in xĩ-ɔ̃maɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to become old;
cf. xĩ [ ˥ ], xiã [ / ], xiɛ̃ [ / ].
xiã [ ˥ ] (1) to walk (i.e. not with
a definite aim); to take a stroll.
(2) as second part of verbal
combinations it means that the
main action is stretching over a
certain time; in combination
with verbs of motion it can be
translated by “along”, e.g.
ahiaʋ̃ɛ tĩ xiã [ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˥ ] the bird is
flying along. This translation is
also used in the local form of
English when no verb of motion
is concerned, e.g. “they are
working along”: iɽ̃ã nwina xiã
[ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]. In combinations, it is
only used in the ipf. mood of
action. Redupl.: xiãxiã [ ˥ ˥ ] to
go about; v. rie [ / ], yo [ ˥ ].
xia [ / ] to hurt; owɛ xia-ɽe [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ]
(his) foot hurts him.
xiã [ / ] (1) to turn (into); x-ĩkɔ
[ / ˩ ] to obstruct somebody’s in-
tentions: ɣɛx-ĩkɔ lele ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ]
don’t follow me in order to
obstruct my affairs; used e.g. by
a girl who is followed by her
sister on a secret way to her
lover, cf. ikɔ [ ˥ ˩ ]. (2) to trans-
form into something; the trans-
formation is done by the help
of the ɛbɔ Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ]; such
“transformers” have no chil-
dren. It is said to be possible
to be transformed into any-
thing, but the most difficult
thing which is only achieved
by a few adepts is to transform
into a cow. At the death of a
“transformer” some magic is
expected to happen so that he
will know when he is going to
die. When he dies, a flash of
light is said to go up from his
