(e.g. of a vessel); idiom.: otɔ-ibiɛ
[ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “the bottom of the en-
trails”: the bottom of one’s
heart (as opposed to okp-unu
[ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “by word of mouth”: not
quite sincerely); iwahu‿ɛʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃
s-otɔ-ibiɛ (sɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]
I like him thoroughly (not
partially), from the bottom of
my heart. (4) floor (of a room,
in comparison with ukpo [ ˥ ˩ ],
the mud-niches) in otɔ-wa [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];
v. ikpawɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (in general use,
but mainly used of the floor
round the ukpafɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] in the
ikũ’s [ ˩ \ ]). (5) reason (for
something); otɔ-ɽe ʋo n-unaxa
ʋ-eriɔ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] lit. “what is
its reason that you say so?”
otɔ-ɽe n-iɽ̃ã naɽu‿ɛe eɽ-ɔna xĩ
[ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “the reason of
it that they did it, is this”: is
why they did it; cf. otɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].
otu [ ˥ ˩ ] a tree, Cleistopholis
partens.
otu [ ˩ ˩ ] (1) age-group, generation;
v. eʋ̃i [ ˩ \ ], iɽoɣae [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ɛɣele
[ ˥ ˩ ˩ ], ediɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ]. (2) everybody
who is about three years older
or younger than any individual,
is considered as being of his otu,
bodily strength being the decid-
ing factor; this not institution-
alized idea of otu prevails in
apportioning communal tasks to
groups of men, in selecting
partners for wrestling matches,
etc. (3) working-gang, v. olotu
[ ˥ \ ˩ ]; cf. Ibo, Jekri otu [ ˩ ˩ ].
otua [ ˥ \ ] a small tree, Baphia
nitida; used in purification cere-
monies; seven leaves of it pinned
together are also used as sub-
stitute of one’s Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] shrine
on travels.
