an auxiliary (1) expressing that something has been done before, used with yi [ ˥ ] (same as ka [ ˥ ], v. also te [ ˥ ]);

ɔmaɽu‿en-uxuʋ̃u yi [ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he has made the medicine before;

aɽowa‿a w-iɽɛ̃ (wɛ [ / ]) mata ma‿a yi n-udogũ ʋ̃ɛ nwina [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] your master said he had told you before to come and work with me;

ɔma-nwina yi [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] he has worked before.

Apparently this auxiliary is always in the perfect.

(2) used in the negative perfect of any verb, with a high-tone pronoun, e.g. ɔmaɽu‿ɛe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ] he has not done it (v. ɔmaɽu‿ɛe yi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ \ ˥ ] “he has done it before”, and ɔmaɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ] “he pretends doing it”, v. ma 2 [ ˥ ]).

In combination with following he [ ˥ ], this ma [ ˥ ] is used to express that the action has not yet been done;

ɔmaheɽu‿ɛe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ] he has not yet done it.

to simulate;

to pretend to do something;

the verb is apparently used in the imperfect only and may be identical with ma 1;

ɔmanwina [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he pretends to work (but v. ɔmanwina [ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] under ma 1);

ɔmaɽu ʋ-ɔʋ̃a n-ɔxũɔʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “he is acting like a sick man”: he simulates illness;

ɔmaɽu ʋ-ɔʋ̃a n-ɔɽ̃-ɔ̃tɔ-ɽe (ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ / / ˩ ] “he is acting like a man who knows the bottom of it”: he pretends to know much about it.

m-ɛɽi [ ˩ ˥ ] sɛ [ ˥ ] to give a false statement;

to be a false witness.

The first part of this verbal group was stated to be ma [ ˥ ] “to pretend”;

cf. imawu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

imaɽu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

to fit;

to suit;

clothes, or a dance;

ukpɔ̃ n-ozo rhuaɛ̃-ɽɛ ma‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˥ ] the cloth which Ojo has put on to-day suits him (the ɽ is not nasalised);

iku n-uku ma‿a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˦ / ] “the dance you are dancing suits you”.

ma [ ˥ ] gue [ / ] to a grow around;

e.g. a white ant hill grown around some object, or a prey entirely covered by soldier-ants;

oxiã ma gu-ɛɽe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] the soldier-ants have covered it.

(The gu- is low here.)

(1) to make pots, or bricks;

iterat.: manɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] to make many pots or bricks.

(2) to bake “rice” (izɛ [ ˥ ˩ ]) cakes, in: m-izɛ [ ˥ ˩ ];

cf. ɔmaxe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], ɔmizɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

short form of the personal pronoun, 1st pers. pl.;

used in front of the verb;

cf. ima [ ˥ ˩ ].

to show;

ma [ / ] ebe [ ˩ ˥ ] to teach;

ɔma ʋ̃-ebe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is teaching me (book);

cf. ɔmaʋ̃aeʋ̃i [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ta [ ˥ ] ma [ / ], xa [ ˥ ] ma [ / ], ya [ ˥ ] ma [ / ], rhie [ / ], mu 1 [ ˥ ].

to be good;

ɔma [ ˩ / ] all right;

ɔma n-iz-ɔɽ-obɔ [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] it is better (lit. good) that I should leave it (instead of ma, ɔkeɽe [ ˩ / ˩ ] may be used).

Names: ɔɣ-ũʋ̃ɛ ma ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “my own is good for me” (given when a child is not very nice, but the mother is content with it);

agbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ] (may be omitted) n-iye ma [ ˩ ˥ / ] “where I am is good”: I am content with my lot (a woman’s name).

to conquer, knock down in a wrestling match, general fighting, etc., but also in a lawsuit;

v. osuɽu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) to stick together;

ebe n-igbe y-ɛʋɛe na mama ku gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the leaves with which I covered this kola (gbe, to pick) are sticking together.

(2) to press;

to massage;

fi‿ukpɔ̃ y-am-erhɛ̃ na n-uya mama ʋ̃-egbe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “dip a cloth into this hot water so that you may take it (and) press (i.e. massage) my body”;

cf. muma [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. rilo [ ˩ ˥ ], si [ ˥ ] mama [ ˩ ˥ ].

to commit suicide;

ɔteɽameɣe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he was about to commit suicide;

v. zɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

cf. mɔ 1 [ ˥ ].

contracted form of the verb na 1 [ ˥ ] “to give” with pronominal object of the 1st pers. sgl. ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ];

cf. na 1 [ ˥ ].

to make a click (with long suction) as a sign of contempt for somebody;

ɣɛmɛ da ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] “don’t make clicks at me!” (also ɣɛ [ \ ]; da is rather long).

Clicks are also used as an expression of grief, hence cf. omɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ].

v. lɛu [ ˩ ].

to press;

to squeeze;

mi‿ukpɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to wring clothes.

to be difficult;

inwina na miaʋ̃ɛ ʋ̃ɛ gbe [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˥ ] this work is very difficult for me.

(1) to see.

(2) to have.

miɛ [ ˥ ] mu [ ˥ ] to find.

miɛ [ ˥ ] zɛ [ ˥ ] to pay the membership fee of a society, i.e. in money, or, in the case of the Ekpo [ ˩ ˩ ] society (and others?), in yam.

(If everyone has brought a yam, a woman is chosen to prepare fufu, and a feast is held.) um-inya n-ani nwuɛ zɛ yi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ / / ˥ ] have you got the yam which is your share (“allotted for you to pay”, v. ni 3 [ ˥ ]) to pay?

ɛ̃, imiɛ zɛ [ ˧ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “yes, I have got (it) to pay”, i.e. I have it here and can pay it.

mi-aɽo [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to prophesy.

mi-egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to meet;

mami-egbe n-odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] we met yesterday, v. ʋa [ / ].

mi-ehe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to get a chance (used in the perf.);

ɔmi-ehe nalɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ / ] he had a chance to escape;

also mi-eke [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

mi-uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] to be saved (from: ʋ-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ]);

cf. miɛ [ / ].

to obtain something from somebody;

miɛ [ / ] fã [ ˥ ] to acquit;

to redeem;

ɔmi-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ fã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] he redeemed him.

mi-ãrale [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] to meddle;

to interfere (v. tafia [ ˩ \ ]);

ɔmi-ãrale y-ɔʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he always interferes in my affairs.

mi-eɣo [ ˩ ˩ / ] gi‿ihɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ \ ] to give food to a god (rhie [ / ] is also used).

mi-ɔ̃ʋ̃-ãʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] “to see somebody’s wife”: to commit adultery;

v. miɛ [ ˥ ].

(1) to be sweet (like sugar);

cf. miɛmiɛmiɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

(2) to suck (sweets, e.g. toffee).

sweet;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ].

to echo;

ɔm-igbo xiã [ ˩ / / ˥ ] it is echoing along.

to dream;

ɔt-imina n-ɔminaɛ ma ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] he told me the dream he had dreamt;

cf. miɛ [ ˥ ] (?);

imina [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

to be slippery;

ɔmiɔɣɔɛ̃ ʋ-ima la enwa [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ / ˥ ˩ \ ] it was slippery when we passed (at that time);

ɔmiɔɣɔ̃ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “it slipped me” (viz. the ground): I skidded;

ɔmiɔɣɔ̃ ʋ̃-obɔ ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] it slipped out of my hand;

cf. miɔɣɔɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

smooth and slippery;

like e.g. varnished wood;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. miɔ̃ɣɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ], alimiɔ̃ɣɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ];

v. kpɛɣɛɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

describes a very lazy way of walking;

used with the verb xiã [ ˥ ];

cf. mitãmitã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

too small for one’s age;

poor-looking (in the metaphorical sense);

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

cf. mitaã [ ˩ ˩ ].

cf. ma 4 [ ˥ ].

no.

(with a preceding glottal stop; very low tone) describes the cry of a bigmonkey (name?);

used with the verb tu [ ˥ ].

cf mu 1 [ ˥ ].

nice, beautiful;

used with the verb ye [ ˥ ];

owa na ye mosee [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] this house is very nice.

mosemose [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] is also used, A. would accept mosemose only;

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ].

in m-eto [ ˩ ˥ ] to plait one’s hair;

ɔm-eto [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] she plaited her hair;

cf. ɔmeto [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

to bear fruit, of plants.

(1) to lend;

ɔrh-iɣo na mɔmɔ [ ˩ / ˥ / ˩ ˩ ] he lends money;

ɔmɔmɔ ʋ̃-ĩɣo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] he lent me money.

(2) to borrow;

imɔm-ũkpɔ̃ ʋ-obɔ-ɽe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] I borrowed a cloth from him, n-irhie ɣari-uɣe [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “to take (it) to go to a dance”;

v. iɣo [ ˥ ˥ ].

cf. mu 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) to take up;

to carry;

v. tɔ̃ [ ˥ ] mu [ ˥ ];

ɔmu ihɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is carrying a load;

imu‿ɛ̃ ʋ-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] I carried it in my hand;

imu‿ɛ̃ ʋoʋo [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] I lifted him on my back (of babies; iy-iyeke mu‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ] I carried him on my back, of somebody who is ill, or e.g. when fording a river);

imu‿ɛ̃ y-uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] I carried it on my head.

(2) to snatch;

to catch;

imu‿ɛ̃ ʋ-eɽo [ ˧ ˥ ˨ ˨ ˦ ] I caught you in your trick (“caught him”: mu‿ɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ]);

imu‿ɛ̃ɽ-igbĩna [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] I snatched (drew) him away from the fight (the ɽ is not nasalised);

cf. Yor. mu [ ˥ ].

(3) to have an attack of;

the name of the disease as subject;

v. ɔwa [ ˥ ˥ ], okĩ [ ˥ ˩ ].

(4) to be possessed of a certain turn of mind;

the emotion being the subject;

v. exue [ ˩ ˩ ], ohã [ ˩ ˥ ], egbe [ ˩ ˥ ];

but also v. mu‿ohã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ].

mu combined with verbs: mu [ ˥ ] de [ / ] to bring something to somebody (v. mu [ ˥ ] re [ ˥ ]);

ɔmu‿ɛ̃ de [ ˩ ˩ / / ] he is bringing it him.

mu [ ˥ ] dede [ ˩ ˥ ] to embrace;

ɔmu ʋ̃ɛ dede [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is embracing me.

mu [ ˥ ] fua [ ˥ ] to throw away (but for liquids and grains v. mu [ ˥ ] kua [ ˥ ]);

mu ɛdĩ‿ebo ni fua-ɣ-ɛma [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ / / / ‿ ˩ ] throw that pineapple away;

it is not good!

mu [ ˥ ] gbe [ / ] yi [ ˥ ] to put something across something else;

ɔmu‿ɛ̃ gbee y-ɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ \ ] he put it across it.

mu [ ˥ ] hɛ̃ [ / ] to begin;

to start;

mu‿inwina ni hɛ̃‿itere [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / / / ˥ ˩ ˥ ] start that work before I come!

mu [ ˥ ] hĩ [ \ ] to take off, away;

mu eʋ̃iɽ-ebo ni hĩ eʋa re [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ] “take that plate (or, those plates) away from there!” (the iterat. form munɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] would not imply the plural “plates”, but taking them away one by one).

mu [ ˥ ] ke [ / ] to put a pot on the fire.

mu [ ˥ ] kua [ ˥ ] to throw, pour away (liquids and grains);

amɛ ni tuɣu, mu‿ɛ̃ kua [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ \ ˥ ˩ / ] that water is not clean (lit. “disturbed”), throw it away!

mu [ ˥ ] kpaɔ [ / ] to take away.

mu [ ˥ ] ma [ / ] to show;

imu‿ɛ̃ ma-ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ] I showed it to him (v. the next).

mu [ ˥ ] na [ ˥ ] to give;

imu‿ɛ̃ nɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ (3-1) ] I gave it him;

imu‿ɛ̃ nwɛ ɣe [ ˩ ˥ / / ˩ ] “I gave it you to look at”: I showed it to you.

Idiom: ɔmu‿eʋ̃i nɛ ɽe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ / ˩ ] lit. “he gave him something to eat”: he poisoned him;

v. ɽ̃uã [ / ] (but: ɔrhi-eʋaɽe nɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] he gave him something to eat);

mu [ ˥ ] nya [ / ] (a) to carry on (i.e. the head);

imu‿ɛ̃ nya uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] = imu‿ɛ̃ y-uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

(b) to put the blame on somebody;

ɔmu‿en-ɛʋ̃ɛ nya ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “he put the matter (i.e. the blame for the matter) on me”.

mu [ ˥ ] re [ ˥ ] to bring (v. mu [ ˥ ] de [ / ]; for the use of re 2 [ ˥ ] and de [ / ] v. the corresponding headings).

mu [ ˥ ] ɽo [ / ] “to take to think”: to mind;

to worry;

ɣɛmu‿ɛ̃ ɽo [ ˥ ˦ ˩ / ‿ ˩ ] don’t mind, don’t worry (= ɣɛzɛ y-ɔ [ ˥ ˩ \ ]).

mu [ ˥ ] ɽu [ ˥ ] to cheat;

ɔmu‿ɛ̃ ɽu gbe [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] he cheated him much.

mu [ ˥ ] xua‿efɛ̃ [ / ˥ ˩ ] to carry something on one’s hip, supporting the load with one hand.

mu [ ˥ ] xuɛ [ / ] na [ ˥ ] to give (a marriageable girl) in marriage without previous ugaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] or “dowry”.

mu [ ˥ ] xwi [ / ] to lock somebody up;

Ozo mu‿Odɛ xwi [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˧ / ] Ojo locked Odɛ up.

mu [ ˥ ] ze [ ˥ ] na [ ˥ ] to feed (“to give chop”) (invisible) spirits, i.e. witches, ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ], juju messengers (not jujus);

it is not a sacrifice with slaughtering, and if a chicken is given it has been killed before at home (v. wa [ / ] n-azɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] “to give food to witches” by way of slaughtering an animal on the spot).

mu followed by nouns: mu‿awɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to fast;

mu‿egbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to get, be, ready;

to dress;

ɔmu‿egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] he is ready.

m-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ] to be able, cf. s-ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˥ ];

ɔm-ɛtĩ ɽu‿ɛe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] he is able to do it.

mu idãdã [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ] to guess;

idãdã-ɽ-umu na [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] you are only guessing!

v. mu‿ĩro [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

mu igbĩna [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] to make peace;

to settle a fight.

mu‿ĩro [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to guess a riddle;

ɔmu‿ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ / ] “he has got it” (by guessing), v. also ta [ ˥ ].

mu‿ĩrhũrhũ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] to be, become mouldy, v. si 1 [ ˥ ].

mu [ ˥ ] ixo [ ˩ ˩ ] to let blood;

ɔmu ʋ̃-ĩxo n-owiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ˥ ] he let my blood this morning.

m-obɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] to do something very much, or, well;

ɔm-obɔ gua gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ] he knows well how to dance;

ɔm-obɔ r-igaɽi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he eats much Gari.

mu‿ohã [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to be terrible, frightening;

to terrify;

ɔmu ʋ̃-ohã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] it makes me afraid.

m-ohioɽo [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] to be desolate, of a house.

mu [ ˥ ] ohu (m-ohu) [ ˩ ˩ ] to be angry;

ɔm-ohu ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he is angry with me (not as strong as xu‿iwu [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ]).

m-ose [ ˩ ˥ ] to be beautiful, nice.

mu‿otɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to become serious (A. Biogr.) mu‿ɔ̃kpɛtu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] to be unfortunate in something.

mu‿ɔ̃tɔ̃ (m-ɔtɔ̃) [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] to be rusty;

ɔpia na mu‿ɔ̃tɔ̃ [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] this matchet is rusty.

m-ugbo [ ˥ ˥ ] to do farm work (as one’s business: “to be a farmer”).

m-uri ([ ˥ ˦ ] pf.) to stop temporarily in doing something (of growing, bearing children, or work);

uhuʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ m-uri [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ] his growth (lit. “head”) has stopped (for some time);

ɛʋ̃-ɔ̃m-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ m-uri [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “her child-bearing (ɛʋ̃-ɔ̃mɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “matter of child”) has stopped (for some time)”, v. kpɛ‿eri [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

mu in combination with noun and verb: mu‿aɽo da [ ˩ ˩ / / ] “to take (carry) eye towards”: to face;

iɽ̃ã mu‿aɽo da-ɽe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ / / ˩ ] they are facing him.

mu ɛbɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] gbe [ ˥ ] to swear juju on somebody by going actually to the shrine and solemnly swearing by the god, v. t-ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ], ti-ɛbɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] which only imply calling the god’s name as a curse on somebody, and also any minor kind of curse in which no god is mentioned;

ɔmu‿ɛbɔ gb-ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ] he swore juju on him.

mu‿ɛtĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] nya [ / ] to trust in somebody;

uwɛ‿imu‿ɛtĩ nya ʋ-i-aɣa-ɽu‿ɛ‿ugbugbɛ hia [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “it is you I am trusting in whenever I am doing it (at all times)”.

mu‿idobo yi [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ˥ ] egbe [ ˩ ˥ ] “to put obstacle to (one’s) body”: to hinder;

to put something in one’s way (v. gbe [ / ] odɛ [ ˩ ˥ ]).

m-unu y-egbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “to take mouth to one’s body”: (a) to be quiet (used as a command only): m-un-uɛ y-egbe [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] shut up!

(b) (followed by gbe [ ˥ ]): to announce oneself as the Ɔba’s wife;

any woman may declare herself to be the Ɔba’s wife if she does not agree with her husband, and from that time on he must leave her alone.

The Ɔba may, however, have her decision revoked by the Osodĩ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] if he does not want to marry the woman, or if he has sympathy with her husband;

ɔm-unu y-egb-ɛɽe gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] she proclaimed herself to be the Ɔba’s wife.

m-use [ ˩ ˥ ] gie [ ˥ ] to give somebody agricultural help;

also: y-use [ ˩ ˥ ] gie [ ˥ ] (ya [ ˥ ]);

im-use gi-ɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ] I helped him with use [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) to be sharp;

abɛ na mu [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] this knife is sharp;

cf. Yor. mu [ ˥ ].

(2) to be sour, of soup which has been standing for some time;

unwɔʋ̃ɛ na mu [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ \ ] this soup is sour.

to be dark;

only used with ɛdɛ [ ˩ ˥ ] “day”;

ɛdɛ mu [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] it (lit. “the day”) is dark;

v. so 2 [ ˥ ].

in mu [ ˥ ] dia [ ˥ ] to stand;

to stop.

Idiom.: iy-ow-ɔkpa mu dia [ ˩ ˥ / ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “I stand on one leg”: I have not yet reached a decision (in a palaver, or in any problem).

mu [ ˥ ] dia [ ˥ ] na [ ˥ ] to stand bail for somebody;

mu dia mɛ‿itey-owa re [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “stand bail for me until I go home and return”, i.e. until I have returned;

ɔʋ̃a n-imu dia na lɛ fua [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ / / ] the man for whom I stood bail has run away (which is said to happen often).

mu [ ˥ ] dia [ ˥ ] xɛ [ / ] to wait for somebody;

mu dia xɛ ʋ̃ɛ-ɣ-ide [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ] “wait for me for I am coming”!

Redupl. in: imu dia mu dia [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ] I waited and waited.

in mua [ / ] ɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] to disobey;

to argue;

ɣɛgũ ʋ̃ɛ mua‿ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “don’t argue (the) matter with me”: don’t disobey me!

ɔmua ʋ̃-ɛ̃ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ / ˦ ˩ ] “he argued my word”: he disobeyed me (also mua [ ˥ ]).

to multiply;

inya na mua gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˦ ] “this yam has multiplied”;

not of the harvest, but of an amount or piece of yam which has yielded more fufu than expected (also mua [ ˥ ]);

mua is also used of money that multiplies by trading.

a bird, rather big, similar to idu [ ˥ ˩ ] (a dove);

cries at night, and in the evening and morning.

Its cry, believed to be caused by worm-bite, is interpreted as “(I am) ready for Benin”, i.e. a cry to affirm its willingness to go and serve the Ɔba, while, on the other hand, the worms that in Bini belief cause it to cry are thought to be a punishment for 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 [ ˩ / / ].

faint;

faintly (of a light).

cf, mu 1.

(or: mu [ ˥ ] ma [ ˥ ] ?) to be pressed together, e.g. cigarettes in a case, or butter melted in a lump;

cf. mama [ ˩ ˥ ].