medicine

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’.

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’.

enk-aíkònì Nom sg: ɛnk-áíkóní. Acc pl: ɨnk-aikók. Nom pl: ɨnk-aikók; ɨnk-áíkók. n. Traditional female healer. Sídáí ɛná áíkònì. This traditional female healer is good. (W). Sidaîn kʉná aikók. These traditional female healers are good. (W).

a-alíp v. 1 • To nurture a sick person by giving a specialized diet.

2 • To bless s.o. by ceremonially giving them a small amount of beer, milk, or blood to drink. Ɛtaalipókì ɔlmʉrránì tɛ̀ kʉ́lɛ̀ The warrior was ritually blessed with milk. Anyone can do this, and for many occasions. LING: This verb cannot take the Progressive ending -ítò. See: a-ipók ‘To cleanse ritually’.

a-aparɛ́ 1 • v.mid v.inst. To wrestle with s.o. Káaaparɛ́. He will wrestle with me. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́rà aaparɛ́ Lékùmòk Osinyú peê ɛ̀dɔ̀l tɛ̀ náà kɛ́ɨ́dɨ́mʉ̀. Lekumok is wrestling with Osinyu, to see if he is able to (put him down). (W) [This necessarily implies that Osinyu is stronger than Lekumok.]. Kájì eikó ɔltʉ́ŋání peê ɛaparɛ́ ɛnkÁí? How can a man wrestle with God? (W).

2 • v.dir v.mid. [South] [West] [North] To hide.

3 • v.dir v.mid. [West] To go alongside sth. extended in space. Ɛáparɛ̂ entîm peê mɛ́dɔ́l ɨlmáŋatí. They hid (on the other side of) the bush so that the enemies could not see them. (W) [This implies that the enemies were on one side of the forest, while the plural subject was moving along the other side (i.e. not stationary).]. Ɛgɨ́rà aaparɛ́ oreyíét aɨŋɔrʉ́ ewúéjì nɛlaŋíé. He is going alongside the river to look for a place to cross. (W).

4 • v.dir v.mid. [North] To cure. See: a-ishíú ‘To recover’; a-itomwáí ‘To cure’.

5 • v.dir v.mid. [North] To take care of an injured person. Káálótú aaparɛ́. I will come to take care of you. (SN).

6 • v.dir v.mid. [South] [North] To work hard.

ɛm-báárɛ́ Nom sg: ɛm-baarɛ́. n.f.sg. 1 • Treatment. Mɛ́ɨ́sɨ̀sɨ̀ ɔlabáànì tɛ̀ mbaarɛ́ ɛ́nyɛ̀. You should praise the healer for his treatment.

2 • Skinning of an animal.

a-bák₁ v. To heal, treat. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɛnkɛráɨ́ kɨ́tɨ̀ mɛshɔ́mɔ́ɨ́ áàbàk. The small child has gone to be healed. Ɛgɨ́rà ɔltamueyíáí aɨtɨrrɨŋá mɛtábàkɨ̀. The patient is calm so that he can be treated. See: a-ishíú ‘To heal’.

a-biotú v.incep. To become healthy.

áà-bùlù ɛn-kɛ́ráí To deliver a child by Caesarean section. See: em-búlótó ‘Piercing’.

ɔl-caní Nom sg: ɔl-cánì. Acc pl: ɨl-keék. Nom pl: ɨl-kéèk. [North] Acc sg: l-canɨ́. [North] Acc sg: l-cɛní. n. 1 • Tree, shrub. Ɛlɛ̂ aké ɔlcánì ɔ́ɔ̀tà ɨmbénék sikítòk. This is the only tree with yellow leaves. (Pk). Kɛ́adóru lcánì. The tree will become tall. (SN). Ɛ́gɨ́rà ɛndâ shánì atoyú. That shrub is withering. In W, there is no general term for 'plant'. Ɛn-caní is suggested as a translation for English 'plant', though the word is not generally used in this way. See: l-kení [North] ‘Tree’.

2 • Medicine, esp. local herbal medicine. ɔ́ɔtaŋamakakɨ́ ɔlcaní áàsìòkì ɛ́tɔ̂n ɛ́ɨ́tʉ̂ emueyú. who were innoculated early before they were sick. Ɨ́ncɔɔ́kɨ̀ matoókò ɔlcaní amʉ̂ ɨ́nâ kátá áíshìù. Let me take the medicine because that is when I will get healed. (Pk). One can give medicine to undo a curse. Ɔl-caní (sg) or il-keék (pl) is used for medicine in general, of any form, whether traditional medicine made from bark, leaves, roots, fruits; or tablets, liquid drugs from a pharmeucetial company, etc. Ɔl-ŋanayíó (lit: 'fruit') refers to 'tablets, capsules'; ɔl-kɨ́rdátá (lit: 'the scratch') indicates 'vaccine'. See: ɔl-máɨ́rɔ́ ‘Medicine’; en-dásìm [South] ‘Medicine’.

3 • Wood. Ɔlcaní ótóyíó laáíjó ɛlɛ̂ kínòkìè ɛnkɨ́má. It is a dry wood like this one that we are going to use to light the fire. See: ɔl-catá ‘Firewood’; ol-ogól ‘Main, large fire log’.

4 • Meeting. Ɔlcaní obô apáké étóóshô olóshô néítayuní ɔlaigúɛ́nànì. The society held only one meeting and a chief was made. Meetings are generally held under trees, where people can find shade and shelter from rain. See: ɛnk-igúánà [Purko] ‘Meeting’.

ɛn-caní Acc pl: ɨn-canítò. Twig, stick, stake. LING: There is no form *ɔl-canítò.

en-dásùm n. Medicine from witchdoctors. See: [South] en-dásìm ‘Medicine’; ɔl-caní ‘Medicine’.

a-ɨgɨ́s ɛnkɔ́shɔ́kɛ̀ To cut the stomach with short cuts, perhaps around the belly area, e.g. for treating a disease. See: a-igér ‘To mark, write’.

a-itomwáí [Chamus]: a-ɨtamʉ́ɨ́. v. 1 • To cure.

2 • To care for a sick person. Káytɔ́mʉ́yìà. I cared for him. (S). See: a-ishíúnyé ‘To cure’; a-aparɛ́ ‘To cure’.

a-ɨtɔpɔ́k v tr. To give health. See: a-pɔ́k ‘To revive, rejuvinate’.

l-kení [North] Nom sg: l-kénì. n. 1 • [North] Tree. See: ɔl-caní ‘Tree’.

2 • [North] Medicine, herb. Yakáàkì lkení lámát. bring me medicine/herb to drink. (S).

2 • [North] Song. See: o-sínkólìò ‘Song’.

l-kíbélékényì [North] n. [North] Soup made for a sick person.

ol-kílórití Nom sg: ol-kilírotí. Acc pl: ɨl-kɨ́lɔ̀rɨ̀t. Nom pl: ɨl-kɨ́lɔ́rɨ̀t. 1 • n. Acacia tree species; Egypitan thorn-acacia. acacia nilotica; acacia arabica, acacia abyssinica kirkii. Mol records that the bark of this tree is placed in water which is drunk after slaughtering and eating meat in order to help digestion. Also, when a person is sick with venereal disease s/he is given a medicine from the root of this plant together with e-súnyáí, fat from the chest of a sheep.

2 • n.prop. Place name for several places where this acacia tree grows: e.g. southeast of Siana-Meguarra, Narok District; a place about 10 km south of Kajiado town along the Nairobi-Namanga road.

ol-kitolosua n. Root mixed with broth from bones and cow hooves, to make a medicinal soup.

ol-kokólà Nom sg: ol-kókòlà. Acc pl: il-kokolaní. Nom pl: il-kókolaní. n. Type of tree with roughly oval-shaped leaves, from which a medicine is made. The medicine is made by harvesting the bark or roots, cutting them into pieces, and boiling it to add to meat soup or as a drink when "cut" with fat. It is used to strengthen one, and is believed to dissolve blood clots, alleviate symptoms of gonhorrea, relieve pain, make one urinate easily, and for back-ache. The boiled liquid is very dark yellowish (the color of coffee). The olkokólà medicine from trees that grow in highland regions is not very powerful; that from arid regions is very strong and it is this that is primarily used.

a-kɔ́rd v.prog. 1 • To scratch so as to leave a mark; bruise. Ɛ́tɔ́kɔ́rdá ɛnkɛ́ráí ɛmpákâ. The child has been scratched by the cat. (Pk). Ɛ́tɔ́kɔ́rdá ɛnkɔ̂p ɛnkɛ́ráí natabatátɛ̀. The ground has bruised a child that has fallen. (Pk). This would not be used for gentle scratching of itchy skin just to relieve the itching. See: a-kárd ‘To scratch’; a-ój ‘To scratch’; a-kɔkɔ́t ‘To scratch deeply’.

2 • To vaccinate. Ɛshɔmɔ́ dúóó ɛnkɛráí mɛtɔ́kɔrdɨ. The child went to get a vaccine. (Pk).

3 • To hook sth.

a-kɔrdɨkɔ́rd To scratch repeatedly.

l-kúwúórìè [North] n. [North] Soup boiled for a short time to feed to a sick person. See: n-kuwúó ‘Soup’.

a-lɔ́p₁ v.prog. 1 • To induce vomiting. Kálɔ́pɨ́tà. I am causing him to vomit (by doing something directly to him, such as putting fingers in his mouth) (SN). Káɨ́kʉ́nɨ́tà mɛtɔ́lɔ̀pɨ̀shɔ̀ táatá. I am causing him to vomit (directly or indirectly). Káalóp. He will help me vomit, etc. (S).

a-lɔpɨshɔ́ To vomit. This typically includes drinking lots of a tea made from herbs, then purging the stomach as a treatment for illness. This is supposed to be helpful in treating malaria.

a-lɔpishoré To induce vomiting with. See: a-gʉrrʉmá ‘To vomit’.

ɔl-máɨ́rɔ́ Nom sg: ɔl-maɨrɔ́. Acc pl: ɨl-máɨ́rɔ̂n. Nom pl: ɨl-maɨrɔ́n. n. Medicine, in general. See: ɔl-caní ‘Medicine’; en-dásím [South] ‘Medicine’.

l-mákútíkútì [North] n. [North] Type of tree used as a herb to treat stomach upsets and also for fertility. It is believed this is useful for treating very serious illnesses.

masilig Acc pl: i-masilig. n.pl. Type of soft leaves; used in medical treatments??

e-mou n. Horn, placed over an infected area and sucked on to treat an illness.

ɛ-mʉ́gʉtán Nom sg: ɛ-mʉ́gʉtán. Acc pl: ɨ-mʉgʉtaní. Nom pl: ɨ-mʉ́mʉtaní. n. Bitter juice used medicinally, from xxxx root? tree? used as a purgative to induce vomiting for treating worms.

ɛ-náíbón n. The doing of witchcraft; treating using traditional medicine; forseeing, predicting; prophesying.

ɔl-ŋanayíôî [ɔ̀lŋànàyyôy] Nom sg: ɔl-ŋánayíôî. Acc pl: ɨl-ŋanayíó. Nom pl: ɨl-ŋánàyìò. [Purko] Nom sg: ɔl-ŋánayîô. n. 1 • Fruit. Ɨ́mbʉŋá ɔlŋanayíôî. Touch the fruitǃ. Míntókì adanyʉ́ ɨlantɛ́rɛ̀rà tɔɔ́ lŋánàyìò. Stop splitting out seeds from the fruit. Ewó ɛlɛ̂ ŋánayíîô amʉ̂ ɛ́tɔ́dɔ́rɔ́. This fruit has ripened because it is red. (Pk). Kémelôôk ɨlŋánàyìò lɛ́kʉ́ldɔ̀ keék. The fruits of those trees are very juicy. (Pk).

2 • Tablets (of medicine), pills, capsules. See: ol-momôî ‘Fruit’.

l-ŋérríyíóí [North] Nom sg: l-ŋerriyíóí. n. [North] Olive tree. This tree can be used as a herb to treat worms; put on the door of the house in which a girl or boy is being circumcised; to light fire on the gate of the kraal through which cows will pass after they have been away for a period of time due to draught; for cleaning calabashes. See: ol-óíríén ‘Olive tree’.

ol-oibónì Nom sg: ol-óíbònì. Variant: ol-óíbóní. Acc pl: il-oibónòk. Nom pl: il-óíbònòk. Variant: ɔibónɨ̀; aibónì. n. 1 • Ritual expert, medicine man, prophet, diviner who has the highest rank in Maasai society. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɨlmʉ́rrán oloibónì mɛtámayɨanɨ. The warriors have gone to the fortune-teller to be blessed. Eibónítò olóíbònì ɔlárràbàl. The diviner is divining the war. (W). An oloibónì is a man of about fifty years of age who has the highest rank in society because he is believed to have supernatural powers to heal, bless, undo witchcraft, and to mediate between God and man. The main functions of an ol-oibónì are: 1. Making predictions; 2. Advising and blessing warriors with regards to the success of their battles; 3. Concocting and undoing curses: If someone is cursed, ol-oibónì can figure out who made the curse, and what action the person should take to undo it, or he can give out medicine to cure the curse; 4. Searching for the cause of diseases that are especially challenging. He ascribes his position from his deceased father and will maintain it until he passes it on to his eldest son just before his death. The Maasai may have only one or two oloibónì at a time, and every section of the Maasai will visit him at certain days of the month. Ol-oibónì is no longer very powerful, but in previous years he was the most prominent person in Maasai society. Still nowadays, warriors will not go to war without first consulting with ol-oibónì. Also, other people will go to see ol-oibónì: If someone cannot understand the cause for something that has happened, or wants to know what might happen in the future, he will go to ol-oibónì, who will give him magic/explanation, or ɛn-áíbón. Ol-oibónì can explain why there is a problem, or who placed a curse on the individual (ɛn-áíbón). He can also possibly explain why another person placed a curse on that individual, and what the person should do to get the curser to undo his curse. He is also known to curse if consulted to do so. He will only be able to perform his duties under the influence of alcohol. His consultation fee is always paid in form of cows (usually 49). In traditional Maasai society there have been and still are famous ink-oibónòk, as for instance Sekenan, who lived near Magadi. Il-oibónòk use en-kidoŋ (calabashes) to carry small objects used in divination.

enk-oibónì Prophetess. Li oibónì! O ritual expert! See: a-ibón ‘To exercise the office of ritual expert’; en-kídòŋ ‘Calabash’; ɔl-abáànì ‘Healer’; ol-kuyantiki ‘Self-proclaimed healer’.

em-punyûâ Nom sg: em-púnyûâ. Acc pl: ím-púnyúâî. Nom pl: ím-púnyáâî. n. Powder made from the ashes of certain leaves, used to treat open wounds by hastening the formation of a scab.

a-rrʉgʉ́m v.prog. To cause to vomit; nauseate. Káàrrʉ̀gɨ̀mɨ̀tà olcánì. The medicine is making me vomit.

áà-sàj v. To make an incision.

seket Acc pl: seketi. n. Type of traditional medicine; used to treat worms. See: ɛnk-abobókì ‘Bark’.

o-sekétekí Acc pl: i-sekétèk. Nom pl: i-sékètèk. Variant: i-seketet. n. 1 • Type of tree found in the highlands; tall, slender leaves.

2 • Seeds from the o-sekétekí tree, boiled to form a traditional medicinal tea; the juice is drunk, perhaps combined with milk or other tea, for deworming. Usage: plural. Shɔ́mɔ̀ íyaʉ́ enteré peê eidoŋíékì isekétèk lɨkɨncɔ́rɨ̀. Go and bring a mortar for the grinding of traditional medicine that will be given to you. (Pk). Though the tree grows in restricted highland areas, the seeds are sold or sent throughout Maasai land and are widely known.

e-simeita n. Type of traditional medicine, used to induce vomiting.

ɛ-sɨ́ráí Nom sg: ɛ-sɨráí. n.sg. 1 • Regret (used with the verb a-nyá 'to eat'). Áanyakâ ɛsɨráí amʉ̂ átányà dúóó alotú ajó mmelotú engárrî nálò âŋ. I regret that I came because I thought there would be no vehicle to my home. (lit: Regret has eaten me because ....) (Pk). Ɛ́kɨ́nyááká ɛsɨráí tɛ̀ nkárakɨ́ nɛɨtʉ isieku aɨnɛpʉ́ engárrî nikiya aŋ? Do you regret because you did not hurry to catch up with the vehicle that would take you home? (lit: Has regret eaten you because ...) (Pk).

2 • [North] Deep love for sth.

3 • [North] Type of tree that has milk-like substance used to treat stomach upsets.

a-ɨsɨráí To regret.

e-súmeitá Nom sg: e-súmeitá. Acc pl: i-sumeitaní. Nom pl: i-súmeitaní. n. Type of traditional plant used as medicine to induce vomiting, primarily when one has malaria. The roots? or Stem? are pounded, mixed with oil or fat, and chewed or swallowed. The preparation immediately induces nausea.

sʉ́ráí [North] Acc pl: sʉra. n. 1 • Wood.

2 • [North] Branch. agɨlʉ́ sʉ́ráí To cut off a branch (from the trunk) (SN).

3 • Medicine. See: ɔl-ŋɔ́sɨ́lá ‘Branch’; sálgéí ‘Branch’.

ɛn-tɛ́pɛ̀ Nom sg: ɛn-tɛ́pɛ. Acc pl: in-tépeí. Nom pl: in-tépeí. n. 1 • Flat round bead like a button but with the hole through the diameter of the bead.

2 • Flat round tablet or pill. See: ɔ-saêî ‘Bead’.

ɛn-tɔnâî Nom sg: ɛn-tɔ́nàì. Variant: ɛntánàì. Acc pl: ɨn-tɔná. Variant: in-taná. Nom pl: ɨn-tɔ́nà. Variant: in-tánà. n. 1 • Root of a plant. Órè oshî ɨntɔná ɔɔ́ lkeék némélìò amʉ̂ abóri ɛnkɔ̂p etíi. The roots of trees are not seen because they are underground. (Pk).

2 • Something important that one needs to do; one's "business" Émíntókì doí áàtɔ̀nɨ̀ áàìtùmùtìkì ɨltʉ́ŋáná amʉ̂ kɛ́átáí doí ɨntɔná. Stop delaying people because they have business. (Pk).

en-túlélei Nom sg: en-tulélei. Acc pl: in-túlélè. Nom pl: in-tulelé. n. 1 • Sodom apple. Solanum.campylacanthum. Áatadanyakínè entulélei ɛnkɔŋʉ́. I had a sodom apple burst in my eye. (Pk).

2 • Sodom apple leaves. The leaves of this plant are used to clean the insides of calabashes, and to treat swellings, chest problems, dislocations.

áà-ɨ̀shɔ̀ ɨl-túpaí To give intravenous medicine.

a-yɨ́ɛ́ŋ [yyɛŋ] Variant: a-yíáŋ; a-yíéŋ. v. 1 • To slaughter and divide an animal into pieces appropriately according to the way the muscles, bones, tendons, etc. are formed. Nɛ́ɨ́shɔ mɛnyɛ́ ɔlkɨ́tɛ́ŋ ɔshɔmɔ́ áayɨɛŋ tɔlpûl. Their father gave them a bull to slaughter in the slaughtering place. Mɛyɨɛŋɨ́ áɨ́kata ɔlkɨ́tɛ́ŋ lɛ́mɛ́ sinyátì tɔɔ́ ntálèŋò. An ox which is not of one colour for a sacred purpose is never slaughtered. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́ráɨ́ áàyɨ̀ɛ̀ŋ olkér lâŋ. Our castrated ram is being slaughtered. (Pk).

2 • To flay.

3 • To skin.

4 • To operate or perform surgery, on a human or animal. Ɛ́táyíáŋá ɔlkitarí ɛnkɛ́ráɨ́ namúéí. The doctor has performed surgery on the sick child. (Pk). Usage: áà-yìèŋ indicates 'to do surgery, do an operation'; áà-sàj or áà-shàh 'to make an incision'; áà-dàny ɛnk-ɔ́shɔ̀kɛ̀ 'to do any kind of abdominal surgery' (lit: 'to burst the stomach'); áà-bùlù ɛn-kɛ́ráí 'to deliver a child by Caesarean section'.. See: a-yíáŋ ‘To slaughter’.