a previous refusal to serve the
Ɔba. Another interpretation is
a mockery directed at boys
whose mouth is affected by
yaws: (u)nu ofiofio [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ‿ / ] (cf.
ofi [ ˩ ˥ ]). The bird is also called
osaikpe [ ˩ / / ].
muɛ̃ [ ˩ ] faint; faintly (of a light).
m-ugbo [ ˥ ˥ ], m-uri [ ˥ ˦ ], m-unu [ ˩ ˥ ],
m-use [ ˩ ˥ ]; cf, mu 1.
muma [ ˥ ˥ ] (or: mu [ ˥ ] ma [ ˥ ] ?) to
be pressed together, e.g. cigar-
ettes in a case, or butter melted
in a lump; cf. mama [ ˩ ˥ ].
(e)n- 1 relative particle (not in-
dispensable); the following pro-
noun which is closely linked up
with it has low tone in the ipf.
and high tone in the pf., e.g.
n-ɔɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ \ ] who does; n-
ɔɽu‿ɛe [ ˥ ˥ \ ] who did; in the
plural, i can be used with the
relative particle, e.g. ekita n-ibũ
[ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] many dogs (dogs that are
numerous).
n- 2 a particle conveying, to-
gether with a particular con-
struction (auxiliary ya [ ˩ ]; tense-
particle -a [ ˥ ]), the idea ex-
pressed by the English “instead
of doing...”; n-u-ayaɽu‿ɛe,
ukelɛ fua [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ \ ˩ / ] instead of
doing it you ran away. Possibly
the particle is identical with
(e)n- 1, and the sentence a re-
lative clause.
(e)n- 3 particle introducing a sub-
junctive (with a high or mid-
tone pronoun); ɔw-en-iɽu‿ɛe
[ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ (4-1) ] (wɛ [ / ]) he told me to
do it.
na 1 [ ˥ ] (1) to give; the verb has
three other different forms em-
bodying the objective pronouns
