an element of word-formation used in reduplications;

it conveys a generalising idea, e.g. k-exɔek-exɔe, exɔek-exɔe [ ˥ / ˥ ˩ ] “with all one’s mind” (Akugbe) from exɔe [ ˥ ˩ ] “mind”;

k-ɔʋ̃aik-ɔʋ̃a [ ˥ / ˥ ˩ ] and [ ˩ / ˩ \ ] “everybody” from ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ] “man”;

cf. k-ugbaik-ɛɣɛ [ ˥ / ˥ ˩ ], and Yoruba formations like ɛnikɛni [ ˧ ˧ ˥ ˧ ].

to confess an evil deed, especially witchcraft and similar harmful practices;

oxuo na ka [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] this woman is confessing to a misdeed (but for adultery v. bũ [ / ]).

to dry (intrans.);

erhã na ɣaka akeyae nwina [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] this wood shall dry before starting to work with it;

erhã na kae [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] this wood is dry;

cf. kaka 1 [ ˩ ˥ ];

kae 3 [ / ].

to buy (not used of oil, only of beverages);

yak-anyɔ n-ɔrhiɛ̃rhiɛ̃ re (or gũ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]) [ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] go and buy sweet (or, palatable) wine for me!

(lit. “(and) come”) (the syllable k-a is rather long).

to count;

ka-limoi ni n-uta ma ʋ̃-ĩlu n-ɔxĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “count those oranges so that you (can) tell me how many they are!” ka [ ˥ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] to repeat the formula of an oath;

ka y-ɔ ʋ-en-ɔɣav-ɔɛ̃ hɛ [ ˩ \ ˥ ˩ ˥ / / ] repeat (the formula) as he will (or, shall) swear it!

k-iɣo [ ˥ ˥ ] to count money;

to reckon;

to judge the worth of something;

cf. Yor. ka [ ˩ ].

to expel somebody out of the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ], for an offence.

bare;

ɣɛloʋiɛ y-otɔe kã [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] don’t sleep on the bare ground!

cf. kɛkã [ ˩ ˩ ].

an auxillary verb indicating that the subject is first in performing the action expressed by the main verb;

ɽ̃-ɔ̃ɽ-ɔʋ̃-okao n-ɔkanwina xɛ ima [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he was the first among us to finish the work: lit. “he is the first man who first worked waiting for us” (ɽ is not nasalised);

Ozo kaxiã nɛ [ ˩ ˥ / ˥ ˥ ] Ojo is going as the first.

formula of giving thanks to the host after a meal (used by men);

also used as a salute to somebody who has sneezed.

cf. ke 1 [ ˥ ].

in ka-unu [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “to purify the mouth”: i.e. to purify oneself after eating something that is taboo;

v. wua [ / ].

(1) to dress, or to smoothen, wood (by means of a matchet);

ka‿erhã na papaapa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] make this (piece of) wood flat!

(2) to cry, of a squirrel (similarity with the noise made by dressing wood?).

to dry;

ika-ukpɔ̃ na [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] l am drying (or, I dried) this cloth;

cf. kaka 1 [ ˩ ˥ ], ka 2 [ ˥ ].

(1) to build, e.g. a box, door, table, etc.;

mainly wooden things;

kã-ɛ̃kpɛtĩ na ma [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] “build this box for me”: make a box out of this (e.g. out of a packing case)!

(2) to nail;

y-ise kã-ɛ̃kpɛtĩ na mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] nail this box for me!

kãɛ̃ [ / ] mu erhã‿ugbugbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] to crucify (Bibl., not of sacrificial crucification).

(3) to cover (roof) with wood (?) and corrugated iron;

v. ekpamaku [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

cf. Yor. kã [ ˩ ].

(1) to fill, of pipe only, v. vɔ̃ [ / ];

kã-ũkoko na [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ] fill this pipe!

(2) to load, of gun;

kã-(o)sisi na mɛ [ / ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] load me this gun!

to touch: ɔy-obɔ kã-ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ] he (took hand) touched it;

cf. Yor. kã [ ˩ ].

in kã‿ũkɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] (a) to be a messenger to the Ɔba, collecting tribute in the country;

those messengers used to oppress the countryside a good deal, hence: (b) to annoy somebody by giving him (unwanted) advice in the form of reproaches;

to pester;

ɣɛɣikã ʋ̃-ũkɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] don’t pester me any more!

lean;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. gũkaã [ ˦ ˦ ];

for other degrees of leanness in a descending scale v. gũkaã, sĩgɛ̃sĩgɛ̃ [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ];

rhiamarhiama [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ];

sigosigo [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ];

simosimo [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

to dry;

to be dry (intrans.) used of leaves e.g., hence it is a plural form;

cf. ka 2 [ ˥ ].

to be hard;

ɛkpede n-ɔkakae [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] a cross-bow that is difficult to tend (occurs in a proverb).

tightly;

firmly (tied);

v. kĩ [ ˥ ].

describes a very profound darkness;

ebiebi so kãkaãkã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (3-1) ˥ ˥ ˥ ] it was very dark;

amɛ bi kãkaãkã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] the sky is very dark (lit. “the water”, i.e. the sky before a rain);

v. nununu [ ˦ ˦ ˦ ].

(to do) properly;

kakabɔ gb-ɛɽ-asã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] flog (whip) him properly!

cf ka 3 [ ˥ ].

to be small;

short;

oʋ-uɛ na kaʋ̃a gbe [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] this your child is too (or: very) small!

cf. ukaʋ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ \ ˥ ].

to be near;

this verb is used a good deal for indicating local relationship, e.g. k-adesɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to be near the middle;

ikpĩhiãbɔ n-ɔk-adesɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] the middle finger.

k-eʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ] “to be near here”;

n-ɔk-eʋ̃a [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] the nearest one.

k-od-aɽo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] to be in front;

ik-od-aɽo nɛ [ ˩ ˥ (3-1) ˩ \ ] I preceded him.

k-odɔ [ ˩ \ ] “to be near there”;

n-ɔk-odɔ [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] “which is near over there”, i.e. the furthermost of some objects.

k-otɔ [ ˥ ˩ ] to be nethermost.

k-uxuʋ̃u [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] to be uppermost;

ukpu na k-uxuʋ̃u n-eʋ̃iɽebo [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] this cup is on top of the plate;

v. dia 1 [ ˥ ].

an auxiliary that (1) links up events: “and then...”;

ɔkeɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] “and then he did it”;

it is often used with a following ɣi, but also with ɣa: ɔkeɣaɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ (4-1) ] “and he was doing it” (same as ɔkeɣiɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ]);

ɔkeɣiɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ] “and then he did it” (same as ɔkeɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ]), and with ʋe: ɔkeʋe-ɽu ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ] “and he did it”.

(2) with low tone: “before”, e.g. imi-ɔ̃-ũgbugbɛhia‿ɔkekpaɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˧ ˩ / ] I always see him before he leaves.

(1) to come from a certain place;

ɛdo ike de [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] “from Benin (it is that) I am coming”;

ɔk-uw-owa ɣade [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ / ] he is coming out of the house.

(2) “from”;

k-eʋ̃a ɣari-ɛdo ibiɽik-isɛ̃ nya‿iy-eva nɔ [ ˩ \ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˨ ] from here to Benin is 45 miles.

(3) “since”, in k-eʋa ɣaxiã [ ˩ \ ˥ ˥ ] since that time: lit. “from there going”.

(1) to be suitable;

it is used impersonally with a following subjunctive introduced by n- and conveys something like the idea of the English “ought to”;

ɔkeɽe n-aɽ̃ɛ̃-ʋ̃i n-ɔwiɽi [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “it is suitable that one should know the thing that is lost”: one ought to know what is lost.

(2) to put something in the right position (so that it does not fall);

to support;

k-axe ni ɛse [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] put this pot in a safe position!

k-ewu [ ˩ ˥ ] to put three stones up as a support for a cooking-pot;

to prepare a place for cooking;

imi-ɔɛ̃ ʋ-ɔkewu ʋ-ɛɣɛ n-inay-eʋa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ \ ] I saw him preparing a cookingplace (at the time) when I went there (na [ ˥ ] or [ \ ]);

cf. ikewu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

k-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] to rest, gũ ʋ̃ɛ k-ɛtĩ xerhe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] let me rest a little!

v. ko-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], kok-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

in ke [ / ] ikiã [ ˥ ˩ ] to be the result of something;

ɔk-ɛɽ-ikiã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] it results from it.

to push (in a crowd), to jostle: ɣɛkeke ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] don’t push me!

ɔkeke ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he pushed me;

v. rua [ / ], sua [ / ].

twenty-five: “remain five (to) thirty” (by young people isɛ̃ nya‿ugie [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ] “five above twenty” is used);

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

fifteen;

something like “remain five (to) twenty”;

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

a conjunction linking up nouns and pronouns: “and”;

Ozo keʋ-aʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ xiã sĩsĩʋ̃usĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] Ojo and his wife have gone since some time;

cf. ke [ ˥ ], ʋe [ / ], ʋe [ ˥ ].

cf. ke 1 [ ˥ ] and ke 3 [ ˥ ].

cf. ke 1 [ / ].

to remain;

to be left;

also kɛ [ / ] re [ ˥ ];

ema ni kɛ re [ ˩ / ˦ / ˦ ] that fufu is left over, remains, kɛ xerhe kɛ xerhe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] nearly;

lit. “remains little”, cf. Pidgin “lef small”.

ɛdɛ kɛɽe o [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ] an old greeting, used by old men and chiefs, its being obsolete making it the more distinguished: good night!

(“day is left”, viz. a little).

The numbers beginning with (e)k-, as e.g. (e)kesugie [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], (e)kigbesiyisɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], seem to be derived from sentences like “it remains (five) reach (sɛ [ ˥ ]) twenty”, “it remains ten reach a hundred”.

(1) to be quick;

ɔkɛ ɽuɛ gbe [ ˩ / / ˦ ] “it is too quick to (with) you”: you do it too quickly;

obɔ kɛɽe ʋ-inwina ni nɛ [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˦ (3-1) ] “has the hand been quick in that work already?”: is that work already finished?

(short: obɔ kɛ nɛ ɽa [ ˩ ˥ / (4-1) ˩ ]).

This phrase is used when asking in the presence of strangers whether food has already been prepared;

a more direct reference to food would be impolite.

(2) it is used in a causative sense, meaning something like “to hurry somebody”, in the following construction: ɔk-ɔɽe ɽu‿ɛe nɛ, makes-eʋa (sɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ / ˦ ˦ (4-1) ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] “it hurried him on to do it (already), and then we arrived there”: he had already done it when we arrived there (v. da [ ˥ ]; “to do something out of one’s own accord”).

(3) in the phrase ɔɣakɛe [ ˩ ˩ / ] (lit. “if there is time”?) it is used to qualify a statement about something happening in the future: “probably”, “perhaps”, v. ɣaa [ ˥ ];

ɔɣakɛe, ɔɣare axwɛ [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ] he will probably come to-morrow.

cf. kɔ [ ˥ ].

with;

together with;

eni kɛek-akɔ̃-ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ / ˩ ] the elephant together with its teeth (v. Uke keʋe arhuaɽo).

cf. kɔ [ ˥ ].

(1) bare;

y-owɛ kɛkã ɣa de [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] come with bare feet!

(2) (in) vain;

empty;

ineffective;

eʋ̃i kɛkã nɔ [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “it is a vain thing”;

said e.g. of somebody’s intrigues which the speaker thinks to be harmless and negligible;

ɔguã‿ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ kɛkã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ] he is talking empty words (“word of mouth”) i.e. he has no power to do anything.

(3) only;

ɔkpa kɛkã [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] one only;

cf. kã [ ˩ ].

to rot, e.g. meat, leaves, cloth, wood, or a corpse;

ɣa s-ukpɔ̃ na ɽae y-uw-amɛ ʋ-eʋ̃a, ɔɣakɛkɛ (sɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ‿ ˥ ] who left this cloth in the water here, it will rot!

ass;

occasionally brought by Hausa people.

cf. ke 1 [ / ].

(1) to look for fruit at the base of a tree;

gi‿ayakĩ otiɛ̃ [ ˩ / / ˥ ˥ ˥ ] let us go and look for otiɛ̃! (2) to inspect, e.g. traps.

to tie tightly;

ɔy-iri kĩ‿ɛ̃ kãkaãkã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] lit. “he took a rope and tied it tightly”;

v. tua 1 [ / ].

to dazzle;

cf. okĩ [ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) to coil;

of snakes, caterpillars, centipedes;

to curl up;

of the Scaly Anteater;

ɛnyɛ n-imiɛ-ɽɛ wa bɛɣe ʋ̃ɛ ɔkeki [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] “the snake which I saw to-day, it (suddenly: wa) saw me, it coiled”.

(2) to cower, in ki [ / ] re [ ˥ ];

ɔki re kpukpuukpu [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] he cowered;

feeling cold;

with crossed arms and hands resting on shoulders.

(3) to curl (of hair);

eto n-ɔkiɽi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] curls.

(4) to coagulate, e.g. of owo [ ˩ ˥ ]-soup or starch;

but for oil, rhuɛ [ / ] is used;

owo na kiɽi ɛsɛse [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] this owo soup has properly coagulated, i.e. it is still liquid;

iterat. kinɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) to open, e.g. door, window, padlock;

ɔki-urho [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he opened the door.

(2) to be open(?).

(3) to fold;

m-ɔki-ewa na la‿owa ʋ-amɛ de [ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ] “it was I who folded this mat (and took it) into the house when rain was coming”.

(4) in ki-ewua [ ˩ ˥ \ ] to wake the Ɔba by imitating a cock’s crow.

fifty: “remain ten reach sixty” (twenty times three);

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

a hundred and ten: “remain ten reach twenty times six”;

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

seventy: “remain ten reach eighty” (twenty times four);

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

ninety: “remain ten reach a hundred” (twenty times five);

cf. kɛ 1 [ / ].

cf. ka 4 [ ˥ ].

to give a present to a visitor, e.g. kola, or drinks;

Egh. Hist.

plaited;

woven, e.g. as a pattern, v. oba [ ˩ ˥ ];

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. ki [ / ].

a descriptive adverb accompanying the verb sã [ / ] “to jump”;

ɔsãɽ̃ɛ̃ kisi [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “he jumped hard” (occurs in a saying).

(1) to hit, strike;

kiʋ̃i‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “hit him”;

cry of encouragement to somebody who is fighting;

v. iluma [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɔɽɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

to be foolish, senseless;

ukiza [ ˥ ˩ \ ] are you mad?

v. bibi [ ˩ ˥ ], yɛyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ], fi [ ˥ ].

to fold, a pad (ukuoki [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ]);

cf. kuɔ [ / ].

(1) to gather, in ko‿ɛtĩ, ku‿ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to gather strength;

to stop doing something;

to leave off;

ku-ɛtĩ, ɣɛɣiɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ] stop, don’t do it any more!

i.e. a task he was ordered to perform before.

(2) to set a fractured bone by tying a small “bamboo” mat with medicines on it to the broken part;

Ozo bũ‿obɔ, gi-a mu‿ɛ̃ gi-ɔʋ̃a ʋ-uxegie n-ɔku‿ɛɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ˩ / ˥ \ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “Ojo has broken an arm, let us take him to somebody at Uxegie that he may set it”.

in ko‿uro [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

ko-ro [ / ˩ ] to wax (of the moon);

the ipf. is expressed by the auxiliary fɛko [ ˩ / ] only;

cf. uro [ ˩ ˩ ], hɔ‿uro [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

v. uki [ ˩ ˩ ], vɛwae [ ˥ \ ].

cf. ke 1 [ ˥ ].

describes the sound of beating fufu.

to gather;

si‿ɛ(e) koko [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] gather it (also [ ˥ \ ]);

w-iɽ̃ã si koko xɛ ʋ̃ɛ-ɣ-ide (iɣe [ ˥ ˩ ]) [ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] tell them to gather and wait for me for I am coming!

kok-erhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to make a fire;

kok-erhɛ̃ n-al-eʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] make a fire so that we can cook something!

kok-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “to gather strength”: to rest: kok-ɛtĩ xerhe n-uɣade [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ˧ / ] rest a while before you come;

lit. “that you will come” (uteɣade [ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] is also possible);

cf. ko 1 [ / ].

to look after;

to feed;

ukok-ɔmɔ na ɛs-eriɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] are you feeding this child properly (like that)?

cucumber;

Engl.

hard;

used with the verb ze [ ˥ ] or ye [ ˥ ], e.g. of bread, pounded yam, or cassava.

a very common greeting among the Binis;

koyɔ-ko [ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “good day (or, hullo!), friend”, v. oko [ ˩ ˥ ];

koyɔ-ga [ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “good day, sir”;

koyɔ-tɛ̃ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˧ ] “good day, cousin”;

v. ɔga [ ˩ ˥ ], ɔtɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ].

(1) to plant.

(2) to put up a god’s, ancestral, or guardian spirit’s shrine, in k-ɛbɔ [ ˥ ˩ ] “to construct one’s juju”;

k-ɛhi [ ˥ ˩ ] “to construct one’s Lord”, i.e. guardian spirit;

cf. ukɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

to be foolish;

ɔkɔɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ] he is foolish;

ɔkɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] he is at times foolish;

ɔkɔ̃ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] he is very (or, too) foolish;

stronger expressions are: ɔk-ũkɔ̃ʋ̃-oya gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ] “he is foolish with a disgraceful foolishness”;

and ɔk-ũkɔ̃ʋ̃-ɔ̃zuɔ gbe (v. ɔzuɔ [ ˩ ˩ ])+ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. ukɔ̃ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

to move about in search of food;

to browse (of cattle);

ɔtekɔ̃ yo kɔ̃ re ʋ-eʋ̃a sĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “it was moving to and fro here before”;

said e.g. of a fowl which the owner is missing.

to aim (in shooting);

ɔkɔ̃‿ũzo ni [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ] he is aiming at that antelope (uzo [ ˥ ˩ ]).

reproduces the sound made by the bell aza [ ˥ ˩ ];

v. goɣogoɣo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], gɛ̃ɣɛ̃ỹgɛ̃ɣɛ̃ỹ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

to pick fruit from a tree;

with hands or a pointed stick, adɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ];

kɔl-ogwi mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] pick me mangoes!

gi-ayakɔl-otiɛ̃ [ ˩ / / ˩ ˥ ˥ ] let us go and pick otiɛ̃!

to depreciate in value, or, become worthless through being kept in stock for too long a time;

inya n-idɛ xɔ-xuʋ̃u (xɛ‿uxuʋ̃u) iɣimu‿ɛ̃ s-ɛki (sɛ [ ˥ ]), ɔkeku [ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ] “the yams which I bought in wait for a famine, when I had carried them to the market, they were worthless”;

iterat. kulo [ ˩ ˥ ] not to be in order (but reparable);

osisi na kulo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] this gun is out of order;

cf. ɔku [ ˩ \ ];

v. ɽu [ ˥ ], rhia [ ˥ ] (to be entirely spoilt).

in ku‿obɔ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] yi [ ˥ ] to hurry a matter, a task;

iku‿obɔ y-ɛzɔ ni [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ / ] I am hurrying that lawsuit;

e.g. by getting hold of all the evidence beforehand;

iku‿obɔ y-ɔ nɛ, t-iɣami-otɔ-ɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˨ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] “I have hurried it, I will see its ground”;

i.e. I will see its conclusion.

(1) second part of a verbal combination meaning “to mix together”, v. mu [ ˥ ], fũɛ̃ [ ˥ ], ku gbe [ ˥ ˥ ].

(2) an aux-iliary verb indicating that the action expressed by the main verb is done by several people together;

iɽ̃ã ku gbe ɽu‿ɛe [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ] they are doing it together.

to construct something by means of ropes and strings, such as an akpata [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], ɛgiɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ], and a drum, but also the masquerading dress for Ekpo [ ˩ ˩ ] which is made out of strings and palm branches;

ɔkũ‿ãkpata [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] he built (or, is building) an akpata harp;

cf. kũ [ / ].

to make a feast (azɔ [ ˩ \ ]).

(1) to play.

(2) to dance a slow dance;

but v. gbe [ ˥ ] when linked with the name of a dance, and v. d-ugba [ ˥ ˩ ].

(3) to play;

in a sexual sense;

also used as a more decent expression for ho [ / ] “to have sexual intercourse”;

“with” is expressed by the preceding verb gu [ ˥ ].

ku‿iku‿exae [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “to play game of sand”: (a) to play with sand;

(b) to have sexual relations with a girl not yet at the age of puberty;

cf. iku [ ˩ ˩ ].

to parcel;

kũ ihɛ ni n-umu ɣade [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˥ / ] “parcel that load (so) that you may take it come” (i.e. bring it along).

kũ [ / ] n-ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ] to parcel for ɛrɛe: pregnant women give an offering to ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ] in order to ensure safe delivery, but also by other people when advised to do so (by Ogwɛga [ ˩ \ ˩ ]);

to this end they weave a thread-net over a calabash and put the calabash on a forked stick on an ada [ ˩ ˩ ], i.e. a cross-road.

kũ‿egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] mu [ ˥ ] “to parcel body (i.e. oneself) take”: to stand contrite, with downcast eyes and folded arms, as a wrongdoer when being blamed for his offences;

cf. ikũ [ ˩ ˩ ], ikũegbemu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ha [ / ] (to parcel with leaves).

in kũ [ / ] ɛxũ [ ˩ ˩ ] to wound;

to make infirm;

ɔkũ ʋ̃-ɛ̃xũ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] he wounded me (possibly kũ [ / ]).

Idiom: kũ‿erhã kũ‿iri [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “hitting tree hitting creeper”, i.e. meeting obstacles everywhere;

used e.g. of a man who is drunken and, therefore, hits every obstacle on his way;

v. yi [ ˥ ] ama [ ˥ ˩ ], de [ ˥ ] kũ [ / ].

second part of verbal combinations implying that the object (always a mass, such as a liquid, or grains) is thrown or poured away;

v. fua [ ˥ ], mu [ ˥ ], hihiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) to bite (of a snake);

cf. ukuãʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

(2) to injure oneself.

in kue [ ˥ ] y-ɔ [ \ ] to agree to (it);

ikue [ ˩ \ ] I agree;

ɔkue y-ɔʋ̃ɛ-ɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “he agreed to me it” (lit. “to my it”?): he granted it to me.

to trade on credit (used as second part of verbal combinations);

ɔxĩ-ɔɛ̃ kuɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he sold it on credit;

ɔd-ɔe kuɛ̃ [ ˩ (5-4) ˧ ] he bought it on credit;

cf. ɔdɛkuɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], ɔxiɛ̃kuɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], xiɛ̃ [ ˥ ], dɛ [ ˥ ].

cf. ko 1 [ / ].

at any time;

always;

same as ugbugbɛhia [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ];

v. Akugbe;

cf. igba [ ˥ ˩ ], ɛɣɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

to splash water on something or somebody;

it is also used as second part of verbal combinations such as kpolo [ ˩ ˥ ] kui [ / ] “to sweep (and throw the rubbish) on”;

bɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] kui [ / ] “to shake dust or chaff, or, to winnow on”: i.e. it implies that the object of the main action is thrown on or at somebody or something;

the vowel ɔ appears before the objective pronouns of the sing.;

ɣɛbɔʋ̃ɔ‿ɛ̃ ku-ɔʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ] don’t shake it (i.e. dust, or chaff in winnowing) on me!

ɔgiaɣae ku-erhã ku-iri [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ‿ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he cut, or tore, it all to pieces, i.e. throwing the pieces everywhere (v. kũ 2 [ / ]).

closed (of leaves);

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

(1) to collapse;

to faint.

(2) to fold (e.g. an umbrella);

kuɔ‿exarha ni [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / / ] fold that umbrella!

cf. ko [ ˥ ].

describes the noise of distant thunder (before a rainfall);

v. kpãɽ̃ãɽ̃ãɽ̃ãɽ̃ãɽ̃ã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

dull;

of a day when the sun is behind clouds all the time;

ɛdɛ n-ɛɽɛ ye kuɽɔɔ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] it is dull to-day.

cf. ke 1 [ ˥ ].

entirely worn out;

used with kwisɛ [ ˥ ˩ ].

an auxiliary verb indicating doubt in a question, possibility in other sentences;

can often be translated by “probably”, “really” or “at all”;

iɣakweɽu‿ɛe ɽa n-iɣɛɽu-ɛe (yi [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] shall I do it or not?

ʋen-umanaxwɛ̃niɛ y-ɔ na, uɣakweyo [ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˥ ] as you do not reply to it now, will you really go (or, will you go at all)?

ɔɣakwere [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] he will probably come.

(also kwɛkwɛ) (1) small;

of yams, always in a plural sense;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

(2) describes the walk of a very short man;

used with the verb xiã [ ˥ ].

in ɔkwisɛ kwaɽaɣada [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] he is entirely worn out.

(also kwɛ) to feather an arrow, in: kwɔ‿ifɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

to be very small;

cf. Yor. kekere [ ˥ ˧ ˥ ].