Lexicon · 42 entries

CH

-cha1v

A. be light- or reddish-coloured (as opposed to being dark) B. be(come) ripe, as shown by change of colour (of fruit, e.g. orange, banana; contrast -ka, ripen or mature by getting hard, as maize): Ọ nà-àcha ācha It is ripening (and changing colour)

-cha ànyàlị̀ be an albino

-cha èdo èdò be yellow in colour

-chagha turn pale

-chaghalị be light in colour; change colour; fade; be bloodless (of person)

-chaghalị anya change expression, colour of eyes (through sorrow, anger, surprise, etc.)

-chagha(lị) iru change colour, expression (cf. -chaghalị anya)

cha isi awọ̄ turn grey (of black hair turning grey)

-cha mmanụ be reddish orange (as oil)

m̄manụ

-cha ntụ n̄tụ be ash-grey in colour

-cha ọ̀bàla ọ̀bàlà -cha ọ̀cha be red, blood-red be fair in complexion

-cha ufie ūfie be red

-dị ọ̀cha be fair in complexion; be white, clean

ọcha white; light-coloured

ọ̀cha whiteness; light colour

-chakpọ be fully ripe

-chalọ̀ àchalọ̀ be fully ripe

-chatọ̀ be over-ripe

osè ọcha ripe (red) pepper

-cha2v

wash, scrub (hand, foot, hard object); clean off; be clean, pure (cf. -sa 1.)

ọ̀chịcha washing; scrubbing

-chacha clean (stronger than -cha)

-chachanye wash into

-chagbu ọnya heal a sore by washing

-chapụ̀ wash off

-wụcha (àrụ) wash, wash clean, cleanse (body)

-wụchapụ̀ (àrụ) wash (the body) thoroughly

-wụchapụ̀ta wash thoroughly

-cha3v

shine (as sun); glisten; glitter; blaze; beat down (as sun); scorch (of sun, fire, hot iron, etc.) (cf. -mụ̀ 2., but stronger)

ọ̀chịcha scorching; beating (of sun) Anwụ chàlụ̀ The sun shone

-chachị dazzle: Anwụ chàchị̀lị̀ m̀ anya The sun dazzled me

-chagbu cause to wither (by heat); scorch

-chani flare up; blaze; force away by heat

-chanwụ wither

-cha ọkụ be red-hot (of metal)

-cha4v

open up; reveal

-chalàpụ̀ anya open eyes wide; stare at; look sternly at

-chalụ àba lie flat on the back

-cha n’anwụ̄ be apparent, obvious, conspicuous (cf. -gba n’anwụ̄)

-cha-5ext. suff. 1

partial (doing of action); act (on relatively small object or small part of object): Tàchalụ nwantịntị Bite off a little bit.: Tìchalụ yā Slap him gently.: Ị̀ nà-ètichalụ m̄ àbụ m ọ̀yị̀ gị? Are you taking liberties with me by slapping me?: Nàchalụ yà akwụkwọ Snatch the book from her.: Bikō fụchàpụ m̄ ife dābà m̀ n’anya Please help me by blowing something out from my eye

-cha6ext. suff. 1

thoroughness

-kachasị surpass entirely (cf. -kasị surpass)

-nụcha hear well (cf. -nụ hear)

-ruchanye pour all into (cf. -runye pour into)

-chà1v

give place; give way

-chàlụ n’ụzọ̀ let one pass, give way to

-chà n’ụ̀sọ go aside; give way

-chà2v

cut (slang)

-gbubè, -bè more commonly used)

-chà akwà cut cloth (e.g. into yards)

-chà akwụkwọ cut paper

-chà elili cut rope

chalekū, chelekū,n

A. Black Tamarind (Dialium guineense Willd.), tree with

ichēku

small edible dark-brown fruits which grow in clusters B. charcoal made from it

ichēku oyị̀bo Indian Tamarind (Tamarindus indica Linn.)

chamn

dane-gun

-che1v

wait; watch for; watch over, protect, guard, shelter (in good sense); lie in wait for, ambush (in bad sense) B. give shade

òchiche waiting; preserving; protecting

-chebe, -chelụ guard; keep; preserve

-chebe ntị̀ listen

-chedo protect; shelter

nchedo defence; protection; sheltering

-chedo mmilī hold water

-che iru be opposite

-chekàta wait a long time

-chekwa(ba) look after; take care of

-chekwa iwe bear malice

-chekwata save (money)

nchekwata saving(s) (of money, etc)

-che ǹche keep watch; watch; keep vigil: Ọ nà-èche n̄che He keeps watch (over something); He keeps vigil.: A gà-èche yā nche It will be watched

-che ǹdò A. act as regent; administer during interregnum

-che ntị̀ listen

-cheràba wait a long time

ndi n̄che atụlụ̄ shepherds

òche ānwụ umbrella; sunshade

òche ǹdò anything giving shade (lit. giver of shade)

Ọ̀rànàǹche male name (lit. all at watch)

-che2v

present; offer

-che iru face

-chelịta face (of a person)

nchelịta facing; opposing

nchelịta irū opposite; facing

-che n’iru present; place before

-che ọjị give kola

òche ọ̀gụ̀ praying mantis (lit. the one offering fight)

-chèv

think; ponder; meditate

òchìchè thinking; pondering; meditating

-chè echìchè think; think deeply on an abstract problem; ponder; meditate

-chèfù forget

-chègbu worry; care; be anxious

-chèghalị reconsider; repent

nchèghalị repentance

-nchèkasị worry greatly; wear out oneself with thinking

nchèkasị anxiety; care; worry

-chèkwube trust

nchèkwube trust; confidence; trustworthiness; faithfulness

-chèta remember

nchèta memorial; remembrance

abụ̀ nchèta memorial song

ife nchèta memorial

-chè uchè think; wonder; doubt; be perplexed

-chèzọ forget

nchèzọ forgetfulness

chelekū

see chalekū

chi1n

A. (in general) animate, purposeful essence; procreative life- force B. (specifically) life-force or spiritual essence of an individual, which with he has made a pre-birth contract that determines his life-pattern: Chukwû kèlụ̀ gị, kèe chi nwē i God created you and created your personal chi: Òfu nnē nà-àmụ, mà òfu chī adị̄ ejì The same mother, yes; but not the same chi: Chi m̄, ekwēnaà! My chi, don’t let it happen (exclamation when danger threatens): Di nwaànyị̀ bụ̀ chi yā A woman’s husband is her personal chi (i.e. directs her life). A good chi is responsible for one’s success, and a bad chi for one’s failure: Akà m̀ gị̀ ka chī gị I am greater than you and your chi: Abụ̀ m̀ onye ajọ̄ chi I am a man of a bad chi B. (specifically and more particularly) life-essence of the universe; God:

ego chī money ritually received for one’s chi

ewu chī a goat given to one’s mother for her personal chi, which must never be killed: Ewu chī nwaànyị̀ bụ̀ òfu ụzọ̀ nnwā A woman’s chi-goat is as sacred as a child

òfu chī (fig.) having the same character or behaviour (of two people)

ọ̀gbụ chī fig-tree planted near dwelling to represent one’s chi

Chi ọma God the Good: mà Chi kweif God allows. Usually qualified as Chukwu (i.e. Chi Ukwu, Great God, see separate entry) or Chinēkè (i.e. Chi nā-ekè God who creates)

chi2n

day (i.e. day time)

chi abọ̀ọ day breaks

chi ànaā It is evening; the day declines

chi èfoo day breaks

chi èjimìe It is late evening, night

chi èjiri The day declines

chi ekùfoo It is getting light (of day)

chi emìe It is late evening or night

chi èrulu It is afternoon; the day draws in; the evening comes on (idiomatic)

chī jìrị̀lị̀ Darkness (night) is coming on: (fig.) Chī jìrị̀lị̀ n’òbòdò taàtà Someone very important died in town today

chi ōfifo, ōfufo period after daybreak as light grows stronger; daybreak

bìlìbìli chī dawn(ing) Ị̀ sago chī? Good morning

-fo chi last till dawn; last till the following morning Kà chi foo Good night

ùfochī dawn; dayspring; next day

-chi3v

make (king, minister); crown (cf. -chị); take title

-chi echi(chi) take or bestow a title

-chi ezè become, be installed Chief or King: Kà ànyị je ebe a nà-èchi ezè Let us go to the place where a Chief is being installed

-chi mmụọ̄ take a title of a god

-chi ọzọ̄ take a title take ọzọ̄ title (lit. take honour)

-chizù become fully qualified; take the highest (hierarchical) title: Ụkọ̀ Chukwu ǹke à èchizùgo This priest has become full qualified (i.e. is now a full priest)

-chi4v

A. show; present: Bikō chi ọkụ̄ Please show the light B. put drink to someone’s lips

-chi5v

block

-chi anya be well-woven, tight

-chi ntị̀ be deaf, obstinate, disobedient

-kpùchi cover

-chi +6v

report; make report of

-chi ikpe complain; make complaint

-chi +7v

A. tap (palm wine) B. cup; draw blood

-chi ochi cup; draw blood

òchi cupping, drawing blood with horn or horn-shaped calabash from any part of the body to relieve congestion, swelling, pain, etc.

-chi8ext. suff. 1

in place of

-kùchi take wife of dead relative

-tinyechi put in place of

-chì1

rub forcefully; scrub

òchìchì scrubbing

-chì akwà scrub cloth

-chìchapụ̀ wipe off; rule off

-chìchapụ̀ anya stare; glare

-chìchapụ̀ obì be broadminded; clear the mind of prejudice

-chìfịa àrụ abrade the skin

-chìtụlụ àrụ muzzle; rub against the body (of animals)

-chì-2

move

-chì àzụ return; turn back

-chìgha àzụ return

-chìghalị turn round and round; be undecided:

Ndi aghā ayị̄ Our troops retreated

chìghàlụ̀ àzụ

-chìpụ̀ start on a journey

-chì3

(slang):

-chì jọọ̀bụ̀ cheat; unlawfully use part of another’s time in attending to one’s needs (e.g. as a clerk who secretly fills in football coupons in the office); do petty job as a sideline

chiǹchìn

bedbug (Yoruba ìdun)

chinchìǹn

"chinchin"; i.e. a type of small biscuit, fried hard in small pieces

-chị1v

A. carry, take (many things) B. take off the hands; desist from B. pay divine homage to òkwè; hence village name (Isi òkwè) B. lead; be the leader (e.g. of a group) C. rule; govern; reign; direct B. male name

ọ̀chịchị taking, carrying (many things)

afọ ọ̄chịchị diarrhoea

-chị aka jī gather in yam tendrils

-chịdèbe bring near

-chịghalị uchè consider; ponder; meditate; put one’s mind to

-chị inyemè marry a plurality of wives

-chịkọ gather together

-chịkọlụ take the whole number for oneself

-chịkọta gather and give entirely; gather together and bring a whole number

-chịlị take to oneself

-chịni lift up (several things)

-chịni aka A. lift up hands

-chịnita aka hold up the hands

-chị òkwè A. divine with beads, nuts

-chị ọ̀mụ̀ have a strong current (of river)

-chịpụ̀ take away (several things)

-chịta bring (several things)

-chị ụmụ̀ look after children or young of animals

ọ̀chịchị rule; government; ruling:

Ọchịchị Nàị̀jirị̀à the Government of Nigeria

-chị (achị) rule; govern

-chịdebe cease reigning, ruling

-chịkọbà rule

ọ̀chị̀ agha A. military officer; commanding officer; military leader

ndi nā-achị āchị the rulers; members of the government

-chị +2v

be slippery

-chị achị be slippery: Ebe à nà-àchị āchị This place is slippery

-chị̀v

grunt; make sound with effort

ọ̀chị̀chị̀ grunt; sound made with effort

ọ̀chị̀chị̀ akwā hard sobbing

ọ̀chị̀chị n̄sị defecation with grunts: Onye ọyà afụ̀ nà-achị̄ n̄sị The sick man is defecating with grunts

-chị̀ (àchị̀) cry, chirp (as a cricket)

-chị̀ akwa cry very much; sob (harder than -kwa akwa)

-chị̀ ọchị̀ laugh hard or uproariously (no vowel suffix; less common than -mụ amụ)

chị̀m̀, chìm̀n

firm

chịmchị̀m̀, strong; upright; firm:

chịmchịm Ndi aghā anyị̄ nọ̀ chịmchị̀m̀ n’òbòdò afụ̀ Our troops remain in firm control of the city

-dị chị̀m̀ be firm:

Oche ǹke à dị̀ chị̀m̀ -kwụ chị̀m̀ This chair is very firm be firm; stand firm; be firmly established or secure in a place (of person)

-chòv

display articles for sale (also -chòbe)

-chọv

A. want; desire; seek; need: Ụgbọ m̄ chọ̀lụ̀ ndokwa My car needs repairs B. be in season, on heat (of animals): $ Ewu Ndụ̀ àchọgo; a gà-àkpụgalụ yā mkpi Ndụ’s goat is on heat; it will be taken to a he-goat

ọ̀chịchọ seeking; desire; wish

oke ọ̄chịchọ excessive desire; greed

-chọba seek

-chọ egō seek for money (by any means): Ọ nà-àchọ egō ri nnē He tries to make money by hook or by crook

-chọfè search more than necessary

-chọ mmā decorate; ornament

-chọ okwu provoke, seek a quarrel

-chọpụ̀ta, -chọọ̀ta -chọsà search out; find; discover seek everywhere

-chọta find

-chọ ùdo seek for peace

-chọ ụla go and sleep with friend or relative

-chu1v

be dull, half-done; fade; tarnish

-chu echu be dull, half-done (of colour of half-cooked food); fall short of expected standard (esp. in colour); be dull, morose, half- baked (of person); be degrading (of action)

-chu ichuchu be unripe

-chu ụla be wakeful, sleepless

-churu fade; tarnish: Ìyèli à èchurugo The earring has tarnished (stronger than èchugo)

-chu +2v

be greedy, lazy; gorge

-chu +3v

fetch (usu. water)

-chube go away to fetch

-chu iyī go to a spring or stream to draw water

-chu mmilī go to fetch water

-chu +4v

persevere

-chu uchu persevere; be industrious

Chukwu, Chukun

God (chi 1. + ukwu). In Nri belief, Chukwu has four major manifestations: Anyanwụ̄, the sun, which represents Chukwu as everywhere present, all-powerful, and the source of knowledge; Agbàlà, manifested in the fertility of the earth and its creatures; Chi, the ability of living beings to procreate; Òkìkè, the never-ending process of creation (Onwuejeogwu 1974:82) A. God has done well B. male name B. male name

Chukwu Ābịàmà Chukwu ēmeka God the Provider

Chukwu Òkìkè God the creator

Ikeē Chukwu A. the power of God

Ụkọ̀ Chukwu (Christian usage) minister; pastor; deacon; priest

-chụ1v

drive; pursue

ọ̀chụchụ driving; pursuing

-chụ ala wean

-chụ anụ chase animals

-chụchìgha chase, drive back

-chụdà drive down

-chụgo drive up

-chụkọ nta hunt together

-chụmì drive far away

-chụna(ta) drive home

-chụni stir up (birds, etc.)

-chụ nta hunt; go hunting

-chụ ọsọ drive; pursue

-chụpụ̀ drive away, out

-chụsà scatter: Ǹke à chụsàsị̀lị̀ egwū nā-atụ m̄ This dispels my fears

-chụ +2v.:

-chụ àjà offer joyless sacrifice to evil spirits (sometimes connected with 1., as the sacrifice is to drive out the spirits)

-chụ +3v.:

-chụ ajụ̀ be, feel giddy