Maa

A - a

a Letter representing the Maa low back unrounded vowel phoneme /a/. LING: The phoneme /a/ is neutral with regard to Tongue Root Harmony and may occur in words with vowels that are either Advanced Tongue Root (+ATR): enkolópà 'poisonous centepede'; or Non-Advanced (Retracted) Tongue Root (-ATR): ɔpá 'long ago'. /a/ blocks leftward spreading of the +ATR feature from +ATR vowels to its right, and remains /a/: ɛnyámù 'cattle theft'. However, when vowels to its left are +ATR, /a/ in suffixes (cf. a-sʉj-akɨ́ [INF.SG-follow-DAT] 'to follow s.o.') is replaced by +ATR /o/: a-bik-okí [INF.SG-wait-DAT] 'to wait for s.o.' This argues that it patterns as a back vowel. In some words, /a/ in suffixes is replaced by -ATR /ɔ/ when the preceding vowel is /ɔ/; a-ɨrɔr-ɔkɨ́ [INF.SG-say-DAT] 'to greet s.o.' Also see note at -án Nominalizer for stative verbs.

a- (+ replacive LH tone) inf. Singular infinitive prefix, indicative mood. Indicates that the subject of a string of verbs is singular. Káɨ́tókì alotú. I'm coming back. (lit: I will repeat to move back to the point of reference.) (S). Ɨ́gɨ́rà aló adúŋ inkírí apéj. You are going to cut meats to roast. LING: The singular infinitive generally imposes a LH tone pattern over the entire verb, regardless of any other affixes on the verb. It links to the right-most edge of the verb and spreads left, resulting in a L(L)H pattern. However, there are some infinitive verbs which do not have H just on the end, such as atʉdʉ́mʉ̀ 'to jump up and down (subjunctive).' Hamaya (1993) analyzes a string of finite + infinitive verb forms as a serialization construction. This construction expresses a wide range of semantic relations. Two especially prominent semantic relations are Purpose: Ɛshɔmɔ́ aɨtarɛ́. 'He has gone to escort s.o.' (W); and and Aspect: Ɛgɨ́rà aɨtarɛ́. 'He is escorting s.o.' (W). See: áà- ‘Plural infinitive prefix’.

a-₁ nmlz. Nominalization prefix. LING: Generally co-occurs with a nominalizing suffix, as in ɔl-a-rány-ànì [MSG-NMLZ-sing-NMLZ.AG] 'singer'. But compare ɨl-a-ŋen-i [MPL-NMLZ-clever-PL] 'wisemen'.

a-₂ Variant: e-. Nom sg: á-. pn.b. Third person singular verb prefix for relative clause; 'that', 'which', 'what', 'who'. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkɛráí aiseyieseyíé ɛnkáɨ́ n-a-ɨrʉ́rà. The child is shaking the other one who is sleeping. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkɛráí aɨrrʉŋʉrʉ́ŋ n-á-ɨ́rʉ̀rà. The child who is sleeping is snoring. (Pk). LING: Prefix tone agrees with case of the head noun. However, if a relative clause modifies a subject head noun but is displaced from that noun, it may take the Accusative tone. Compare (i) and (ii): (i) Ɛgɨ́rà ɛndáà nátií emotí aisamisú. 'The food that is in the cooking pan is getting rotten.' (ii) Ɛgɨ́rà kʉ́lɛ̂ áàìsàmìsù natíi olkúkúrí. 'The milks are going bad that is in the calabash.' (lit: It is going the milks to become bad that is in the calabash). Further compare third person relative clause [èntókì nàjò] 'something that says' (W), with first person: [èntókì nájó] 'something that I say.' (W). See: aá- ‘Plural pronominal prefix in relative clause’; n- ‘Relativizer for feminine nouns’; l- ‘Relativizer for masculine nouns’.

á-₁ pn.b. Dialect variant of third person bound pronominal prefix. Kákè áɨ́tɔrrɔ̂k nɨ́ncɛ̀. But they are bad. (C). See: ɛ̀- ‘Third person bound pronominal prefix’.

á-₂ pn.b. First person singular verb prefix, indicating no object (if verb is intransitive), or a third person or plural object (if verb is transitive). Ásɨ́ŋɨ́tà. I am sneezing. (W). Áɨ́pótítò. I am calling him/her/it. (W). LING: Rasmussen (2001) analyzes the first person singular prefix as underlyingly toneless a-. However, a High tone typically appears on this prefix due to High-spreading from the right.

á-₃ inf. Singular infinitive prefix, subjunctive mood. Used following a-jó when it has sense 'to try'. Néjò á-ɨ́rɔ́rɔ́kɨ. He tried to greet him. Órè ɛnâ nàjò á-ípidoki ajó áɔ́ny When it tried to jump to bite. See: má- ‘Subjunctive mood prefix’.

á-₄ mood. Marker of politeness, preceeding the second person pronominal verb prefix ɨ-. (A) examples with á- are polite, regardless of intonation. Á-ɨ́-dɔl ajó (k)áɨ̀m ɛntɛ́mátá. You will see that I will pass the exam. [polite] (W). Á-ɨ́-rá ŋáí? (May I ask) who are you? [polite] (W). LING: Preceding examples with á- are polite regardless of intonation. By contrast, the following are either neutral in politeness, or are threats, challenges, commands, meant to shame s.o., or responses to opposing presuppositions. For example, if the addressee had previously said the speaker would amount to nothing, the speaker might respond: Ɨ́dɔ́l ajó áɨ̀m ɛntɛ́mátá. 'You will see that I will pass the exam' [neutral or rude]. Ɨ́rá ŋáí? 'Who are you?' [neutral or rude]. Ɨ́rá ŋáí íyìè peê kímpááya? 'Who are you to send me to get it?' [rude]. (W) The politeness prefix does not occur on non-second person forms: *áɛ́dɔl. See: má- ‘Subjunctive mood prefix’.

-a₁ Variant: -o. voi. Nonperfective Middle voice suffix. Derives an intransitive verb, typically with Patient as Subject. The primary uses are:

1 • Where the Agent is not conceptualized as part of the process or action. Ɛgɨ́rà taá nɨnyɛ́ ɔlcánì aun-ó. The tree is getting planted.

2 • Resultant state. Néjò "Eé, kɛ́sɨ́p-à taá." He said, "It is true.".

3 • Reflexive action.

4 • Reciprocal action. Usage: pl subject. áààsàkìn-ò To cooperate, work together. LING: This non-perfect(ive) suffix can co-occur with the plural subjunctive (identical to the plural perfect(ive)) suffix -at/-ot in subjunctive contexts: Nɨ́mɨ́kɨ́ncɔ̂ aké nɨnyɛ́ méínepunotó. 'We don't let them meet each other.'. See: -ɛ̀ ‘Perfective Middle suffix’.

-a₂ Variant: -o. nmlz. Nominalizer, with Middle sense. en-túm-ò [FSG-find-NMLZ] meeting.

-a₃ num. 1 • Singular or singulative suffix for certain nouns. Compare ɛm-búátá 'gap between front teeth' vs. ɨm-búát 'gaps between front teeth'.

2 • Plural suffix for certain nouns. Compare ɛ-máál 'dewlap' vs. ɨ-maalá 'dewlaps'. LING: See Dimmendaal (2000) on number suffixes in Nilo-Saharan languages.

-a₄ Variant: -o; -ɔ. In some suffixed forms: -ak, -ok. asp. 1 • asp. Perfect/perfective aspect suffix, used with singular subject. In some contexts it yields the sense of past time, though it is not a tense affix (König 1993). LING: For Class I verbs, -a(k) co-occurs with prefix tV- (V represents any vowel). Class II verbs take -a(k) but omit tV-. The variant -o(k) occurs with +ATR roots: Átóókò kʉlɛ́ naaɨ́sʉkʉ̂t. 'I drank the milk that is sour.' (W). The variant -a(k) occurs with underlyingly -ATR verb roots like bʉl 'grow', though in the following there is dissimilation to +ATR due to the /ʉ/+/a/ combination: Nɨ́dɔl ajó etubúlua inê. 'You see that the child has grown there.' If the stem vowel is -ATR /ɔ/, -ɔ(k) may occu Áatɔnyɔ̂ ɨláɨ́sʉ́ɨsʉ́ɨ́. 'The black ants bit me.' (W).

2 • mood. Subjunctive mood suffix. Used in imperatives, after modal auxiliaries (Hamaya 1993), etc. LING: The subjunctive suffix co-occurs with a tV- prefix on for Class I verbs, parallel to its use in the perfect/perfective aspect function: Táŋàsà tóòrò oltírén linó. 'First sweep your own floor.' Class II verbs lack the tV- prefix, and instead have distinct imperative person prefixes: Ɛ́yakákɨ̀ kʉlɛ́ naɨ́tɔkɨ́tɔ̀k. 'Bring milk that is still bubbling.'.

-a₅ Variant: -o. In some suffixed forms: -ar, -or. dir. Verb suffix indicating direction away; thither. Néshuko, nélò aké, fu:nɛ́ʉtarɨ́. He went back, he just went, and he was shown the way. See: -áà ‘Away’.

a kɨ́tɨ̀ Plural repeated action: áá kʉ́tɨtɨ́. adv. Slowly. Shɔ́mɔ̀ a kɨ́tɨ̀. Go slowly. (W). Táàsà esíáàì inó a kɨ́tɨ̀. Do your work slowly. (Pk) [The work is done just once.]. Táàsà esíáàì inó áá kʉ́tɨtɨ́. Repeatedly, do your work very slowly. (Pk) [The work is done multiple times, each time slowly.]. Téjò áá kʉ́tɨtɨ́. Say it slowly repeatedly. (Pk).

aá- Nom pl: áa-. Variant: aa-. pn.b. Third person plural prefix in a relative clause which modifies a feminine noun in the accusative case; Class I verbs. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛntásât ajút ɨnamʉ́kà naáàtà entérít. The woman is wiping shoes that have dust. Ámaâ kɛ́kʉlɛ́ naáropîl íyíéú anáà kɛ́kʉlɛ́ naáɨ́sʉkʉ̂t? Do you like fresh milk, or unfresh milk? (lit: Well, (is it) milks that are frothing you like or milks that are sour?). Ekébikóò intókìtìn pɔ́ɔkɨ náaramát ɨlɔ́ɔpɛ̂ny. All things that their owners care for last long. Nónokûâ ntamesí náàpùò nkárɛ́. There are the camels that are going for water. (SN). Ɛgɨ́rà kʉ́lɛ̀ náatií ɔlkúkúrí áàìsàmìsù. The milk that is in the calabash is going bad. LING: When tone on the verb stem is Falling, then the tone on aa- is Low: Ɨnkɨláni naagôl enkínyaŋá eishopítò ɔlkársîs. 'It is expensive clothes that the rich man is wearing.' Nílo arɛʉ́ inkíshú naarâ uní 'And you go and find about three cows.' (lit: And you go and drive here cows that are three.) Other instances of Low tone include: ɨnaajó iróreí ɔ́ɔ̀ɨ̀kɛ̀nà 'what the numbered words say'. Nélo atúm ɨrɔ́nkɛ́nà naayɨ́ɛ́r átɛ́ 'He went and found fried (pieces of) meats that were cooking themselves.'. See: a- ‘Singular third person relative clause pronominal prefix’; ɔɔ́- ‘Masculine third person plural in a relative clause’; n- ‘Feminine or Place relative clause prefix’.

áa- pn.b. Pronominal prefix on verbs indicating third person subject and first person object (inverse). Áapɨ̂k ɛntásât ɔlcaní ɛnkɔŋʉ́. The woman will put medicine in my eye. (W). LING: See Payne, Hamaya & Jacobs (1994) for discussion of the Inverse nature of Maa bound pronominal prefixes. If the subject is 3PL and the aspect Perfect(ive), a HLF replacive tone pattern occurs on the verb: Áatɔɔnyɔ̂ ɨláɨ́sʉ́ɨsʉ́ɨ́. 'The ants (sp.) bit me.' (W) Áatɨpɨkâ oreyíét. 'They put me in the river.' (W).

áá- pn.b. Pronominal verb prefix for first person sg. subject plus second person sg. object (inverse). Á́áɨ́rɔ́rɔ́kɔ ŋolé. I greeted you yesterday.

áà- (+ replacive HL tone) inf. Plural infinitive prefix, indicating that the subject of a string of verbs is plural. Máapɛ́ aké níkìpùò áàdùŋùdùŋ ɨlɛ́nyɔ́k lɔɔ́ ɨlkɨdɔŋɔ́ lɔɔ́ isirkôn. Let's just go to cut into pieces the donkeys' tail hair. LING: The plural infinitive is used following an impersonal passive, demonstrating that the "passive" comes from the third plural impersonal subject suffix -ɨ́ (Greenberg 1959): Etooshóki ɛlʉ́kʉ́nyá áàrɛ̀ʉ̀ atûâ enkúé. 'He was hit so that his skull was bashed in.' Etápéjókì kʉnâ naaígàrà áàtùmòkì. 'The rib-meats have been nicely roasted.' (W) The plural infinitive generally imposes a HL tone pattern over the whole verb regardless of any other affixes on the verb (a few suffixes do trigger a non-Low tone at the end of the word). The HL word pattern links at the left-most edge of the verb and spreads Right, resulting in a HL(L) pattern. See: a- (+ replacive LH tone) ‘Singular infinitive prefix’.

-áà Variant: -óò; -ɔ́ɔ̀. dir. 1 • dir. Motion-away verb suffix; thither. Órè peê ɛakʉ́ kɛ́báɨ́kɨ ɛnkáŋ, nɛ́ɨ́lanyáà ɛnkâŋ. When he was just about to reach the home, the home went (running) away (from him). See: -a ‘Direction away’; -árì ‘Away plus Middle’; -óyìè ‘Away’.

2 • asp. Distributive or iterative action verb suffix. Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkáyíóní aɔrɔɔ́ ilkuóò. The boy is feeding the lambs. Áasʉjáà. It follows me every day. (W). Ábíkóò tené i. I'll be staying around here (e.g. for the holidays). (SN) ii. I'll live forever. (K Pk). LING: The Bari 'motion away' suffix is -ara/-oro (TM 1955:150), suggesting that Maa -áà has deleted an /r/. The form -ɔ́ɔ̀ occurs after roots with -ATR vowel ɔ.

áâ₁ v.s. Be, is. Ɛ́tɔ̂n áâ ɛnɔɔ́ lɔɔ́ɨ́bɔr ɛnkɔ̂p... (When) the land was still for the Europeans... Nɛ́dʉmʉ́nyɛ̀ áàpùò ɛnadúóó áàyà enáíshó najî ɛsɨrɛ́t ɛ́ nkɔ́shɔ̀kɛ̀, áâ kʉnâ lɛ́ .... They rise up to go to that home to take beer that is called marker-of-the-stomach, and it is these milks [introduced earlier] .... Ɛ́táá doí apá tásàt ɛldɛ̂ áyíóní imeékure áâ bíyòtò. That boy is disabled, he is no longer healthy. (Pk). Órè oshî táatá nɛ́taá intáirí eishopí, imeékure áâ ɨnamʉ́kà oólonítò anáá apá. These days people wear tire sandals, not leather sandals like before. (Pk). LING: áâ surfaces as [àà] within a phrase. It occurs in cleft constructions in n-áà or n-aá form. See: a-rá ‘To be’; a-akʉ́ ‘To become (Inceptive)’; taá ‘Became (Perfect(ive))’; naá ‘Cleft particle’.

áâ₂ Variant: áà; aá. inter.dem. Feminine singular interrogative determiner; which, what. Áâ kɛ́ráí? Which child? Ɛshɔmɔ́ inkíshù árè ɛmpárɛ̂t kákè mayíólò ajó áâ taá nabô náshɔmɔ́ atúà olêŋ. Two cows have gone to the shamba, but I don't know which one has gone way inside [the shamba]. LING: When initial within its clause, áâ (or its predictable tonal variant àà) occurs. When initial but prefixed with the connective k[H]-, which has a floating H, the form káà occurs: (K)áà kɛ́ráí ɛná? 'Which child is this?' Káà íló ajó? 'What will you go and say?' When following the verb (e.g. as in an echo question), aá occurs: Ítéjò aá? What did you say? [e.g. I did not hear you clearly] (W). Íjó aá íyie? What's up? (lit: You say what?) (W). See: álɔ̂ ‘Which (masc sg)?’; ákúâ ‘Which (pl)?’; Pronouns-Interrogatives.

áà ŋáí Who?

áâ áɨ́nyɔ peê [West]: aaínyɔ peê. inter.adv. 1 • Why? Áâ áɨ́nyɔ peê iyeúó ɛnkají áí? Why did you come to my house? Aaínyɔ peê iyeúó ɛnkají áí? Why did you come to my house? (W). Áâ áɨ́nyɔ peê ɨshɔmɔ́ Karen? Why did you go to Karen? See: áɨ́nyɔɔ ‘What, Why?’; ɨnyɔ́ɔ́ ‘What?’.

áá kʉ́tɨtɨ́ adv. Slowly (of plural or repeated actions). See: a kɨ́tɨ̀ ‘Slowly’; máákʉ́tɨtɨ̀ ‘Slowly’.

l-aá lasá [North] n. [North] Termite mound. See: [North] l-asá ‘Termites’; [North] l-cuú ‘Termite mound’.

áâ taá [àà tàá] That is, in other words, "i.e." Einósua ɔláyíóní ajó e émúóyíáà inkíshù, áâ taá emoyíán oó mbénék. The boy has reported that the cows are sick, that is, (by) the disease (caused by eating) of leaves. (W). Emúóítà olóíŋóní, áâ taá ɨ́lɔ̂ láréú sikónì tááisérè. The bull is sick, that is, the one I will take to the market tomorrow. [Implies there are several bulls.] (W). LING: There are two homophonous expressions áâ taá [àà tàá]. The first, 'in other words', shown in this entry, does not vary for gender or aspect; compare the preceding examples. In this expression, taá is apparently not syntactically necessary. Its inclusion implies that there is a set of items, out of which one is relevant. The second, 'which has/which was', contains the perfect(ive)/subjunctive form taá 'be' plus the feminine interrogative demonstrative áâ. In this second expression, áâ alternates with the masculine interrogative demonstrative álɔ̂.

ááí Nom sg: aáí. pn.psr. My. motí ááí [mòtí ! ááí] my pot (SN). Átúmò rrarrátì é motí aáí natarrárrɛ̀. I obtained a piece of my pot that got shattered. (SN).

ɛn-áàì Mine. Ɛɨtʉ́ étûm ɛnkɛráí áí ɛndáà; ɛátà ɛnáàì ɔlɔɨrɔ́bɨ̀ My child did not get food; mine has a cold. (KS). See: áí ‘My’.

aáɨ́nyɔ See: áɨ́nyɔɔ ‘Why?’.

áàjò [South]: áájó. comp. Form of complementizer used after a plural-subject main verb; that. Nɨ́kɨ̀dɔ̀l áàjò oróréí lɛ́ tɨ́pàt. We saw that it is an important (valuable) word. (C). LING: The complementizer form ajó, which derives historically from the singular infinitive a-jó 'to say', may also be used in plural contexts. See: ajó ‘That’; a-jó ‘To say’.

áákʉ́tɨtɨ́ adv. Slowly (of plural or repeated actions). See: áá kʉ́tɨtɨ́ ‘Slowly (of plural or repeated actions)’; máákʉ́tɨtɨ́ ‘Slowly’.

l-aamáràtɛ̀ [North] [North] Nom sg: l-áámáràtɛ̀. n. [North] Wall inside the house that partitions rooms. See: ol-iaatúà ‘Wall that partitions rooms in a house’.

l-aánkamíníŋì [North] [North] Nom sg: l-áankamíniŋí ??. n. [North] Wiseman. See: ɔl-áŋéní ‘Wiseman’.

n-aápò [North] [North] Nom sg: n-áàpò. [North] Acc pl: n-aaponí. [North] Nom pl: n-áaponí. n. [North] Small area in the center of l-orórà for the old men to rest, discuss concerns, and pray. Ideally a fire is kept burning there day and night. See: bɔɔ́ ‘Area outside of the house’; l-orórà [North] ‘Village’; o-sínkírá ‘Hut for girls’.

ɔl-aárànì Nom sg: ɔl-áarani. Acc pl: ɨl-aarák. Nom pl: ɨl-aarák. [North] Acc sg: l-aaránì. n. 1 • Beater, attacker.

2 • Murderer.

3 • [South] Defender, soldier. In A this word generally has a bad connotation, implying a pugnacious person. See: a-ár ‘To beat, kill’; ɔl-árànì ‘Murderer’; ɔl-arábànì [South] ‘Beater, attacker’.

aárè Variant: ɔárè; ɔáárè. Nom pl: ááre. [North] Nom pl: wáàrè. num. Two (masculine). Ɛátà enkínè ɨláɨ́rákúj aárè. A goat has two kidneys. Órè ɛ́ɨ́rrɨ́tâ inkíshú népónú ɨlmʉ́rrân ááre. When they are looking after the cows, two warriors came. ɨlŋatunyó ɔáárè two lions (W). Kɔ́ɔdɔ̂ kʉlɔ́ párrùà wáàrè. These two palm trees are tall. (SN). Etym: PN *aRe 'two' < Kir-Abb *àré 'two' < PNS *a 'n/adj deriv pref' + *ré or *re 'cut in two'. See: aré ‘Two (feminine)’.

ol-aásànì Nom sg: ol-áásání. Acc pl: il-aasák. Nom pl: il-aasák. [North] Acc sg: l-áásànì. [North] Nom sg: l-áàsànì. [North] Acc pl: l-áàsàk. [North] Nom pl: l-áàsàk. n. Worker, doer, one who does. Olaásànì ɔ́âs ɨnyɔ́ɔ́? Ólóyíèr ɛndáà. What does this worker do? He cooks food. Ɨ́ra olaásànì otíi kʉnâ kíshú, anáà ɨ́ra ɔlɔpɛ́ny? Are you a worker herding these cows, or are you their owner? This term does not necessarily imply that the worker is paid, but the worker is clearly not working for himself. See: a-ás ‘To do’; ɔ-sɨnká ‘Servant’; ɔ-rrɨ́ndɨ̀k ‘Slave’; ɔl-áɨ́tɔ́bɨ́rànì ‘One who makes’.

ɔl-aasɨ́ n.sg. Job. Usage: slang. This word originated when Maasai people began looking for paid jobs. See: ɔl-kásì ‘Job’; en-kiás ‘Work, deed’.

aashʉ̂ [South]: arashʉ̂. conj. 1 • Alternative conjunction: or. May join noun phrases or clauses; often follows ɔ. Tɛ́gɛlʉ́ enkishúì ɔ̀ aashʉ̂ kɛɛ́yà. Choose between life or death. Tɛ́gɛlʉ́ enkishúì aashʉ̂ kɛɛ́yà. Choose between life or death. (W). Shɔ́mɔ̀ áŋ ɔ̀ aashʉ̂ ɔlɔɨnyaŋɨ́. Go home or to the market. Shɔ́mɔ̀ áŋ aashʉ̂ ɔlɔɨnyaŋɨ́. Go home or to the market. (W). Áításhe ɔ̀ aashʉ̂ atɔ́n. I will stand or sit down. Shɔ́mɔ̀ ɔ̀ aashʉ̂ ɨtɔ́n. Go or stay.

2 • At least.

aashʉ̂ aké Unless (as in a threat). Aashʉ̂ aké teníló sukúùl nɛ́mɛ́àpòk. Unless you go to school, I will cane you. (lit: Unless you go to school, I will not cane you.) (W). Syn: arakɨ́ ‘Or’. See: arashʉ̂ ‘Or’; aná ‘Or’; anáà ‘Or else’.

aauí Variant: áuûî. interj. Exclamation for help, especially used by women and children; help!

ɔl-abáàì Nom sg: ɔl-ábaáì. n.sg. [North] Species of tree with a very bad smell. The leaves are boiled to make a tea for washing newborns. The sap is used to remove chiggers. The tree has bright green leaves and crimson-colored flowers. It is common in Samburu, but is also known by some in Arusha.

ɔl-abáai ɔ́ɨ́bɔr ɔl-ábáì that has grown in the bush with tall trees, allowing less sunlight and thus giving a lighter color. compositae; microglossa pyrifolia.

ɔl-abáai ɔ́rɔ́k ɔl-ábáì that has grown in the open areas, where lots of sun makes them dark. compositae; psiadia punctulata (DC) Vatke.

ɔl-abáai lɛ̀ partulo Subspecies of ɔl-ábáì. compositae; conyzanewii, or microglossa Eliotii.

ɔl-abáànì Nom sg: ɔl-ábáání. Acc pl: ɨl-abaák. Nom pl: ɨl-ábáák. [West] Nom pl: ɨl-abaák. [North] Acc sg: l-ábáání. n. 1 • Male healer or doctor for people or animals. He may perform surgery, may pray for people to get well, and may undo witchcraft. Traditionally he works from his home, waiting for those who come for treatment. He has acquired his position by virtue of effectively doing such work, and his work is life-long. Ɛ́tábáá ɔlábáání ɛnkɛ́ráí namúéí. The doctor has treated a sick child. Ɔlabáànì ŋolé láaɨshɔɔ́ lɛ́lɔ̂ keék. It is the doctor who gave me those medicines.

2 • God, as 'the Spirit who heals my soul'. Usage: Christian. Ɛ́támáyíáná ɔlábáání iyíóók aɨshɔ́ ɛncán sápʉ̀k tɛlɛ́ árî. God has blessed us to give us a lot of rain this year.

3 • [North] Ceremonial leader who goes first in letting people know how a ritual is done.

ɛnk-abáànì 1 • Female healer or doctor; she may bless women in order to conceive and bear children. She works from her home, waiting for those who come for treatment. She is believed to have acquired her skills from God, and thus has a high position in society.

2 • Female nurse who helps in a hospital.

3 • Unqualified doctor; "quack" Usage: contemptuous.

4 • Young doctor. See: e-sístáí ‘Nurse’; ol-oibónì ‘Diviner’; ɔl-kʉ́yántíkí ‘Self-proclaimed healer’; enk-aitóyìònì ‘Midwife’; enk-áíkònì ‘Medicine woman’; a-ishíú ‘To recover, heal’; ɔl-dákɨ́tárrí ‘Doctor’.

ɔl-abáì Variant: ɔl-abaai. Acc pl: ɨl-aábàì. Variant: ɔl-abaa. n. 1 • Type of plant with shiny green leaves and yellow flowers. Mol (1996:2) notes there are several subtypes of this plant, including:

ɔl-abáì ɔɨbɔr compositae, microglossa pyrifolia.

ɔl-abáì ɔrɔk compositae; psiadia punctulata.

ɔl-abáì lɛ partulo Sth. that is not enough. compositae, conyzanewii, or microglossa Eliotii.

abárànì Nom sg: ábárání. Acc pl: abarák. Nom pl: ábárák. adj. 1 • The quality of a person who does things in the correct or perfect, ordered way. Ɛ́ɨ́rɔ̀ ɔltʉ́ŋání ábárànì. The correcting person talks. (W). Ɛɨrɔ́ ɔltʉ́ŋání ábárání. The careful person talks. (W). Ɔltʉŋánì abárànì ɛnarikíno néyìèŋ enkérr. A very careful person should be the one who slaughters the sheep. [S.o. skilled at slaughtering is very careful in dividing the sections of meat according to the muscle and connective tissue lines.].

2 • The quality of being highly observant and noting details; able to distinguish things (particularly physically); careful, thoughtful. This implies some kind of intellectual "brightness". Kéyíólou ɔltʉ́ŋání ábárání ɨntaré ɛnyɛ́na. The observant person will be able to identify his sheep. Kákè abárànì oshî olójî Kishoyíán keyíólou inkíshú ɛmɛ́nyɛ. But the one who is named Kishoyian is well-able to distinguish his father's livestock from others. (Pk).

ɔl-abárànì n. 1 • A patient, careful person who does things with perfection; a highly observant person who pays attention to details.

2 • [North] A person that keeps a large group of animals perfectly, so none have escaped or been killed.

3 • Thoughtful person, thoughtful man. See: a-barakɨ́ ‘To do carefully; to do with much thought and time’; árriyíá ‘Skillful’.

ɔl-abárnònì Nom sg: ɔl-ábárnóní. Acc pl: ɨl-abarnók. Nom pl: ɨl-abarnók. [North] Acc pl: l-abarnôk. 1 • Barber, shaver, shearer. LING: Mol notes the noun is irregular with suffixes -oni (sg), -ok (pl), not -ani, -ak, as expected. Usage: rare (in K). Among the Samburu, every wife is l-abárnònì. Mɛbárnɨshɔ ɔlábárnóní kɛwaríé. A barber does not shave at night.

2 • Professional barber. Traditionally, this is a person who performs religious rituals (though not Christian).

3 • [West] Someone who gives new names, e.g. a pastor. Usage: Christian.

ɛnk-abárnònì Someone who decorates women for dancing.

ɔl-ɔbárnɨshɔ The one who shaves; barber. See: ɔl-arónyònì ‘Shaver, barber’; a-bárn ‘To shave’.

ɛn-abɛlɨ́ Nom sg: ɛn-ábɛlɨ́. Acc pl: ɨn-aábɛlɨ́. Nom pl: ɨn-áabɛlɨ́. n.r. 1 • Sth. to be broken.

2 • Sodium bicarbonate. Used with chewing tobacco. Ɛɨtʉ́shʉlɨ oshî ɛnabɛlɨ́ ó embolíê áàɨ̀shɔ̀ inkíshú. Sodium bicarbonate is mixed with salt lick to give to cows.

3 • Large salt chunk, which can be licked by animals. Big chunks of salt are always split into small pieces before use. This is a rather poetic use of the word, and might be used so children wouldn't understand. See: shímpì ‘Salt’. Syn: ɛ-mʉnyán ‘Salt’; ɛn-aɨsʉ́kʉ̀t ‘Salt’; ɛ-makát ‘Salt’. See: em-bolíêî ‘Salt lick’; a-bɛ́l ‘To break; rock back and forth’.

ɔl-abíkònì Nom sg: ɔl-abikoní. Acc pl: ɨl-abíkók. Nom pl: ɨl-abikók. n. 1 • Inhabitant; someone who has stayed for a long time in an area. Ilabikók ɔpɛ́ny enkóp óotomitó étúrrí ilcóròì. It was the inhhabitants who refused the wells to be dug. (Pk).

2 • One who remains; remnant. Órè apá peê eidʉ́rrɨ̀ nɛ́ɨ́ŋʉarɨ́ olabikók. [nɛ́yŋʊ̀àɾɪ́] When people left, it was the remainers who were left. (Pk).

3 • [South] Temporary resident. See: a-bík ‘To stay, remain’.

ábílâ n. teníjo táatá áɨ́ŋɔ̀r ɨ́nâ ábílâ ɔɔ́ ltʉ́ŋáná when you try to see those people.

ɛnk-abobókì Nom sg: ɛnk-ábobókì. Acc pl: ɨnk-abobók. Nom pl: ɨnk-ábòbòk. n. 1 • Piece of bark from a tree. Eitáyíó ɛnkáyíóní ɛnkabobókì tɔ̀ lcánì. The boy has removed the bark from the tree. enkabobókì ó sókêt bark of the osókêt tree (W). Enkabobókì ó lcaní ótóyíó ɛyáka Kérínâ kokoô ɛnyɛ́ méínokíé ɛnkɨ́má. It is a dry piece of bark from a tree that Kerina took to his grandmother to use for firewood. Órè tɛnɨ́ntáyù enkabobókì tì órìòŋ ɔlcaní náà éísidai tɛnɨ́kɨnyʉ́ enkopitó. When you remove a piece of bark from a tree, it is good to remove the white inner side of it. (Pk).

2 • [South] Scar. Usage: perjorative. Ɛitáa emuoyíán ɔltʉŋánì ɛnkabobókì. The sickness has made the person emaciated. LING: ɛnk-abobókì is a countable noun. See: en-kiporôî ‘Scar’; enk-opitó ‘Strap; gum on inner side of bark’; e-sipisípí ‘Gum on stripped tree’; n-kasotókì [North] ‘Bark’.

ɛn-ábóóí Nom sg: ɛn-abooí. n. Sp. of wild plant which not used for anything. Cows generally don't eat it, but it is not poisonous to them. Grows in places where water deposits silt. Plant of the potato family. The above-ground stalks of the plant have a star-shaped leaves or "heads" with seven narrow points. (Mol 96.002). solanaceae; datura stramonium. Ɛbʉlʉ́ ɛnaboóí tɛ̀ olmúùàtɛ̀. Datura grows in a deserted home. See: ɛm-pálèkì ‘Datura’; ɔl-mʉrʉ́nkʉ́ì ‘Irish potato’; ol-gisóyiaî ‘Type of edible root’.

abóri Nom sg: áborí. [North] Nom sg: ábori. n.r. 1 • Underneath. Etíi ɛnkáyíóní abóri ɔlcaní. The boy is under the tree. abóri ɛ mɨ́sà under the table. Órè oshî ɨntɔná ɔɔ́ lkeék némélìò amʉ̂ abóri ɛnkɔ̂p etíi. The roots of trees are not seen because they are underground. (Pk).

2 • Below; at a lower level; lower regions. Etíi olówuarú márâ abóri ɔlásʉ́ráí. The leopard is below the snake. (W). Etíi inkíshù abóri ɔldóínyíó. The cows are at the foot of the hill. (Pk). Elóíto ɔlpáyìàn abóri ɔlkɛjʉ́. The man is going downstream. Ɛshɔmɔ́ enkítòk abóri ídíà áŋ. Doris has gone down to that home. Ɛshɔmɔ́ abóri olêŋ. He has gone too far down. Etíi ɛnkáyíóní abóri ɛnkápʉ́nɛ́ The boy is inside the cave (at the bottom of the cave). LING: This is a "relational noun" because it has some nominal properties: it occurs in a genitive constructions, and can follow the preposition tɛ̀. However, it does not take a gender prefix, and can precede a N with no genitive linker between. Ant: shʉ́mátá ‘Up, above, on top of’. See: a-doyíó ‘To drop down’.

ol-abúáànì Nom sg: ɔl-ábúáání. Acc pl: ɨl-abuáák. Nom pl: ɨl-ábúáák. [West] Acc sg: ol-abúànì. n. 1 • Shouter (e.g. seller of wares on the street; elder who rebukes loudly).

2 • Barker (e.g. a dog).

3 • [South] Person specialized in removing children's front teeth.

enk-abúáànì Female remover of teeth; shouter. See: a-búák ‘To shout, bark’.

ɔl-abʉrrâ Nom sg: ɔl-ábʉrrâ. Acc pl: ɨl-abʉ̂rr. Nom pl: ɨl-ábʉ̀rr. n. 1 • Foam, froth. Etupúkuo ɔlábʉrrâ tɛ̀ nkʉtʉ́k é nkíné. Foam has started coming out of the goat's mouth. ɔlabʉrrâ lɛ̀ kʉ́lɛ froth of the milk. ɔlabʉrrâ lɛ̀ nkárɛ́ foam of the water. Eitáyio oldîâ ótookó oldíîp ɨlabʉ̂rr tɛ̀ nkʉtʉ́k. The dog that drank acaricide has discharged froth from the mouth.

2 • [South] Disease that causes foaming.

3 • Grass sp.

a-ác [North] v. 1 • [North] To get stuck in the throat.

2 • [North] To cause a brief delay.

3 • [North] To pinch snuff.

a-acʉ́ [North] [North] To pinch a bit of snuff.

l-ácɛ̀rɛ̀ [North] Nom sg: l-ácɛ́rɛ̀. n. [North] Maggot. See: ɔl-áshɛ́rɨ̀ ‘Tick’; ɔl-mársáŋùà ‘Maggot’.

ɔl-adakɨ́tà n. 1 • Food.

2 • Food dish. See: ɛn-dáà ‘Food’; a-daá ‘To eat, feed, graze’.

ɔl-adakíté Nom sg: ɔl-ádakíté. n. Food; food dish. Syn: ɛn-dáà ‘Food’. See: ɔl-dákéí ‘The eating’.

ɛnk-adaláwùò Nom sg: ɛnk-ádaláwùò. Acc pl: ɨnk-adalawuoní. Nom pl: ɨnk-ádalawuoní. n. 1 • Small piece of wood or bone worn around the wrist and fastened with a small string, meant to protect the wrist from being hit with the string of the bow when shooting an arrow. Ɛ́tɛ́ɛ́ná ɔlpáyìàn ɛnkadaláwùò tɛ̀ nkaɨná. The man has tied a wrist protector on his hand.

2 • A small bracelet, perhaps of beads, for decoration. See: ɛ́n-kɨ́rɨ́nâ ‘Bracelet’.

ɔl-adalʉ́ Nom sg: ɔl-ádalʉ́. n. 1 • Heat, warmth.

2 • Hot season, when the heavy rains do not occur, i.e. September to about the end of January or February.

3 • January; a month in the Maasai calendar, approximately coinciding with January-February, which are the hottest months over much of Maasailand. (However, the meaning of such specific month(s) is not uniform throughout Maasailand, because climactic conditions differ from highlands to lowlands.).

5 • [West] Sth. that gives out light very strongly (e.g. sun). See: a-dál ‘To scorch’; ɔl-árì ‘Rainy season’.

adé adv. 1 • Later in the day, presently. Elotú ɔlpáyìàn adé. The man will come later on today. Máapé tɛnákatá peê mɛ́ɨ́ŋátàà iyíóók adé. Let us go now so that he does not miss us in the evening. (Pk). Kipúó adé. We will go later.

2 • Later.

adáke Etym: adé aké ‘later just’.1 • Later.

2 • Later in the day. Ant: dúóó ‘Earlier today’. See: tɛnákatá ‘Immediately’; tááisérè ‘Tomorrow’; kɛnyá ‘Later on in life’.

ɛn-adédè Acc pl: ɨnaádedé. n. Truth, the truth. Éjó oshî ɨltʉŋaná ɛtɔ́n èìtù epíú Yésúù kákè kórè ɛnadédè etopíwúó ɔpá olêŋ. People always think that Jesus has not resurrected, but the truth is that he resurrected a long time ago. (W). Éjó oshî ɨltʉŋaná meishiunyékì ɔltʉŋánì lóloirírùà, kákè eishíúnyékì. Kórè ɨnaádedé náà: kɛ́rɨkɨ́ sipitálì, kɛ́rɨkɨ́ oloibónì, ashʉ̂ eomonokiní. People think that a mad person will not be cured. But he can be cured. The facts are: he can be taken to hospital, he can be taken to a magician, or he can be prayed for. (W). Usage: adede has the sense 'to be true', 'truthful', or 'to be right'; while ɛsɨ́pátá conveys the idea of 'truth'.. LING: adédè has a more restricted syntactic use than ɛsɨ́pátá. See: asɨ́pànì ‘Truthful’; ɛ-sɨ́pátá ‘Truth’.

ɔl-ádítárí Nom pl: il-áditariní. n. Doctor. Ɛkɛ́púóí áàùd inkɛ́rà tááisérè iláditariní. Children will be vaccinated (injected) tomorrow by doctors. (Pk). See: ɔl-dákɨ́tárrí ‘Doctor’.

a-adɔ́ Variant: a-ɔdɔ́ [North]. In some suffixed forms: adɔr. v.s. v.s. To be saliently extended in one dimension; be tall (e.g. of a person, many animals, tree); be long (e.g. of a snake, stick, length of tape). Ɛadɔ́ ilméutîn áàlàŋɨltʉ́ŋáná. Giraffes are taller than people. (K)áaadɔ̂ enkítòk. My wife is tall. (Pk). (K)áaadɔ̂ inkítùààk. My wives are tall. (Pk). Ɛáta Námʉnyak ɨlpápɨ́t ɔáadɔ. (from ɔɔ́ adɔ) Namunyak has long hair. Kíáádɔ́ enkúme. Your nose is long. Ɛadɔ́. He is tall. Mɛadɔ́. (Often pronounced [mɛ̀ɛ̀dɔ́].) He is not tall. ɔltʉŋánì ɔ́ádɔ́ a person who is tall. ɔlɔ́ɔ́dɔ́ a tall/long (masculine) one. ɛnáádɔ́ a tall/long (feminine) one. Kɔ́ɔdɔ̂ kʉlɔ́ párrùà wáàrè. These two palm trees are tall. (SN).

2 • v.s. To be long in time. ɛnkátá náádɔ́

3 • v.s. [North] To be distant in location.

a-ɨtɔɔdɔ́r To make long; lengthen.

a-adorú To become extended in one dimension; become tall, become long. In some suffixed forms: adorun. Ɛadóru ɔlcáni. The tree will become tall. Áádórù. I will become tall. Kɛ́bʉlʉ́ olcánì aadorú. The tree will grow to be tall. Ɛgɨ́ra olkérèrì aadorú. The queue is growing long. Etɔɔdɔ́rɨtâ ilóipí lɛ́ nteipa. The shadows of evening have lengthened. ilkeék áádórú trees that are tall. LING: This is a relative clause marked by á-. See: ɔl-ɔ́ɔ́dɔ́ kɨrragatá ‘Giraffe’; ɛ-náá́dɔ́ kʉtʉ́k ‘Big meat-eating bird’.

il-Adoín n. Baraguyu, Paraguyu; pastoral Maa-speaking people in Tanzania. See: ɨl-Parakúyò ‘Baraguyu tribespeople’; o-lúmpuaní ‘Ethnic group’.

ɛnk-adɔ́rɨ̀ Nom sg: ɛnk-ádɔrɨ́. Acc pl: ɨnk-ádor. Nom pl: ɨnk-ádôr. [West] Acc sg: ɛnk-adɔ́rɨ. n. Height, tallness; length, longness. Kórè peê iló ɔlcámpà íyakákɨ̀ olmíwà lɔátà ɨ́nâ adɔ́rɨ. [ɨ̀nà àdɔ́rɨ] When you go to the garden, bring me a sugar cane of that length. (W). Nɛ́kɨ́nɔ́s ɛnkadɔ́rɨ. We discussed (the topic of) height/length. (W). LING: Some (W) will only use the singular form of this word, even in contexts where a plural idea must be understood: ɛnk-adɔ́rɨ ɔɔ́ nkɛ́rà height(s) of the children (W). LING: Other nominaliztion forms do not work for this root in W (kk), aside from relative clause formations: *ɛndɔrɨshɔ, *ɛnkadɔrɔ́n, *ɛnkadɔrán; but ɛnáádɔ́ / ɔlɔ́ɔ́dɔ́ 'the one who is tall'.

tɛ̀ nk-ádɔrɨ́ Extended temporal period. Nékinós taá tɛ̀ nkádɔrɨ́. We had a lengthy discussion. (lit: We discussed for a long time.) (W). Nékinós taá tɔɔ́ ɨnkádɔrɨ́. We had a lengthy discussion. (lit: We discussed for a long time.) (W). LING: Length in time only is understood when tɛ̀ is present. See: a-adɔ́ ‘To be long, tall’.

adúáànì Nom sg: ádúáání. Acc pl: