the abandoned farms (ogo [ ˩ ˩ ]) in search of is-õgo [ ˩ \ ˩ ];

famine;

uxuʋ̃u fi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] famine is reigning.

(1) medicine for healing.

(2) charm eaten or used for washing, with the object of ensuring success or protection, but never harmful, like ɛbo [ ˩ \ ], not even when used for protective purposes;

uxuʋ̃u n-aya xu-awa n-aya xu‿ɔha [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “medicine for bathing the dog one takes to hunt in the bush”;

v. edae [ ˩ / ], exwae [ ˥ ˩ ], awasɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

different;

uxuxu-eʋ̃i n-ɔviɔ re hia bũ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ˧ (2-1) ] “the different (sorts of) things he has brought are many”: he has brought many different things.

being crowded;

jostling each other;

cf. xwaxwa [ ˩ ˥ ].

a round stool (cut from a block of wood, without legs; carried by means of holes in the sides);

uxwerhe na ma yo sɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ˥ ˥ \ ] this stool is not high enough (lit. “reaches”).

sugar-cane;

v. ɔɣɔdɔgbɔ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ].

being mild;

mildness;

cf. xwɛrhɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

big hole, or pit, natural or dug by men;

idiom.: uye de gbe n-ɔtɔ̃‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ˥ ] “the hole fell against him who dug it”: machinations, or, intrigues, have turned against the one who perpetrated them.

uy-egwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “tortoise-hole” (perhaps “interior of tortoise-shell”): deep round cavity in the bottom of a pond (e.g. at ok-uwu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ]) made to enable it to hold more water.

act of remembering;

memory;

uyeʋ̃-eʋ-aɽu‿ɛse‿iwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ‿ ˩ ] the memory of a good deed (“of what is done well”) is not lost;

cf. ye 1 [ / ].

honour;

dignity (the honour bestowed upon a man as well as his inherent dignity);

awe;

cf. Yor. iyi [ ˧ ˩ ].

act of creating;

creation;

cf. yi 2 [ ˥ ].

the Ɔba’s council, consisting of the following chiefs: Ezɔmɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], Edɔhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], Oliha [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ], Ɔlɔtɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], Ɛɽo [ ˩ ˥ ], Ehɔlɔ N-eɽe [ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ˥ ], and the Edaikɛ̃ [ ˩ / ˥ ].

a sandy place;

cf. exae [ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) chief Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] quarter at Benin City.

(2) a dance, v. igbuzɛbu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

cf. Yor. Ijɛbu.

being proud;

pride;

uzɛʋ̃ɛ ɽ̃uɛ̃ bũ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˦ ˧ ] your pride is very great;

cf. zɛ 2 [ ˥ ];

v. hio [ / ].

also izɔla (seven-day) week;

uzɔla n-ɔxwa [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “big week”: Sunday;

uzɔla n-exerhe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] “smallweek”: Saturday.

Of Yoruba origin?

begging for food;

cf. zuã [ / ].