Lexicon · 49 entries

D

-da +1v

warm; heat up

-da n’ọkụ warm (soup, etc.)

-da ọkụ brand; cauterize

-dazè melt slowly

-da2v

press (cloth)

-dakọ press (cloth, to dry it)

-da +3v.:

-da anya shirk one’s duty: Ọ nà-àda anya ọlụ̄ He is shirking the work

-da ǹdamanya be lazy; malinger; loaf about

-dà1v

fall; befall; occur; happen to (of something tragic); suffer from; fail; set (of sun): Ọ̀gụ̀ dàlụ̀ A fight broke out: Akụ mmīli nà-adà Hailstones are falling

ọ̀dị̀dà fall; fall of a great or rich person; failure

ọ̀dị̀dà anyanwụ̄, West; sunset

ọ̀dị̀da chī

-dà àba fall on the back

-dà adà, ada fall; fall down (usually of persons): Ọ dàlụ̀ adà She fell down

-dà aka lay hands on

-dà àkàkpọ̀ be stunted (of person): Ọ dàlụ̀ àkàkpọ̀ He is stunted in growth

-dà àkwụkwụ̀ have epilepsy; be epileptic; have epileptic fits

-dàbà fall in with; correspond; be in agreement with

-dàbànye fall into; match; correspond

-dàbe support; rest back on

-dàbelụ lean upon

-dàbepụ̀ fall off from (of part)

-dàchasị lose all one’s resources; be liquidated (business); fail in all subjects (in exam) Ọlụ ānyị amā-adàchasị n̄cha Our business cannot fail completely

-dàchi fall across (so as to block)

-dàchìgha àzụ fall back sideways; rebound horizontally; backslide (e.g. as child’s progress): Àda mụ̄ nà-àdachìgha āzụ n’akwụkwọ My eldest daughter is falling behind at school

-dàdo lean against; fall upon: Nkwụ afụ̀ dàdòlụ̀ n’enu ụnọ̀That palmtree fell on top of the house

-dàfèga fall across something, e.g. stream

-dàfo clear and open up as a result of a fall (e.g. of tree)

-dàgbu fall heavily upon, so as to kill

ndàgbu a fall of something heavy so as to kill; fall occasioning death (usually of another object but can be of object falling)

ǹdàgbu ōnwe death (by falling)

-dàghalị toss about; be restless: Ogè ọ ŋụ̀sị̀lị̀ mmanya, ọ̀ na-ādàghalị When he had taken the palmwine, he started to fall about

-dà ibì have hydrocele

-dàji fall across and break: Ogbè ụkwà adàjigo m̄kpọ A fruit of ụkwà has broken the walking stick.: M̀kpọ igwè m dàjìlị̀ n’ụ̀tụtụ̀ My steel walking-stick fell and snapped in the morning

-dàjina have a hole, hollow, groove (of wall)

ndàjina hollow place, groove (in wall, etc.)

-dàkọlịta be in harmony with (lit. sound together or fall together)

ndàkọlịta harmony

-dàkọ ọnụ coincide; be in harmony

-dàkụlụ fall against

-dàkpò attack; fall upon (e.g. of house)

-dàkpọ̀ fall upon violently; pounce upon (of people fighting)

-dakpọ̀ àrụ feel ill

-dàkpọ fall into ruins; fall down flat

-dàkpu fall in: Nwoōkoyè adàkpugo n’ọnụ Nwookoye has fallen into a hole

-dàkpudo fall upon

-dàkwàsị fall on; befall: Ọ dàkwàsị̀lị̀ ya It fell on him, or it befell him (of fate, etc.)

-dàkwepụ̀ snap

-dàkwepụ̀ amụ̄ laugh loudly; burst out laughing

-dàlụ fall short of what was expected

-dàlụ aka take by the hand

-dà m̀bà be lazy; be exhausted, worn out, very tired

-dà m̀kpụ̀na have hernia

-dà n’aka take by the hand

-dànarị fall off; slip off; fall from

-dà ǹgwọlọ̄ be lame

-dà nra fine: Fâ gà-adā yā nra They will fine him (cf. –li nra)

-dà n’ụkwụ happen in one’s presence

-dà ǹzuzō hide oneself

-dànye give in; submit; fall into

-dà òbùlùbù fall upon one in a mass

ǹda òbùlùbù falling upon in a mass: Fâ bị̀àkwùtèlụ̀ yà nà ǹda òbùlùbù They came falling upon him in a mass

-dà ogbènyà be very poor

-dà ogbī be dumb

-dà ọ̀bọ̀ be idle (= -dị̀ ọ̀bọ̀)

-dà ọbụ̀ fall into pit trap

-dà ọkpụ āba fall on the back

-dà ọmà embrace

-dapụ̀ fall off (of whole, from a place) Akwụkwọ afụ̀ àdapụ̀goThat paper has fallen off (e.g. the table)

-dapụ̀ta happen; occur unexpectedly

ife ndapụ̀ta event; occurrence

-dàsịsị drop one by one: Akwụ nà-adàsịsị Palm-nuts keep on falling

-dà ụ̀bị̀àm̀ be poor, a pauper

-dàwa fall and break

-dàwụsa fall against; sprinkle; scatter upon (as rain) mmilī ǹdà arò (cid:31)the first rain of the year

ndàbebe support; stay; upholding: Ndàbebe ụnọ̄ à sìlì ike The supporting posts of this house are strong

-dà +2v.:

-dà ụ̀dà sound

-dà +3v.:

-dà ọnụ̄ be expensive

daan

day by day; daily: Ọ nà-èkwu ife à daa He says this all the time

kwà daa every day: Ànyị nà-ème yā kwà daa We do it daily:

ụbọ̀sị̀ daa every day; daily; day by day

-dà-jụv

be quiet: calm, peaceful

Ọ dàjụgo It is quiet:

Ọ dàjụ̀lụ̀ àdàjụ It is very quiet

ndàjụ calm; quiet; fricanaụ̀ity: Ndàjụ adụ̄rọ ebe à There is no quiet here

-dàjụ obì propitiate; appease; atone

dàalụint

thank you; a form of greeting

dàalụ nụ̀, a form of greeting (to more than one person in the same

dàalụkwọ nụ̀ place); I greet you all

dàalụ sọọ̀ thank you very much!

dàalụ zị form of greeting used by a person leaving a place to the person he is leaving; dàalụ zị nụ̀ such a greeting directed to more than one person

dàalụ ọlụ̄ salutation to those working

dandān

sugar-ant (cf. arụrụ ọcha)

-de1v

mark; write; press B. help to write a letter

òdide writing; pressing; marking

-de akwà iron clothes

-de akwụkwọ write letter

òde ākwụkwọ clerk; letter-writer

-debà write into

-dechapụ̀ erase; cancel

-dedo write upon

-defìè write incorrectly

-degalụ akwụkwọ, letà write (letter) to

-dekwu write more

-de letà write letter

-delụ akwụkwọ, A. write (letter) to

letà

-denye write in(to); enter by writing; include

-depụ̀ta write out; copy out: Depụ̀ta ǹke à Copy this out

ndepụ̀ta edition

-deta letà write letter to the speaker

-detọ̀ lampoon; write against; libel

-de ùlì decorate the body with ùlì

-de-2v

put; place B. take care of; keep; observe

-debe A. appoint; place

-debe ọnụ̄ duu be silent

-debe uchè think; imagine

-delụ duu stop talking; remain silent

-de n’ile taste; place on the tongue

-detụ ọnụ̄ taste

-de3v

sound; rumble

-de mmilī threaten rain (with thundering)

-demù murmur; mutter; growl; grumble

-derube rumble; sound around

-de4

see –gi-de

-dè1v

be soft (as ripe fruit); be soft and wet, soggy (as muddy ground, wet clothes); dissolve in water (cf. –di-dè)

-dè ǹdè be sickly, delicate

-dèsị mmilī drip (as of wet clothes)

-dè 2.:

-dè ǹdè disappear

-de-be, -do-beext. suff. 1

stop (cf. –be 3.)

-bedebe stop crying: O bedebego kà ọ̀ nà-èbelịsị? Has she stopped (weeping) or is she still weeping?

-jedebe come to a stop: Ebe à kà o jēdebelụ It was here that he stopped

-dè-be, -dò-beext.suff. 1

near(er)

-bịadèbè come nearer: Bịadèbè m̄ Come nearer to me

-jedèbè go, move nearer: Jedèbe ọkụ̄ Go nearer the fire

deèmeint

thank you!

Deìn

name of one of the founding fathers of one of the nine quarters of Onitsha; hence Ụmụ̀deì, a village in Onitsha founded by him

ụmụ̀deì freeborn children; children of a king or chief

din

husband B. convulsions (because the child suffering a convulsive attack behaves like a person who is wrestling with an unseen wrestler) B. eldest man, and therefore priest, in a patrilineage B. (in normal sense) go, return to husband or husband’s house

di ānyị such a one; so and so!; (used to address a man, or less often to refer to him, either where name is unknown or by wives referring to husband)

di jī farmer; one who successfully cultivates much ground

dikē strong or courageous person

di m̄gba A. wrestler

di m̀kpà strong (young) man, originally one who could cultivate a large number of yams (stored on m̀kpà)

di ntā hunter

nwa di ntā hunter’s attendant

di nwēnu owner; master

Dinwēnu ānyị, Our Lord; the Lord:

Dinwēnu Jesù bụ̀ Dinwēnu ānyịJesu is our Lord

di òchì palm wine tapper

di ọ̄kpa term of respectful address to men in general, esp. an elderly one; master

di ọ̀kpà cock

di ọkpala A. first-born son

-la di have sexual intercourse (of woman); be promiscuous, sexually loose (of woman)

-na be dī A. (of woman just married) be married; go, return to husband’s house

-nụ di marry (of a woman)

nwunyē di co-wife; ‘mate’

ọzọ̀ dim̄gba gorilla

-dìv

endure; be patient

-dìdo obì be patient

-dì èdì endure: Ị gà-edī yā èdìYou have to endure it

-dì ǹdìdì be patient

dibị̀àn

native doctor; a member of the professional corporate group of traditional medicine men and diviners

dibị̀à afā a native doctor who specializes in divination

dibị̄a àjà a dibị̀à who specializes in preparing the various sacrifices associated with the alụ̄sị and the m̀mụọ̄

dibị̀à ọgwụ̀ medicine man who specializes in medical treatment

nwa dibị̀à native doctor’s attendant; native doctor

-di-de

ext.suff. 1 continuously; persistently

-jedide keep going on

-kwudide continue speaking

-kwụdide continue standing

-dì-dèv

soak; soften: Achị̀chà ị bànyèlụ̀ nà m̀milī n’ụ̀tụtụ̀ èdìdègoThe biscuit you steeped in water in the morning has become soft B. yearn over; be affectionate (lit. soften heart)

-dìdè obì A. make to feel sick; cause nausea

(obì) –dìdè feel sick; feel nausea: Obì nà-èdidē m̄ I feel nausea

obì ndidè nausea (caused by indigestion)

-di-nàv

lie down; have sexual intercourse with; sleep with, a woman: A nà-èdinā x A (a man) sleeps with x (a woman)

-dinàji onu strain or crick the neck while sleeping: Edīnàjì m̀ onu I strained my neck while sleeping

-dinàkọ have sexual intercourse (lit. lie together)

-dinà mmakpù lie on the stomach

-dinà àba sleep on the back

-dinà nkọ lie on the side

àkwà edinà bed

-dịi.v

be (in a state of); have (a certain quality) B. taking one’s part, siding with:

ọ̀dịdị A. appearance; likeness; being; form; shape

Ọ dị̀ egwù It is tragic, wonderful, marvellous:

Ọ dị̀ ifelē It is shameful:

Ọ dị̀ n’ìwu It is illegal Ife à i mè ọ̀ dị̀ anyaā? This thing you did, how was it?

-dị ànị̀ be humble, low, of low estate, contemptible

-dịba begin to live

-dịbu exist before Ọ dị̀bù àdịbu It has been existing

ọ̀dị̀bù àdịbu something (e.g. habit, custom) that has been existing for a long time

-dịchili block

-dịdèbe be near: Ụnọ̀ nwoke afụ̀ dịdèbèlụ̀ ụnọ̀ ọgwụ̀The man’s house is near the hospital

-dị èbùbè be esteemed

-dị enū be out of reach

-dịfụ̀ exist; be well

-dị ichè be different

-dị ike be able

-dị imē be pregnant

-dị kà seem probable, as if; resemble; look like: Ọ dị̀ m̀ kà m fụ̀lụ̀ ya I imagined that I saw him Ọ dị̀ kà ọ̀ fụ̀lụ̀ mụ n’anya He seems to like me

-dị kà àgàsị be as if

-dịlị belong to

-dịlịlị remain; continue

-dị mkpà be necessary

-dị mmā be good; please

ịdị̄mmā goodness

-dị mmā n’anya be a pleasant sight

-dị n’aka be responsible

-dị n’anya desire; wish

-dị ndụ̀ live; be alive

-dị nkọ be sharp

-dị n’obì be dear to one; be in one’s heart

-dị n’òfu be in agreement, at one: Bị̀anụ̀ kà ànyị dị n’òfu Come and let us agree together

-dị nsọ be holy, separate

-dị ǹzuzō be secret

-dị nwaayọ̀ be meek, calm, quiet, humble: Ọ dị̀ nwaayọ̀ She is gentle

-dịnyelụ side with

-dị oke ọnụ̄ be dear, expensive

-dị òkìlìkili be round

-dị ọ̀bọ̀ be idle, lazy (= -dà ọ̀bọ̀)

-dị ọ̀cha be pure, clean

ịdị̄ọcha purity; cleanness

-dị ọ̀gọ̀ be grateful, polite, modest, well-behaved, courteous, nice- looking

-dị ọ̀kọ̀lọ̀kọlọ be round in shape

-dịrị get better; recover from illness

-dị uchu be industrious, diligent

-dị ụ̀fụ̀ be painful, distressing

-dị ụjọ̄ be cowardly; fear

-dị walala be narrow

-dịwanye mmā improve

àrụ ikē nà ọ̀dị̀mmā ọ dị̀ kà (good and) well-being probably; it looks as though, if

ọ̀dị̀nàànị̀ custom

-dị2

aux.v. (probably originates from –dị 1., in Onitsha used only in the negative; it marks the progressive or habitual negative verb forms: Chikē adị̄-àbịa (So) Chike is not coming/does not usually come: Nkịtā adị̄ àta ọjị̄ Dogs never eat kolanuts

adị̄ àma āma perhaps; maybe; in case (lit. one never knows)

dịnwọọ̀, dịọọ̀dem

this (emphatic): Amārọ m ife dịnwọọ̀ I do not know this thing

-do +1v

set up; make; place; arrange: Kà ànyị doo ife à èdoo Let us arrange this thing properly B. arrange; decorate

-do Agbàlà perform routine sacrifice to the god Agbàlà

-do ajā build a wall

aja ōdido wall

-do àjà place object(s) of sacrifice in a place

-do akanya make thatch

-do alụ̄sị erect a shrine

-do ànị̀ settle a country; establish place

-dogbu kill or spoil by placing

-dogha change; change place of; re-arrange; reverse; turn (something) round

-doghalị change place

-do iru face; turn face to incline towards

-do iyī place an object or objects, as charm or something obnoxious, on property in the belief that the charm will bring evil on a person who defies the charm and steals the property; protect an object by a fetish

-dokwa A. make peace; settle quarrel

-dolu ànị̀ put down

-dolu àrụ ànị̀ take things quietly

-doni set up; build up

-do nsọ consecrate

-dozi arrange; prepare; settle; repair

-dozi ànị̀ remove pollution from a community

-dozi okwu settle a case

-do2v

ext. suff. 1. against; fast (in, on) (implies continuity; cf. –do 1.)

-gàdo hold firm (with fingers or claws)

-gbabìdo hold up; waylay; intercept (lit. run to a halt against)

-kwụdo stand firm: Òtu ānyị àkwụdosigo ikē Our club is now on a firm basis

-mado stick to: Ọ̀ gịnị̄ màdò gị̀ n’àgbà? What is sticking to your jaw?

-nọ̀do sit on, against: Ị nọ̀dò m̀ n’ụkwụ You are sitting on my foot

-tado grip with teeth: Arụrụ̂ tàdò gị̀ na ntị̀ An ant has got its pincers into your ear

-dòv

be clear, settled, shady; settle, become clear (of liquids) B. get stout

-dò anya be clear: Ife à dò m̀ anya This thing is clear to me

-dò àrụ A. recuperate

-dò èdò be clear (of liquids)

-dò ǹdò be shady (of place)

doon

quiet; calm; in an orderly, quiet manner: Ebe à dị̀ doo It is quiet here

-dọ1v

draw; pull B. have a tug-of-war

ọ̀dịdọ pull(ing)

-dọ aka na ntị̀ advise; warn

-dọ akpịlị̄ long after

-dọbè break off (leaves or stalks of a plant)

-dọbì break off by pulling

-dọchìgha àzụ give a setback to; retard

ndọchìgha āzụ setback: Ǹke à bụ̀ ndọchị̀gha āzụ This is a setback

-dọdo hold fast

-dọ dọọ̀nịdọ̄, pull against one another; have a tug-of-war

dọọ̀lịdọ̄

-dọgọ̀ pull crooked or wrongly

-dọgbu strangle

-dọgha change position of something

ndọgha reverse; changing of position (of something by somebody)

-dọka be torn; tear

ndọka tearing; rending

-dọka akwụkwọ dismiss a case (lit. tear paper)

-dọka anụ tear, rend (flesh)

-dọkalị tear from and take

-dọkalì tear in pieces

-dọkasị tear to pieces; to torn to pieces

-dọkọ pull together

-dọkpụ drag; draw; pull along (e.g. goat with rope round its neck)

-dọkpụpụ̀ draw out; pluck out forcibly

-dọlì tear into pieces

ndọlì tearing into pieces

-dọlụ attract; convey

-dọ mbọ tear with nails

-dọ mmà ọdụ̄ saw a piece of timber by pulling (this is usually done by two people –one in a pit across which the timber is laid, and the other at ground-level)

-dọ n’agha take prisoner in war

ọ̀dịdọ n’agha captivity as result of war

-dọ ndọ A. persist; haggle; bargain

-dọ ǹdụ̀dọ̀ argue; draw out a discussion

òdọ ǹdùdọ̀ argumentative, difficult, disagreeable person; fretful, testy child

-dọnị̀ wrinkle; be wrinkled (used for a material which has been stretched beyond its elastic limit, and then relaxed)

ndọnị̀ wrinkle

-dọ nkì cut a face mark

-dọ ntị̀ warn; admonish; exhort (cf. –dọ aka na ntị̀)

-dọpụ̀ draw out

-dọpụ̀ta draw out; pull out; rescue

-dọsà pull apart or into pieces

-dọsò pull after

-dọtị be extended; extend

-dọtị ụta draw a bow (ready to shoot)

ndọtị elasticity

-dọwa rend, tear (of cloth, not flesh)

-dọ2v

stay; place

-dọba put down, set down

-dọlụ adọlụ remain; be left over; be stagnant (of water)

-dọlụ kìlìlì be round, spherical (as a ball)

-dọnọ̀, -dọ n’ànị̀ sit down

-dọnọ̀rube sit around

-dọnye lay in; put into

-dọ ọdụ̀ sit down (in speaking to children): Nne m̄ nà-àdọ n’ọdụ̀ akwà màkà nà ọ nà-èbu akwà My mother usually sits at the cloth stall because she deals in clothes

dọkịtàn

doctor (E.)

dọọ̀nịdọ̄, dọọ̀lịdọ̄n

tug-of-war

dọ̀tị1n

catapult

-gba dọ̀tị shoot catapult: Dọ̀tị kà o jìlị̀ gbagbu nnụ̀nụ̀ afụ̀ It was a catapult that he killed the bird with

dọ̀tị2n

dirt; filth (coll., E. dirty)

-lu dọ̀tị be dirty, filthy: Ndụ̀ nà-èlu dọ̀tị Ndụ is usually dirty

-du1v

lead; accompany

òdudu leading; guidance

-du aka help

-dubà introduce; lead in, into

-dufìè mislead

-dufù seduce; lead astray

-duga accompany

-dukọta muster: Dùkọta ndi aghā afụ̀ màkà nnene Muster the troops for inspection

-dulu accompany; seduce

-duna lead; escort home

du onye ìsì lead a blind person

-dupụ̀ lead out; accompany; escort; push off a boat

-duruka lead a little way

-kpa ǹdu walk together; be companions; escort

-du +2v

put out (roots, shoots)

-du anakā put out shoots, suckers

-dudo take root

-du3v

ext. suff. 1. first; beforehand; precede (cf. –godu, and perhaps –du 1.)

-kpọtadu bring first (something capable of self-movement)

-wètadu bring first (i.e. bring something before doing something else, or before doing something else to the thing brought): Wètadu yā tupu ị̀ tọghee yā Bring it first before you open it

-dùv.:

-dù-dù be in a dull state

-gbadùba iru be morose, sulky, downcast: Gịnī mèlụ̀ nị jì gbadùba irū? Why are you sulky?

-kpọdùlu remain in dull uncheerful state; be dull and sad: Amārọ m ife mēlụ Okeēke o jì wèe kpọdùlu n’ụnọ̀ jụ nà nya amā eje akwụkwọ I don’t know what happened to Okeeke to make him stay dull at home and refuse to go to school

dum̀ quant. all; the whole (cf. niīne, which is the common Onitsha form)

ife dum̀ all things

m̀gbè dum$ always; at all times; in perpetuity (cf. m̀gbè niīne)

duun

still; quiet

-debe ọnụ̄ duu be silent

-delụ duu stop talking

-gba duu keep silence; refrain from answering; endure, tolerate

-tọgbọ̀ duu lie still; lie down softly (cf. –gba duu)

dụ enc. marks interrogative: Gịnị̄ dụ bụ̀ ǹke à? What is this? Gịnị̄ kwọ bụ̀dụ̀ ǹke à? What is this again?

-dụ1v

prick; pierce; sew

ọ̀dụdụ pricking; piercing; sewing

-dụ aka poke

-dụgbu pierce

-dụkọ sew together

-dụmi ụnọ̀ construct framework of roof before thatching or fixing the sheets

ndụmì (ụnọ̀) roof framework before thatching or fixing the sheets

-dụ ọfọlọ̀ punt

-dụ2v

regurgitate; vomit (cf. –gbọ)

-dụ adụ retch

-dụ ubìlì belch

-dụ ukòlò belch

-dụ +3v.:

-dụ isi swear one’s innocence by a deity

-dụ̀1v

advise; give advice

-dụ̀ ọdụ̀, ọdụ advise; give advice

-dụ̀2v

plant (the stem, cutting of stem or branch, of a plant)