Lexicon · 53 entries

R

-ra 1. (also -ralụ)v

A. choose; prefer B. pick or take a few things randomly from collection of many by dipping the hand into the container (like dipping the hand into a basketful of kernels and taking some kernels): Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ịrālụ ọnwà n’ime àchị̀cha dị̄ n’ime afele I want to take some from among the biscuits on the plate B. (fig.) cause great trouble or hardship

-ra anwụ̄ A. take honey from the comb (after driving away the bees)

-ranye take, with hands, a few from among many (e.g. grains in a basket) and give

-ranye ijè pick one’s way; move on slowly; step; toddle (as child)

-ra +2v

comb

ọ̀rịra combing

-ra isi comb (hair of head)

-ra ǹra comb with comb

ǹra comb

-ra +3v

knead

-ra nni knead pounded food in plate or mortar, etc.

-ra +4v

make; produce (rain)

-ra mmilī make, produce rain

ọ̀ra m̄mili rain-maker: Ndi ilō ānyị̂ chọ̀lụ̀ ịrā mmilī taà ijī wèe mebì egwu ānyị nà- àchọ ibū pụ̀tà taàtà Our enemies want to make it rain today in order to spoil the dance we are launching today

-ra +5v

consider; discuss

-ra alò consider; take counsel, consult together; advise

-ralụ alò consider; take counsel; counsel; consult together; advise

-ranye alò advise; give advice: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ onye gā-aranye m̄alò bànyelụ ịfe m gà-ème onye nā ada àbịa ebe à kwà anyàsị̀ inyē nnwa m̄ nsògbu I want someone to advise me on what to do with the person who comes here every night to trouble my child

-ra6v

sound

ọ̀rịra sounding

-ra ara sound; make a stir, be a success: Nkupùte nnwā Òfuèpeka ràlụ̀ àra ri nnē The naming ceremony of Ofuepeka’s child was a big occasion

-ra ọnụ̄ sound:

Ị̀gba ǹke à nà-àra ọnụ̄ ri nnē This drum sounds great

-ra +7v

send

-ra ìfulū blossom; flower

-ra ozi send on errand

-ra ụkọ̀ send representative, ambassador, special messenger, middleman

-ra +8v

-ra nrā pay levy, fine

-rà1v

be equal, on an equality; be so

-rà ịrà be equal

-ra kà amount to; be equal to; be as big or small as: Ọ rà kà ìze It is very large

-rà ǹràmanya, be equal, level, square:

ǹràanya Fa ị̀bụ̀ộ rà ǹràmanya The two are equal: Ife o nyēlụ gị̂ rà kà ǹkè o nyēlụ m What he gave you is equal to what he game me

-rà ọnụ̄ be equal

-rà2v

leave; abandon; give up; release grip on; release; leave alone; allow; permit: Ndị àfè ojiī aràgo Āda The police have released Ada: Ràa yā aka! Leave him alone! B. leave; give up; hand over A. leave; abandon; give up; release grip on; release; leave alone; allow; permit; omit; spare: Bikō rapụ̄ m aka Please let me go, or, Please leave me alone: Èjìọ̀fọ sọọ̀! sọọ̀! Rapụ̄ m̄aka! Èjìọ̀fọ sọọ̀! sọọ̀! Leave me alone!: Nwụnyì m ārapụ̀go m̄ gbanaba My wife has left me and run away: Ebe à bụ̀ ebe ndị orī rāpụ̀lụ̀ ife fa zùtèlụ̀ This is where the thieves abandoned their loot Rapụ̀ ife gālụ aga kà fa ga Let bygones be bygones B. euphemism for ‘die’ (cf. -nwụ 1.); pass away: Nwatā nọ̄ n’àkwà ọyà èri ụkā gālụ aga ārapụ̀go The child who has been sick since last week has passed away

-ràdà pull down; let down from a height; lower

-ràfù abandon; neglect; let go astray; allow too much liberty to (e.g. a child, which leads it to be a trifle spoilt or wild)

-ràlụsị(lị) leave altogether (to)

-rànye A. lower into

-ràpụ̀ (= -rà, -ràlụ)

nrapụ̀ abandonment

-rapụ̀ ọkwa abdicate

-rà +3v

bore (esp. with red-hot instrument)

-rà àrà bore

-ràpu bore hole (with red-hot instrument): Anà m̀ àchọ ịràpù akpàtì m I am preparing to bore a hole through my box

-ràpusị bore many holes through: Anà m̀ àkwadebe ịràpùsị̀ ọkwa à nụụ̄ dị̄ n’ime ụnọ̀ I am preparing to bore many holes through that wooden bowl in the house

-ràaext. suff. 3

only; simple; just: Ọ bụ̀ sọ̀ọsọ̀ i nyēràa yā ife ọ chọ̀lụ̀ kà okwu gà-èji bè It is only if you give her what she wants that the quarrel will end: I nyeràa m̄ife m chọ̀ òkwu ebèe If you just give me what I want the quarrel will end

-ràbaext. suff

for long; after a long time (denoting a great degree either of smallness or bigness)

-beràba cry for a long time: Nnē jụ̀ nà ya amā enye Āda nnī; Àda beràba akwā nnē aŋārọ ya ntị̀ Mother refused to give Ada some food; though Ada cried for a long time, mother did not answer her

ọ̀ bụràba even if: Bikō nye m̄egō ọ̀ bụràba kọpọ̀ Please give me some money, even a kobo

-rev

pick up (of cloth, mats and other objects which are broad, flexible and capable of being rolled up. Such an object is assumed to be in its spread-out form; -re then implies rolling and taking up, though the object can be picked up by one side in its spread-out form without first rolling it. But the most important point is that it must be spread out, otherwise -re will not be used)

-rekọba wrap; roll up

-rekọbà roll up into

-relu pick up (mat, cloth, etc.) and take

-reni pick up (mat, etc.)

-rèv

walk stealthily; move, walk, very slowly or lazily: Ogè Èke nà ọ̀yị̀ ya nwokē nà-àgba ìzù n’ime ụnọ̀ Àda rèlụ rèlụ jee kwachanye n’àzụ ajā kà o wèe nụ ife fa nà-èkwu When Eke and his friend were discussing things in the room, Ada went stealthily and leaned against the back wall so that she might hear what they were discussing

-rebìga glide over

-règhalị walk about stealthily; prowl; loiter; dodge work; malinger: Ọ̀ gịnị̂ kpàtàlụ̀ ibè gị jì àlụ ọlụ̄ ị̀ bàta n’ụnọ̀ na-erèghalị? Why are you hanging around the house while your colleagues are busy working?

-rèpụ̀ walk, creep out stealthily

-rèpụ̀ n’ọlụ leave, abandon work stealthily, unnoticed or unannounced

-ri1v

leak; be leaking: Ìtè m nà-èri ēri My pot is leaking

-ri mmilī leak; be leaking

-ri-2v

clean, wipe off

-richa wipe, clean off (e.g. dusty table with damp duster)

-richapụ̀ cleanse; purify

-ripụ̀ push back (gradually pushing object, e.g. on a table, till it falls off it); wipe off

-ri +3v

-rika be much; be too much; be excessive

-ri nne, -ri nnē be many, much, numerous, plentiful, abundant

èri ogè afụ̀ it is a long time since: Èri ogè afụ̀ ànyị afụnụ̀rọ̀ We haven’t seen each other for a very long time

-rị1v

walk (of insects)

-rị àrị walk (of insects)

-rị āzụ move back; flinch; be reluctant; hold back; fall back

-rịchìgha move backwards (of insects); flow back, down (of water)

-rịrụka move aside; push aside

-rị2v

fill up (of healing sore, or receptacle being gradually filled with water) B. heal; granulate (of wound)

-rịchi swell and fill (a receptacle); heal up (of wound)

-rịlị A. swell; rise; puff out; increase in bulk (as dough)

-rị, -ri, -rụ, -ruext. suff. 1

intensity, completeness of action (cf. -lụ 5.?)

-churu fade; tarnish (stronger than -chu)

-feniri fly up (with the idea of abruptness or suddenness): Egbe m jèkọ̀ ịgbā egbè èfenirigo The hawk I was going to shoot has flown away

-fùru be lost: Àda efùrugo Ada is lost

-mìri dive deep

-nwụrụ be dead: Nkịtā m ànwụrụgo My dog is dead

-nyiri stand up and go

-rị̀ +1v

A. mark; mark distinctively; put mark on in order to be able to recognise the object marked in future B. remark; notice

-rị̀ amā mark

-rị̀ba amā mark something; put a mark on

nrị̀ba amā mark; distinguishing mark

ife nrị̀ba amā a mark (placed on something in order to distinguish it from the others or in order to be able to recognize it in future): Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ kà ànyị begbàdo ewu ānyị niīne ntị̀ aka nnī kà ọ bụlụ ife nrị̀ba amā ijī wèe malụ ewu ānyị ebe ànyị àfụ̀nà ya I suggest that we cut off the right ear of each one of our goats as a mark to enable us to recognize our goat wherever we find it

-rị̀ +2v

cry out (and sob, hard); exclaim in astonishment

-rị̀ akwa cry out

-rị̀ mkpu cry out with exclamations of horror (e.g. as when a man wakes one day and finds that burglars have removed almost all his belongings during the night. He cries out to attract attention)

-rị̀ òkù shout for

-rị̀-3v

compress hard (e.g. the throat); choke; press firmly against

-rị̀do choke; throttle

-rị̀lị go aground

-rị̀nye give up; hand over

-rị̀4v

hurt internally, like pain from septic sore or rheumatic joint

-rị̀nyị hurt

-rị̀5v

heal; granulate (of wound)

-rị̀ +6v.:

-rị̀ àrị̀ ferment (e.g. beans for making àkàlà)

-rov

root; uproot

-rogha move; transplant

-roni move; root up

-ro obì migrate; go and live elsewhere

-ropụ̀ move; root up; cast out; root out

-rò1v

tell (story, usu. featuring songs)

-rò irò tell story; tell story in which song features; tell tale, fable

-rò2v

hang; be strangled

òrùrò hanging; strangling

-rọ1v

lift down (e.g. pot from the cooking tripod, after the food has been cooked)

-rọpụ̀ lift down (e.g. pot from tripod): Rọpụ̄ ìtè ọ bụlụ nà nni eghègo Lift down the pot if the food is done

-rọpụ̀ta lift down and out (e.g. pot from the cooking tripod)

-rọtù lift down

-rọ2v

pinch (e.g. with nail, claw)

-rọ alụ pain severely; throb

-rọ mbo pinch, scratch with nails

-rọ3infl. suff

not (-rọọ̀ when in final position after non-low tone): Ị bị̄arọziì You did not come at all/after all Ọ bị̄anụ̀rọ He has not yet come: Ọ mārọọ̀ He doesn’t know

-rọ̀1v

choose; pick

ọ̀rụ̀rọ̀ choosing; picking: Ànyị̂ chọ̀lụ̀ ịrọ̀ ndị gāje ịnọ̀chì anya ānyị na nzùkọ echī We want to choose those who are going to represent us in tomorrow’s meeting

-rọ̀ òtù discriminate; choose group, society, club

-rọ̀pụ̀ta choose, pick out; ordain: Rọpụ̀ta n̄di gā-eje ịgbā bọọ̀lụ̀ Pick out those who are going to play football: Rọpụ̀ta mkpụlụ akwụ̄ a gà-èbu je afị̄a Pick out the palm nuts that will be taken to the market

-rọ̀ta choose; choose and take; succeed in choosing the right one; make the right choice: Arọ̀tago m̄onye nwēlụ ike imē ife m chọ̀lụ̀ I have got (after going through a group) the person who is able to do my bidding

-rọ̀2v

bruise; squeeze; mash: Àdâ chọ̀lụ̀ ịrọ̀ ònugbù a gà-èji te ofē n’anyàsị̀ Ada wants to squeeze the bitter leaves with which to prepare a soup in the evening

-rọ-gov

go up

-rọgo(lụ) ascend; go up; climb: Ogè Onye nwē anyị nà-àkwadebe ịrọ̄go n’enu igwē Ọ kpọ̄kọ̀lụ̀ ụmụ̄ āzụ Ya ọnụ, nye fā nkasì obì When our Lord was about to ascend into heaven He called His disciples together and comforted them

-rọgota climb up towards (the speaker): Rọ̀gota n’ebe ànyị nọ̀ Come up where we are

-rọ-gọ̀v

twist; twist and bend: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ịrọ̄gọ̀ aŋa a gà-èji kpā ǹkàtà I want to bend the cane with which to make a basket

-rọgọ̀ba coil

-ru1v

pour; cast metal

òruru pouring

-ru ajā pour away sand

-rubà pour in

-ruchanye pour into (the object is assumed small and all is intended to be poured into it at once)

-rufèga pour over

-rufù pour away, spill (of water): Mmanya dị̄ n’ime īko èrufùgo The wine in the cup has spilt

-rukpọ gouge out (eye)

-rukwàsị pour upon

-ru mmilī pour out water

-ru nwamīli urinate: Anà m̀ èje irū nwamīli I am going to urinate

-runye pour into

-rupụ̀ pour out; flow or flow out

-ru2v

A. bend down; turn; change (for worse); stoop; influence; respect; venerate B. be downcast; mourn

-ru alụ̄sị venerate divinities

-rube bow; submit

-rube isi incline the head; obey; submit, be loyal to; give respect to: Afụ̀lụ̀ m̀ Ọjị̀ n’anya màkà nà ọ nà-èrubelụ m̄isi I like Ọjị because he obeys me: Ọ nà-èrubelu ezè isi He is loyal to the king: Nwokē afụ̀ anārọ èrubelu ndi ọchịchị isi The man gives no respect to people in authority

-rudo persuade; urge; compel

-rugọ̀ bend; stoop

-rughalị turn, bend round; change

-rukpùdo turn upside down: Bikō rukpùdo ọbà afụ̀ n’ànị̀, nà amārọ m ife nā-esì n’imē ya Please turn that calabash upside down, for I don’t know what is smelling in it

-rulu stoop; remain stooped

-rulu ànị̀ stoop down

-ru m̀bì lie in wait; set an ambush

-runata stoop down a bit

-runata ànị̀ stoop down a bit

-rurùpụ̀ draw away

-ru ùru mourn; be sorrowful, downcast; grieve

-ru ụjụ mourn: Ibè nà-èru ụjụ̄ Ibe is mourning

-ru3v

rub on

-ru ufie rub camwood on body

-ru4v

grow (of tubers, e.g. yam): Ji m kọ̀lụ̀ n’ọnwa gālụ aga èbidogo irū The yam I planted last month has started to grow a new tuber

-ru nne grow (of tuber); grow to more than average size (of tuber)

-rùv

flow (like a river)

-rùbà flow into: Òsìmìrì Naịjà nà-èrubà n’ime mmili nnū a nà-àkpọ Àtlantìk The Niger River flows into an ocean called the Atlantic

-rùchibìdo flood: Mmilī erūchìbìdogo ogbē ụ̄fọdụ Some districts are flooded

-rùdà run down (of water); flow down

-rùfèga flow over

-rùfù flow, run away

-rùghalị flow; float; drift to and fro: Mmilī nà-erùghalị n’ebe niīne na Mbà Mmīli Water flows everywhere in the Rivers

-rùnye flow into

-ru-beext. suff. 1

around: A chọ̀ m̀ kà ụnụ̀ garube m̄òkìlìkili I want you (pl.) to form a circle round me. (In imperative can sometimes be used without -be: Tùru yā òkìlìkili Plant (things) around it)

-rù-beext. suff. 1

(move about) thoroughly; vigorously

-kwerùbe shake thoroughly

-marùbe shake thoroughly

-ru-ka

see -rụ-ka

-rụv

roast

-rụdà burn up (through roasting): Gịnị̄ kà ị nà-àrụ? Anà m̀ àrụ jī What are you roasting? I am roasting a yam

-rụ ọkụ broil; roast; scald; burn (of live things)

-rụ̀1v

"price"; bargain: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ịrụ̀ akwā à ọnụ̄ I want to price this cloth

-rụ̀dà lower the price; price down

-rụ̀ ọnụ̄ price; name a price for

-rụ̀ ụmā charge, price more than right price

-rụ̀2v

shake; shiver

-rụ̀ agbọọ̄ retch; make feel nausea; cause nausea: Ọnya dị̄ n’isi Āda nà-arụ̄ m̄ agbọọ̄ The sore on Ada’s head is causing me nausea

-rụ̀ àrụ̀ shake; shiver; shiver with cold

-rụ̀ lìlì, -rụ̀ lìlìlì shiver; quiver: Nwatā wụ̄lụ mmili oyī nà-arụ̄ lìlìlì The child who washed with cold water is shivering

-rụ̀pụ̀ untie; shake off; shake oneself free of

-rụ̀rube rumble (of thunder)

-rụ̀rụ̀pụ̀ shake out, off

-rụ̀ ọnụ̄ chatter with cold (of teeth)

-rụ̀3v

shout seriously at in order to scare off or to warn

-rụ̀ni scare off

-rụ̀rụ̀pụ̀ shout and thereby stop someone from doing something: Arụrụ̀pụ̀go m̄egbe ibū ọkụkụ̀ I shouted at the hawk and prevented it carrying off the chicken

-rụ̀4v

blow (bellows)

-rụ̀ ekò blow bellows

-rụ̀5v

perform routine or occasional obligation to a divinity, by offering certain sacrifices to it; usually done by the head priest of a particular divinity (sometimes propitiation for appeasement)

-rụ̀ alụ̄sị serve a deity

-rụ̀ ànị̀ sacrifice to ground, regarded as deity

-rụ̀ mọọ, mọọ̄ look after deities

-rụ̀6v

hurry something up; jump about with excitement

-rụ-ka, -ru-kaext. suff. 1

aside

-buruka move aside (something heavy)

-kpụrụka drag, move to one side: Kpụ̀rụka ochē afụ̀ n’ụzọ̀ Drag that chair out of the way: Gwa yā kà ọ kpụrụka m̄ n’iru Tell him to get out of my sight (lit. drag himself out of my sight)

-nọ̀rụka sit to one side: Nọ̀rụka n’ụ̀sọ Sit to one side