Lexicon · 55 entries

B

-ba +1v

A. be many, plenty, much, abundant, numerous; increase in number; multiply B. grow rich, wealthy B. be rich, wealthy: Fâ bàlụ̀ ụ̀ba They are rich B. wealth; riches (cf. àkụ̀)

-ba aba be many

-bachi be very plentiful:

(cid:31) Ụmụ̀ ya bàchì ụnò His offspring fill the house (said of a man with many children)

-ba ọ̀gàlànyà grow rich; become wealthy: Ndụ̀beezè àbago ọ̀gàlànyà Ndụbeeze has grown rich

-ba ọnya develop into sore or ulcer (of fresh wound)

-barị be wealthy: Ọ bārịgo He has become wealthy

-ba ụ̀ba A. be many; multiply; increase: Ụmụ̀ ya bàlụ̀ ụ̀ba He has many children

-bawanye increase: Ànyị àbawanyego We have increased (e.g. of family, society)

ụ̀ba A. plentifulness; increase

-ba +2v

shout at; rebuke; chide; scold

-ba m̀ba scold, etc.: Ọ bààlị̀ yà m̀ba He scolded him

-ba3v

peel (with knife) Ọ nà-àba jī He is peeling yams

-bachapụ̀ peel completely

-ba4v

break (under pressure); burst (as of weak clay pot with water in it being broken by pressure of the water; of fufu balls breaking in the pot during boiling): Ìtè afụ̀ akārọ aka, ọ gà-àba mà ị tanye mmīli n’imē ya That pot is not strong; it will break if you pour water into it

ọ̀bụba breaking

-ba/-be1ext. suff.1

be (doing something); begin and continue: Lụ̀ba ọlụ̄ Be working Ị̀ chọ̀ kà m bebe akwā? Do you want me to be crying?

-ba/-be2ext. suff.1

at; on; against

-dàbe lean against: Osisi ànyị gbūlu dàbèèlụ̀ n’ọjị̀ The tree we cut down is being supported by the iroko

-dọba put on, at: Dọ̀ba mmīli afụ̀ n’ànị̀ Put that water on the floor

-gbabe lean against

-kwụba place against

-ba/-be3ext. suff.2

causative

-gbabebe make something lean against something (cf. –gbabe lean against)

-yibe put clothes on someone (cf. –yi 1. wear clothes)

-ba/-be4ext. suff

away from

-chùbe go away to fetch

-gaba, -jebe go away

-bà-1v

enter: B. be about to enter

bàa go in

ọ̀bụ̀bà entrance, entry; initiation

-bà èlèlè be useful; profit; benefit: Ọlụ à abàrọ̀ èlèlè This work is not useful (cf. –bà n’ife, -bà ulù)

-bàkọ A. enter together

-bàlụ be profitable to (someone); be source of gain to: Ọ bàgolụ ị̄ You have profited from it

-bàmì enter deeply into

-bà n’anya intoxicate: Mmanya à bà m̀ n’anya This wine intoxicates me

-bà n’ife be useful; profit; benefit (cf. –bà èlèlè, -bà ulù)

-bà n’ime àwọ̀lọ̀ enter into mask; wear mask (like a masquerade)

-bànye join; enter; go in

ụzọ̀ mbànye crossroads; street corner

-bànyelụ okwu join, intervene, in a discussion

-bà ọlà be stale (of pounded food)

-bàta enter; come in

-bà ulù be useful; profit; benefit (cf. –bà n’ife, -bà èlèlè)

èzi ìbà court of a native house

-bà-2v

soak

-bàba soak (corn, clothes, etc.)

-bànye soak in

-bànye akpụ soak cassava

-bà +3v

-bà afà name; give a name (e.g. to new-born baby)

ọ̀bụ̀bà afà giving a name

-ba-chav

peel; pare (yam, cassava, etc., with knife) (cf. –be-cha)

bànyelụ about; concerning: Achọ̀ m̀ ịjụ̄ta ife bànyelụ yā I want to inquire something about him

basịkụ̀lụ̀n

bicycle (E., cf. igwè, ọ̀kpọlè, ànyị̀nyà igwè)

be1n

home; dwelling: Ọ nọ̀ nà be yā He is at home; he is in

be m̄ my house, home

ndi be household; people of the house; fellow-townsfolk

-be2v

cry out Ọ nà-èbe kà ewu He is crying like a goat

òbube crying

-be akwa cry

-be àlị̀lị̀ mourn; lament

-bekù appeal to; implore; cry to

-bekwàsị akwā cry to; plead to

-be ọnwụ ọ̄nwụ cry in death-agony

be3v

stop (on reaching sufficiency): Kà o be nọọ̀fụ!That is enough! Ò berọ̄ etu à It is more than this (lit. It does not stop at this size, or at this number): Ọ̀ bụ̀ etu à kà o bēlụ? Is it only this? Is this all?

-bè1v

cut; stop:

òbùbè ending; stopping

ụ̀wà ebè èbè everlasting; for ever and ever

Bèelụchī, personal name (‘Except God’)

Bèelụchukwu

bèelụ mà only if; unless (not): Agà m̀ àbịa bèelụ mà ị bịa I will come only if you will come: Bèelụ mà ị̀ mè ife à m amā abịa Unless you do this, I will not come

bèelụ sọ̀ except: M̀madụ̀ niīne bị̀àsị̀, bèelụ sọ̀ m All the people came except me

-bèji cut down

-bèka cut out; cut into

-bèkalụ cut part of (for)

-bèkanye cut part and give

-bèkapụ̀ cut off: O bēkàpụ̀lị̀ aka He cut off (someone’s) hand

-bèkapụ̀ta cut to pieces from

-bèkọ cut together

-bèlì cut into pieces

-bèlụ subtract; deduct

-bènata lessen; reduce: Bènatalụ m̄ egō Reduce the price for me: Àrụ nā-aya yā ebènatago His illness has abated; he is convalescing: Ejì m̀ aka nà ọ nà-ebènata yā I hope she is improving (in illness)

-bè nkenke cut short; shorten; abbreviate (story, speech, etc.)

-bè nni cut up food for eating

-bènye cut and give

-bènyelụ okwu join, intervene, in a discussion

-bè okwu settle a dispute

-bèpụ̀ cut off

-bè ugwù circumcise; (fig.) M̀manya èbègo ugwù The pot of wine is no longer full

ebè èbè endless

ndụ̀ ebè èbè everlasting life

m̀bè aka nnī handful of food (e.g. fufu)

-bè2v

perch, settle (of bird)

-bèdo perch on

-bègolu perch on top of: Nnụ̀nụ à bègòlù n’enu osisi This bird perched on top of the tree

-bèkwàsị alight; perch

-bè m̀bè catch by the leg (in wrestling)

ànụ̀nụ̀ ebè tree, supposed very poisonous, associated with ànụ̀nụ̀ (lit. ànụ̀nụ̀ never settles on it)

-be-chav

pare; peel (orange, yam, cassava): Ọ nà-èbecha òlòma He is peeling an orange (cf. –ba-cha)

beèdìn

bed (E., cf. àkwà)

beèlùtùn

belt (E.)

-bi1v

live; dwell: Na-èbi ọ̀fụma Goodbye (lit. keep living well) B. live for long

òbibi act of dwelling

ebe ōbibi habitation; dwelling place

-bichi occupy another’s house

-bidèbe live near

-bifè (okè) live too long (in a place)

-bi ichè live separately

-bika ụnọ̀ dwell in a house till it is old

-bikọ live together

mbikọ living together

-bimalụ live for a long time in one place and become accustomed to it

-bimì live far in

-bi n’ùdo live in peace, harmony

-binyelụ live with

-bisà live extending far over an area: Fâ bisà èbisà They live spread out over a wide area, wide apart

-bisọ̀ live alone

-bitè aka A. live far away

-bi2v

cut; slice

òbibi cutting

-bi abụbọ cut vegetables

-bì1v

press; print

òbìbì printing; pressing

-bì akwụkwọ print, type paper, book

-bìdà press down; reduce; compress

-bìdo press; press on: Bìdo akā n’obì ị Press your hand on your chest

-bìkwàsị aka lay hands upon

-bìkwàsị aka n’isi -bì ọmà confirm (of church confirmation) greet (by embracing (cf. –ti ọmà)

-bìpụ̀ta akwụkwọ -bìtụ aka publish a book take hold of; grasp; press with hand lightly (e.g. as when feeling the temperature of a person with hand)

-bì2v

A. cut B. terminate; bring to an end

òbìbì terminating; ending

-bì nkenke shorten (a speech)

-bì okwu settle a matter; resolve a quarrel

-bì-3v

borrow

-bìli borrow something (especially money)

-bìnye lend (especially money):

onye nā-ebìnye egō m̀bìbì money-lender borrowing

-gba m̀bìbì borrow; go about borrowing:

Ọ nà-àgba m̀bìbì egō He is borrowing money

-bì-chiv

stop; block; prevent

-bi-dov

begin

mbido beginning; starting

mbido arọ̀ beginning of the year: Ọ gà-àbịa na mbido arọ̀ She will come at the beginning of the year

abụ̀ mbido opening song

isi mbido beginning

-bì-gbọv

shout loudly; roar; bawl at: Bìgbọ nwatà afụ̄ nā-akpa āghala Shout at that child causing confusion

bikōint

please! I beg you!

bìlìbìlìn

cloudiness; dimness

bìlìbìli chī dawn(ing)

-bì-niv

get up

-bìni ọtọ stand up; rise up

mbìnite (n’ọnwụ) resurrection; rising (from the dead)

-bịav

come B. coming year(s)

ọ̀bịbịa coming; advent

Ọ̀bịbịaā Kraị̀st Advent

-bịachi anya come regularly

-bịachìgha come; return

bịadị(lị̀) by the way, ...

-bịakèta come nearer

-bịakwute come near to (a person)

-bịalu arrive at; reach

-bịa ǹso approach

-bịa(sò) n’àzụ come after

arọ̄ nā-abịa A. next year (cf. arọ̄ ọ̀zọ)

-sibịa come from; come (by way of)

-bị̀àv

squeeze; compress

ọ̀bị̀bị̀à squeezing; compressing

-bị̀àju fill (by squeezing in)

-bị̀àkọ cram; squeeze in; pack together

-bị̀ànye plunge, dip, poke, squeeze in

bị̀àlị̀ị̀n

softness; smoothness

-bo1v

put on; load on; help to raise to head

-bo anya stare at

-bo àpà leave scar or mark on

-bogbu overload

-bo ibu lift a load onto someone’s head

-bo iru stare at

-bokwàsị anya stare at

-bo +2v.:

-bo èbùbò, ebùbo accuse (wrongly): O bòlù mụ̀ èbùbo He accused me falsely

-bo3v

ext. suff. 1. (break) off (of something large and brittle and capable of being reduced to ashes or powder, e.g. wall, floor)

-gbabo break off: Okpòlò igwē dị̄ n’ime ụnọ̀ gà-àgbabo ajā The rod in the room will break off a piece of the wall

-tibo break off

-bọv

rake surface; clear; dig up

ọ̀bụbọ raking; digging;

-bọ ànị̀ scratch, paw the ground (of fowls, dogs)

-bọ ezi clear a path, roads, of weeds

-bọ ilo clear the village square

-bọkọ̀ta gather together, pile up

-bọni abọni dig up earth into beds for planting

-bọ ozu exhume a body

-bọsa spatter (e.g. with dust)

-bọsà scatter (esp. grain)

-bọsàsị scatter about

-bọ̀v

A. divide; cut up (animal carcase); break: Ị̀ bọ̀go chī? Good morning! B. :

-bọ̀kapụ̀ cut out

-bọ̀kasị̀ divide into pieces

-bọlì divide into small pieces

-bọ̀cha be inquisitive; dig out information

-bọ̀ ntọ̀ọọ̄ pull down the lower eyelids and widen the eyes as a form of mockery, to imply ‘I told you so!’ or ‘Just what I expected!’ (i.e. rejoicing over someone else’s misfortune)

-bọ̀2v

revenge; avenge: Bọ̀lụ ife o mèlụ̀ gị Take revenge for what he did to you

-bọ̀gwalụ take revenge: Abọ̀gwalụgo m̄ ife o mèlụ̀ m I have taken revenge for what he did to me

-bọ̀ mbọ̀ seek revenge with blood: Ndi à jèkọ̀ mbọ̀These people are going to seek blood revenge

-bọ̀ ọbọ̀ avenge; revenge

bọọ̀lụ̀n

ball (˂E.)

-kpa bọọ̀lụ̀ dribble a ball

-bu1v

carry, bear (something big or heavy) B. undertake B. know by heart C. be responsible B. bring out, display (e.g. dance)

òbubu carrying; bearing

-bu afọ imē be pregnant

-bu agha fight

-bu ajụ̀ cause dizziness

-bu amụma prophesy

-bu àpà bear scar or mark

-bu asị je ogbè gossip:

òbù àsị èje ogbè a gossip

-budà bring down; humble

-bufè carry over, across

-buga carry to; transport

-bugha(lị) postpone

-bughàlị carry badly

-bughalị anya be mad, dizzy, giddy

-bukwàsị place on

-bulu carry, bear (something big or heavy)

-bulu n’isi A. carry on head

-bu mmụọ̄ be a priest; look after deity

-buna carry home

-buni enū lift up; carry shoulder-high: Ogè ọ gbā-sịlị ọsọ fâ bùnì yà enū When he finished the race, he was carried shoulder-high

-buni ijè start on a journey

-bu n’isi A. be youthful, in one’s prime: O bù ume n’isi He is in the bloom of youth

-bu n’obì learn by heart

-bu ọnụ̄ fast

-bụpụ̀ carry away

-bupụ̀te A. carry out (object)

-buruka move; carry aside

-busà scatter (heavy objects)

-busàsị scatter about (heavy objects)

-busò agha war against

-bute bring

-butè aka carry to a great distance

-bute ọyà catch (a disease)

-bu ụkà make trouble

ajụ̀ (-bu) be dizzy

-bu +2v

-bu isi, -bu isì be first (to come)

-bu ụzọ̀ lead; precede; used after another verb, = before:

-dịbu exist before

-kwubulu say beforehand

-bu3infl. suff

(emphatic past) formerly; once (but not now): Ọ bụ̀bù onye nkuzi He was once a teacher Ị nà-àlabu mmānya? Have you been drinking wine before?: Ọ zụ̄tabugolu m̄ ewu He has bought a goat for me before

-bù +v

be large, stout

òbùbù stoutness

-bù ibù be stout, large, flourishing

-bù isi be horrible; be horrified

-bù ogbè be big

bùlòbùlon

balloon (E.)

bùusùn

cat (E. puss, cf. nwa m̄ba, nwa ōnogbò)

-bụ1v

be (used to identify two noun phrases with each other): Abụ̄ m onye isī I am the leader

ọ̀bụbụ becoming

-bụ èjìma be twins

-bụgodu isi be the head (first and foremost, before being anything else)

-bụgbàdo be altogether, entirely

-bụ isi be first, in the first place

-bụkọdo be both in; carry both in

bụlụzịdụ even if: Ọ gà-àsọ m̄ mà ọ bụlụ nà Ọ̀fộ mèlụ̀ ọ̀fụma na nnene akwụkwọ arọ̄ à ọ bụlụzịdụ onye ǹke īkpe āzụ It would please me if Ọfọ could pass this year’s examination, even if he is in the last place

-bụ ògbò be namesake, age-mate

-bụ onye ōsi ālị be a witness

ọ bụ̀ ezīe nà though; although (lit. It is true that...): Ọ bụ̀ ezīe nà mụ̂ bụ̀ nwatà mà enwèlụ̀ m̀ uchè Although young, I am sensible

ọ bụlụgodụ if; even if; though: Ọ bụlụgodụ nà fâ rìlì nnē agà m̀ ènwe ike ịkpāta nni gā- ezùlu fā Even if they are many I shall be able to provide food that will be sufficient for them

ọ bụlụzịa if it happens; if it later happens: Ọ bụlụzịa nà fâ kpọ̀ nwannē gị bịa, sòlu fā nàba If it happens that they come with your brother, follow them home Ọ bụ̀ màkà ǹke à therefore; hence (lit. It is because of this...)

ọ̀bụnà, ọ̀bụ̀nà any; every: Nye m̄ ife ọ̄bụnà Give me anything

ọ̀ bụnā, ọ̀ bụnāda, ọ̀ bụnādụ even if; even; if: Bikō nye m̄ nni ọ̀ bụnāda ǹkè oyī Please give me some food, even if it is cold

ọ̀ bụràba even; even if; although; be it: Bikō nye m̄ egō, ọ̀ bụràba afụ̀ Please give me some money, be it (i.e. even if it is) only a half-kobo

-bụ2v

eject; project

-bụ asọ spit

-bụ ọnụ̄ curse

-bụ ọnụ mmīli spit

-bụsa drizzle (of rain)

-bụ +3v

scramble

-bụ abụ scramble (for something)

-bụkọ get all by scrambling

-bụsịsị scramble madly (for something): Fâ bụ̀sị̀sị̀lị̀ àbụsịsị There was a great scramble for it

-bụta get by scrambling

-bụ ụ̀bụ scramble (for something)

-bụ̀1v

break (hard covering, shell) to get out contents (e.g. egg, ụkwà); hatch: Ọ̀kụkọ̀ mụ gà-abụ̄ akwa yā n’ọnwa ọ̀zọ My hen will hatch her eggs next month

ọ̀bụ̀bụ̀ hatching (of eggs)

-bụ̀ àkwa peck open shell (of hen helping chickens to hatch)

-bụ̀ ụmụ̀ peck open shell

-bụ̀ +2v

sing

-bụ̀ abụ̀ sing (a solo)

-bụ̀3v

uproot: Ọ nà-abụ̀ nkwụ̄ He is uprooting a palmtree

ọ̀bụ̀bụ̀ uprooting

-bụ̀ àbụ̀ root up (cassava and cocoyam)

-bụ̀nite uproot

-bụ̀ osisi uproot tree

bụ̀ụ̀n

quietness