Maa

D - d

d Letter representing the Maa alveolar voiced stop consonant /ɗ/.Some speakers may have light implosion, while for others the stop is not implosive.

a-daá v itr. To eat, feed (itr). Kɛ́dáa. He is eating/he eats. (S). Ágɨ́ra adaá. I am eating. Káló adaá amʉ̂ kááta esúmash. I am going to eat because I am hungry. Tánya taá ɛdaá inkíshu ɛ́nyɛnák tɔ lcámpâ líno. Forbid his cows from grazing in your land. (W). Ɛ́ɨ́má inkíshu enê áapuo áadaa. The herds of cows have passed here for grazing. (Pk). Ɛtadɛ́ɛ ɛlɛ́ páyian. This man has eaten. Kɛ́tádɛ́ɛ. He has eaten. (S). Kɛ́tádáátɛ. They have eaten. (S). See: a-nyá ‘To eat (transitive)’; a-itotí ‘To feed (transitive)’; a-ɨnɔ́s ‘To eat’; a-ám ‘To eat’; a-má ‘To eat’.

a-daarí To go on eating from one place to another or one meal after another; feed on. Kétíru ɛnkɔ́shɔ́kɛ ɔltʉŋáni ɔdaári The stomach will pain anybody who keeps on eating from place to place.

a-daarɛ́ v.apl. To eat at, eat by means of. See: ɛn-dáátá ‘The eating, food’; ɛn-dáa ‘Food’.

ɛn-dáa Nom sg: ɛn-dáâ. Acc pl: ɨn-daikí. Nom pl: ɨn-dáíki. [North] Acc pl: n-dakɨ́. [North] Nom pl: n-dákɨ. n. 1 • Food. Kɛ́nyá oshî ɨltʉŋaná ɛndáa peê éíshû. People eat food so as to live. (Pk). Tʉ́pʉrdakɨ́ lpílipíli atúa ndáa. Crush the pepper into the food. (SN). Usage: Plural refers to foodstuffs..

2 • [North] Eating. See: a-daá ‘To eat, feed’.

n-dáárɛ́ [North] [North] Nom sg: n-áárɛ. n. 1 • [North] Grazing.

2 • [North] Foraging of bees.

ɛn-dáátá Nom sg: ɛn-daatá. Acc pl: ɨn-daát. Nom pl: ɨn-daát. n. 1 • Grazing. Ɛshɔmɔ̂ inkíshu ɨndaát. The cows have gone to graze. Kóre tɔɔ ɔlámeyu, némētūm inkíshu ɨndaát sidaîn. During the dry period cows do not graze well.

2 • Grazing land, pasture. Náa ɛ́ntabáɨ́ inkíshú ɨndaát ɛnyɛ̂. Make sure the cows reach their grazing fields. (Pk). See: a-daá ‘To eat’.

n-dádápōī [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dadápoi. [North] Acc pl: n-dádápo. n. [North] Large flat rock. See: ɛn-dápdápoi ‘Large flat rock’.

in-daikí n.pl. Foodstuffs. See: ɛn-dáa ‘Food’.

ɔl-dákéí Nom sg: ɔl-dakéí. [Purko] Acc sg: ɔl-dákei. n. 1 • The eating.

2 • Eating habit. See: a-daá ‘To eat’; ɛn-dáa ‘Food’; ɔl-adakíté ‘Food’.

ɛn-dakɛ́t Nom sg: ɛn-dákɛ̄t. Acc pl: ɨn-dakɛ́ta. Nom pl: ɨn-dákɛta. n. 1 • Mouth.

2 • Utensil for eating. Ɛ́yaʉ́ indakɛ́ta peê kɨnya ɛndáa. Bring the utensils so that we can begin eating. (Pk). See: ɛn-kʉ́tʉ́k ‘Mouth’; ɛ-nyɨ́rt ‘Mouth’; a-daá ‘To eat’.

ɔl-dákɨ́tárrí Nom sg: ɔl-dakɨtarrí. Acc pl: ɨl-dakɨtarriní. Nom pl: ɨl-dákɨtarriní. n. Doctor; healer. Eképūōī áaʉd ɨnkɛ́ra táaisére ɨldákɨtarriní. Children will be vaccinated (injected) tomorrow by doctors. Borrowed word: English 'doctor', via Swahili daktari. See: ɔl-abáani ‘Healer; doctor’; ɔl-ádítárí ‘Doctor’.

a-dál₁ v.prog. 1 • To scorch, heat too hotly. Restrict: Sun, fire. Usage: a-dál means to put out heat toward sth. else. a-irowúá means sth. is hot in itself.. Ɛdalɨ́ta ɛnkɨ́ma iyíóók The fire is scorching us. Ɛ́dál ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ ɛnâ kɔ́p There is too much heat (from the sun) on this land. The sun scorches on this land. Kɛ́dálɨ̄shɔ̄ táatá ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ. The sun is too hot today. ɛnkátá nadalʉ́ ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ olêŋ néírowúáju olêŋ The time when the sun scorches down immensely and it becomes very hot [This is a description of ɔl-adalʉ́, the hot month]. Ɛtadálūā ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ olêŋ. The sun has given a lot of heat.

2 • To shine intensely; burn eyes with bright light. Míkíntóki adál téínâ kíóok. Don't keep on burning my eyes with that mirror (ie., the light from the mirror is too bright for me). See: ɔl-adalʉ́ ‘Hot season’; a-ɨrowúá ‘To be hot’.

a-dál₂ v.prog. 1 • To intentionally pass a little bit aside from the main course. adál enkóítóī To deviate from the path.

2 • To intentionally deviate from the main point or from the truth in a discussion. adál ɛsɨ́pátá To intentionally deviate from the truth. Syn: a-paásh ‘To deviate from’.

a-dál₃ v.prog. To swing hand(s) or leg(s). Ɛ́dál ɔlákúɛ́tání ɨnkáɨ́k tenékuɛt. The athlete will swing his hands when he runs. Ɛ́dalɨ́ta ɔltʉ́ŋání ɨnkáɨ́k ɔ́ nkɛjɛ́k tiátua ɛnkárɛ́ A person is swinging hands and legs in water. See: a-yúk ‘To swing’.

a-dalá v.mid. To play joyfully and with no specific aim. Edála ɨlŋátunyo. Lions are playing. (W). [low falling tone on ɨlŋátūnyō] Ádála táatá. I will play today. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkáyíóní adalarɛ́ intóto. The boy is playing with pebbles. (Pk). See: a-igurán ‘To play’.

a-dalarɛ́ v.mid v.apl. To joke, play with; mock, jest.

a-dalá lʉkʉnyá v.phrase. To be not attentive.

ɛn-dála [North] Nom sg: n-dálâ. n. Play, playfulness, jest.

ɨl-Dalálɛkʉtʉk n.pl. Name of a Maasai section. See: ɨl-Kankére ‘il-Kankere section’; ol-oshô ‘Section’.

n-dálankúáni [North] n. Type of grass that is bigger and wider than other grass, which grows on arid land on the sides of a hill, normally in clumps; [North] Type of grass that is bigger and wider than other grass, which grows on arid land on the sides of a hill, normally in clumps. See: ɛn-kʉ́jɨ́tá ‘Grass’.

ɛn-dálátá [North] Nom sg: ɛn-dalatá. n. Act of playing.

dalût Nom sg: dálut. Acc pl: dalúti. Nom pl: dálutí. adj. Mischievous, playful. Ɨ́ntalamáɨ́ ɛnâ kɛ́ráɨ́ dalût amʉ̂ kéíbukóó kʉnâ motorí. Keep away this mischevious child, because he will pour out this soup. (Pk). See: a-ɨŋɔlá ‘To be playful’.

a-dám₁ v. To turn sth. Ɛgɨ́rāɨ̄ áadam inkíshú méínyiaarī ɛnkáló naiŋúáa. The cows are being turned so they return to the direction they came from. (Pk).

a-damá v.mid. To change direction; turn. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛngárī adamá. The car is turning. (Pk). See: a-oʉ́k ‘To turn’.

a-dám₂ v. To slap. Ɛgɨ́rāɨ̄ áadam ɔlpúríshóí isedérī tɔɔ́ nkáɨk. The thief is being slapped (on) the cheeks with the hands. adamdám sɛ́dɛr To repeatedly slap the face (S). See: a-ósh ‘To slap, beat’.

a-dám₃ v. To mislead; destroy, disorganize (by alcohol, withcraft, etc.). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnaishó adám ɔltʉŋáni. The alcohol is misleading the person. (Pk).

a-damá v.mid. To be destroyed by sth. like alcohol or witchcraft. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛráɨ́ adamá ánaa ɛnasukúto. The child is behaving like one who is bewitched. (Pk). As a result of being a-damá, a person does not do what is expected of a normal individual, and may behave in any of a number of anti-social ways. For example, he may wander around, be unsuccessful in business, kill, take a lot of alcohol etc.

ɛn-dam [South]₄ n. [South] Basket. See: ɛn-kɨɔndɔ̂ ‘Basket’.

ɛn-dáma₁ Nom sg: ɛn-dámâ. Acc pl: ɨn-damaritín, ɨn-damaí. Nom pl: ɨn-dámaritín. n. 1 • Daylight. Tɛ ɛndámâ oshî ɛwáŋ ɛnkɔ̂p. It is during daylight that earth is bright. (Pk). See: dáma ‘During the day’; m-parkɨ́jɨ [North] ‘Daytime’; ɔŋán [North] ‘Daytime’.

2 • Day. See: m-pârr [North] ‘Day’.

3 • Afternoon, from noon on. Éjó áá ɛndámâ? How is the afternoon? (W). Óu tádɛkɛnyá amʉ̂ káanyu, káke mílotú taá dáma amʉ̂ áɨ́dɨ́pa ɨna kátá ashɔ́mōɔ. Come in the morning because I will wait for you, but don't come in the afternoon because I would have left by that time. (Pk).

4 • [North] Sun. See: ɛnk-ɔlɔ́ŋ ‘Sun’.

ɔl-dáma 1 • Long daylight. Ɛ́ɨ́tɔrrɔnɔ̂ tɛ nɛ́ɨ́shʉnyɛ́ ɔldámâ ɔ́ba nchí nɛ́mɛ́ɛ́ta. It is bad to let such a long day end without doing anything. (lit: It is bad of a long day to reach xxx and not do anything.) (Pk).

2 • Heat from sun; hot sun, hot day.

3 • [North] Sunbeam, ray, bright sunshine.

4 • [North] Sun.

ɔl-dáma₂ Nom sg: ɔl-dámâ. Acc pl: ɨl-damát. Nom pl: ɨl-damát. n. Hillside, spur. See: ɛn-dáma ‘Hillside, spur’.

ɛn-dámā ɔ́ ɛnkɛwaríé n. Period of time which includes day and night together; day (24 hours) (lit: day and night). Óre ɛndámā ɔ́ ɛnkɛwaríé pɔɔkɨ́ kɛ́tɔ́nɨ́ta aké. Day and night he has just been sitting. (Pk). See: ɛnk-ɔlɔ́ŋ ‘Sun, day’; m-pârr [North] ‘Day’.

ɨl-Damát n.pl. Name of a Maasai section. See: ol-oshô ‘Section’.

n-dámáta [North] [North] Nom sg: n-damatá. [North] Acc pl: n-damát. [North] Nom pl: n-damát. n. [North] Slope of a mountain, hillside, face (of mountain). See: ɛnk-ɔ́shɔkɛ ‘Slope of a hill’; ɔl-dáma ‘Hillside’.

a-damɨshɔ́ v. To think; be imaginative. ɔltʉŋáni ɔdámɨ̄shɔ̄ person who is imaginative, thinking. Táa ɔltʉŋáni ɔdámɨshɔ mɨ́ncɔ̄ ɨmbáa kíríkíno. Be a thinking person, don't forget issues. See: a-damʉ́ ‘To think’.

a-damʉ́ [West]: a-dɛmʉ́. In some suffixed forms: a-damʉ́n. v v.aux+subjn-infinitive. To remember, think (about), imagine; the object may be an NP or a nominalized complement clause. Meékūrē ɛdamʉ́ kókoô ɨnkaátini kúmok. My grandmother does not remember many stories. Tádamʉ́ eníló táaisére. Think where you will go tomorrow. Ɛ́gɨ́rá ɛnkɛráí adamɨshɔ́ amʉ̂ kélóíto aás ɛntɛ́mátá. The child is thinking because she is going to do an exam. (Pk). Kɛ́damʉ́ oltʉ́ŋání erréshétó ɔɔ́ ŋúési. The man imagines/remembers/thinks about trapping animals. (lit: The man cognizes the trapping of animals.) (Pk). Kádamʉ́ atɛyɨ́ɛ́ra inkírí. I remember how to cook meat. Ant: a-rikinó ‘Forget’. See: a-parrʉ́ [North] ‘To remember’.

ɛn-dámúnotó Nom sg: ɛn-damúnotó. Acc pl: ɨn-damunót. Nom pl: ɨn-dámunot. n. Thought. Kéíshíákínō nɛ́ɨ́shɔ ɔltʉ́ŋání ɔlikáɨ́ ɛndámúnotó naret. It is proper for a person to give the other a thought that will help him. (Pk). Óre aké téípa nɛ́ɨ́dʉrr ɨnkɛ́ra e sukúul ɨndámunot. In the afternoon/evening, school children's minds (thoughts) wander (migrate). Áaɨdʉrrâ ɨndámunot. My thoughts have wandered. See: a-damʉ́ ‘To remember’.

l-dánkâl [North] n. [North] Open location with no tree or house to hide in. Syn: ɔl-bárríkô ‘Wilderness; open ground’.

en-dánu n. Spleen.

a-dány v.prog. 1 • To break a hole in, burst, shatter. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛráí adány olmosorî lé mótonyî. The child is breaking the egg of a bird. (Pk). Ɛtadányɛ olgúsâ The blister burst. Ádányɨ́ta olmósori. I am breaking the egg. (W). Míncop ɛnâ mánkékí amʉ̂ ɛtadányatɛ ɨntʉ́ntaí. Don't wear that necklace because the oval beads (used to finish the edge) are broken. (Pk). Áatadanyakíne entulélēī ɛnkɔŋʉ́. I had a sodom apple burst into my eye. aitík osóít ɔmɛtádanyanyú to hit a stone hard until it breaks (Pk). adány lɛkɨ́pa To have one's waters (amniotic fluid) break (S).

2 • To hatch.

3 • To flower. Mayíólo ajó káɨ́nyɔ̄ɔ̄ náyawúá ɛnâ síáai ɛ́ nkasíŋī. Kájō kɛ́kʉlɔ̂ keék ɔɔ́danyɨta ɨntapʉ́ka. I don't know what brought about this act/business of sneezing. Maybe it is these trees that are flowering. (lit: that are bursting).

a-danyá v.mid. To be broken, burst, cracked. Ɛdánya. It is burst. (ie. it is lying there already in a burst condition). Ɛgɨ́ra ɔldʉ́tʉtâî adanyá. The boil is breaking/bursting. (Pk). Némorroóju, néílubulúbu, nɛ́dānyā aɨɔtɨɔtá, nétīū ánaa ɨlpɛpɛ́dɔ. It becomes rough, it swells, it bursts to be infected and it becomes like scabies. Ɛtadányɛ ɛnkɛ́jʉ ɛ́ ngárri. The tyre of the car has burst. (ie. the car has a flat tyre). Nɛ́dʉmʉnɨ́ siî kʉlɛ́ ɛ́ ɨ́nâ áŋ áapɨk olkúkúrí lɛ́mɛ́dánya. They get milk of that home and put it in a calabash which has not cracked. Etadányɛ olpírâ lɛ́ nkárɛ́. The water can is broken/leaks. [The water can may or may not currently have water in it.] (W). Etadányɛ ɛnkɔ́ŋʉ ɔ́ lkɨ́tɛ́ŋ. The cow's eye has burst. (so it is not working).

a-danyaá v.dir. To rip open, break open.

a-danyʉ́ v.dir. To burst, split sth. open. Míntóki adanyʉ́ ɨlantɛ́rɛra tɔɔ́ lŋayíôî. Stop splitting out seeds from the fruit. (Pk). See: a-ɨpɛ́rr ‘To split’; a-rɛ́k ‘To split’.

áa-dany ɛnk-ɔ́shɔkɛ To do abdominal surgery (lit: to burst the stomach).

ɔl-danyɛ́t Acc pl: ɨl-danyɛ́ta. n. The first watery liquid that emerges when s.o. or sth. is giving birth.

l-dáp [North] Nom sg: l-dâp. n.sg. [North] Masturbation.

ɛn-dâp Nom sg: ɛn-dâp. Acc pl: ɨn-dápi. Nom pl: ɨn-dápî. n. Palm (of the hand), sole (of the foot). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛntásât aiutu'út ɨndápi ɔɔ́ nkɛjɛ́k. The woman is cleansing the soles of her feet. (Pk). Ɨ́ntɛr taá aké adɔ́l nɛ́ɨ́lɛpʉ ɛndâp ɛ́ nkáɨ́ná. You begin to see the palm of the hand (observably) increase (in size). Áataremô orkíkuei ɛndâp ɛ́nkaɨna. A thorn has pierced my palm. (Pk).

dápác [North] [North] Nom sg: dapác. [North] Acc pl: dápácí. [North] Nom pl: dapací. adj. [North] Broad, wide. See: dápásh ‘Broad, wide’.

a-dapacú [North] v.incep. [North] To become wide. Kɛ́dapácu. It will become/becomes wide. (S). Kɛ́tádápaca. It became wide. (S).

ɛn-dapanâ Nom sg: ɛn-dápanâ. Acc pl: ɨn-dápan. Nom pl: ɨn-dápân. n. Skin, particularly of a small animal such as a goat, sheep, calf; hide removed from an animal. Ɨncɔ́ɔkɨ́ ɛndapanâ náló aɨtainyíé ɔlkɨlâ. Give me a skin (of a goat or sheep) so that I can make a piece of clothing from it. (Pk). ɛn-dapanâ is typically used to make clothes, or straps for sandals. See: ol-coní ‘Skin’.

dápásh Nom sg: dapásh. Acc pl: dápáshí. Nom pl: dapashí. adj. Broad, wide. Mɛ́ɨm ɛmɨ́sâ dapásh ɛnkʉ́tʉ́k ɛ́ nkají rɔ́nkáí. A wide table cannot fit through a narrow door. ɔltʉŋáni dápásh broad-bodied person. See: a-ɨdapásh ‘To scatter’; a-lalá ‘Wide’.

ɛn-dápásh n. Bed (lit: the wide thing). Shɔ́mɔ ɨ́mɛrɨpɛrayú tɛ ndapásh. Go and rest on the bed. (Pk). Ɛndápásh kɨtɨ́ oshî ɛnɛ̂ ntásat. Ɛndápásh kitók oshî ɛnɔ́ɔ lpayianí. It is the small bed in the traditional house that belongs to the mother. The big bed in a traditional house belongs to the man. (Pk). See: e-rrúât ‘Bed’; l-korrór [North] ‘Bed’; l-tápʉ́tɛ́t [Chamus] ‘Bed’. For SN, there is no indigenous word for 'bed'; rather, the Swahili term kitanda is used.

ɛn-dápásh sápʉk The big bed in a traditional house.

ɔl-dápásh 1 • A person with a broad body. This term is primarily used as a person's name whose body is big or broad. Eɛ́wuo ɔldapásh áŋ. Oldapash (lt. The Wide) has come home. (Pk).

2 • The wide open place (masc.).

3 • A big bed. This term exaggerates the size of the bed, and is not the traditionally-used term for the large bed in a traditional house.

4 • Shoulder. See: o-rôny ‘Shoulder’.

l-dápdap [North] n. [North] Pigeon; type of bird.

ɛn-dápdápōī n. Rock, boulder. Káídim atoporôî anâ dápdápōī. I can climb/creep over this rock. (SN).

ɛn-dápɨ́dápoi Nom sg: ɛn-dapɨdápōī. Acc pl: ɨn-dápɨ́dápo. Nom pl: ɨn-dapɨdápo. [Purko] Acc sg: ɛn-dápʉ́dápoi, ɛn-dápídápoi. [Purko] Nom sg: ɛn-dapɨdápoi. [North] Acc sg: dadápoi. [Chamus] Acc sg: dádápoi. n. Large flat rock; boulder. Ɛ́ncɔɔ intaré épúo áaok ɛnkárɛ́ natíí ɛndápɨ́dápoi. Let the goats and sheep go and get water that is lying on the flat imporous rock. Note: See synonyms at See: o-sóít ‘Rock’.

a-dár v. 1 • To make a loud noise; shout, scream. Óre oshî ɛ́tɔ̂n mɛɛ́tāɨ̄ ɛnkɨ́páátá kɛ́dār aké ɔláyíóní óbō nɛ́mʉrrát mɛnyɛ́ Now normally before the initial ceremony one boy first shouts and his father circumcises him.

2 • To thunderclap. See: ɛn-dárátá ‘Thunder’; a-ikurrukúrr ‘To thunder roll’.

3 • To crackle (of fire).

a-daraá 1 • To spread out (of news or information). Méítadaráā ɨlɔmɔ́n lɔɔ́ nkʉrrát He/they will not spread confidential news.

2 • To make continous loud sound. Ádáráa aló Karen. I will make continous loud sound as I go to Karen. Ɛdaráa ɔltʉ́ŋání ɔ́dámá tiátua Nairobi. A bewitched man keeps on making loud sound in Nairobi.

a-darakɨ́ 1 • To shout.

2 • To come out like sparks.

darása n. Class. Náaitudúŋ emoyíán darása. The disease made me miss the class (eg. for several weeks). (Pk). Borrowed word: Swahili.

ɛn-dárátá Nom sg: ɛn-daratá. Acc pl: ɨn-darát. n. Thunder, thunderclap. See: a-dár ‘To make a loud noise; to thunder’; en-kíkúrrúkurr ‘Thunder’.

ɛn-dárátá ɛ́ncan Storm.

ɛn-dárátá ɛ́nkai Storm.

ɔl-dárpóí₁ Acc pl: ɨl-dárpo. Nom pl: ɨl-dárpô. n. 1 • Bull that congenitally lacks both testicles. See: ɔl-kúunta ‘Castrated bull’; kódílé [North] ‘Male with one testicle’; ɔ-sáídóŋóí ‘Castrated male’; sátima ‘Castrated bull’; ɔ-sʉ́nash ‘Bull with one testicle’; sʉnkʉlaité ‘Hermaphrodite’; ɛn-tápɨs ‘Hermaphrodite’.

2 • Man who is sexually frigid.

3 • Man with undescended testicles.

ɔl-dárpóí₂ [North] Nom sg: l-darpóí. n. 1 • [North] Fruit of the l-momôî tree.

2 • Sausage tree. kigela africana. The roots of this tree are at times used for making beer. See: l-momôî [North] ‘Sausage tree’.

n-dárpóí [North] [North] Locally brewed beer (eg. made from honey). See: ɛn-áíshó ‘Beer, honey’.

ɛn-darʉ́na [North] Acc sg: en-dorúna. n. Red light of dawn, sunrise. See: (ɛnk-)akɛnyá ‘Morning’; sɨrán ‘Morning’.

a-dás v. To milk cow into mouth (eg. while it is still in the pasture).

a-dás enkíné v.phrase. To make a clucking sound of annoyance or contempt (lit: 'to milk the goat').

ɛn-dásárɛ́ [North] Nom sg: n-dasarɛ́. n. 1 • Milking directly into hand or mouth.

2 • Sucking. See: a-dás ‘To milk a cow into the mouth’.

ɛn-dásátá Nom sg: ɛn-dasatá???. n. Milking into one's own mouth.

en-dásim [South] n. [South] Medicine. See: ɔl-caní ‘Medicine’; ɔl-máɨ́rɔ́ ‘Medicine’.

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

n-dátá [North] [North] Nom sg: n-datá. [North] Acc pl: n-dátân. n. [North] Least-favoured co-wife. See: kɨrɔtɛ́t ‘Favorite’.

ɔl-dáu Nom sg: ɔl-dáu. Acc pl: ɨl-daûn. Nom pl: ɨl-dáun. n. Semi-permanent climbing rails built on a fence for crossing over the fence. Ɛɨtɔbɨ́rakɨ́ ɔldáu tɔ lpáashie ɔlaŋakinyíéki bɔɔ́. Climbing rails have been built on the fence to cross over into the kraal (Pk). See: ol-kedét ‘Ladder’.

a-dɛ́ v. 1 • To shell. Ɛ́dɛ́. She will shell (sth.). adɛdɛ́ ɨlpáyɛ̂k To take maize kernels out of their cob. Tɛ́dia! Shell it! (S).

2 • [North] To give a warning signal for s.o. talking to keep quiet, in order to let you listen; "shh".

a-dedé v. To be true, correct, right. Edéde. It is true/It used to be true. (W). Kédéde. It is true. (S). Kédéde ɨmbáa náatolimwúó olóíboni. The things that the diviner has said are true. (W). ɨmbáa naádedé things that are true. Náa kédéde naárrɨ́ ajó ɛ́kɨrâ kársísî. (i) It used to be true that we were rich. (K Pk) (ii) We were never rich. (-K Pk). Q: Ámaâ émedéde naárrɨ̄ ajó ɨ́yásɨ́shɔrɛ́ Máásâɨ̂ Language Project? A: Ékédéde apá ... Q: Is it true that you worked for the Maasai Language Project? A: It used to be true... Kédéde ɨnâ báɛ, káke ḿmɛ asɨ́pani ɛmbáɛ. That fact is true, but we cannot say a fact is truthful. (Pk). See: ɛ-nadéde ‘Truth, the truth’; ɛ-sɨ́pátá ‘Truth’; a-sɨp ‘To strip clean’.

a-itadedeyíé To confirm; make clear.

a-dɛdɛ́₁ v.prog. To take apart a large structure bit by bit; dismantle; disassemble. Ɛshɔmɔ́ Kónené adɛdɛ́ ɛsʉntâî, peê eitokí ashɛ́t. Konene has gone to take apart the wall so he can rebuild it again. (W). Ɛdɛdɨ́ta. He is taking it apart. Étédédíá ŋolé. He took it apart yesterday. Íkítededîâ nánkân. We rent the clothes. (S). Note: This can be done to a house, fence, wall; but typically not to cloth, table, chair, a car. See: a-dɛ́ ‘To shell’; a-ŋɛ́r ‘To destroy by tearing apart’.

a-dedíá v.mid. To be torn apart; worn out. Etedédie ɛnkáji músana The old house has worn out.

a-dɛdɛ́ [South]₂ v. [South] To be unhappy.

n-dedêî [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dédei. n. [North] Truth. See: ɛ-sɨ́pátá ‘Truth’.

a-dɛɛ́ny v. 1 • To do sth. in a proud manner. adɛɛ́ny osínkólīō To sing with pride. adɛɛ́ny ɛnkɨ́nɔ́sátá ɛ́ ndáa To eat food in a proud manner.

2 • To make s.o. proud. See: a-ŋɨdá ‘To be proud, happy’; a-ɨká ‘To be suspended; puffed up’; a-itaakunó ‘To show off; pretend’; a-ɨtɔkɔɔ́s ‘To show off; flirt’; a-ɨpɛɛ́j ‘To act ostentatiously; flirt’.

a-dɛɛnyá v.mid. To be filled with pride, arrogance, or anger; puffed up. Meyíéú ɔlmʉrraní ɛndáa tenétií inkítuaak amʉ̂ kɛ́dɛɛ́nya. The warrior does not want (to eat) food where women are because he is proud. ɔltʉŋáni ɔdɛɛ́nya person who is proud, self-conscious.

déí [North] Variant: deí. adv. [North] Indeed. Ronkó deí ɛtárá. It is a dik-dik that he/she killed. (SN). See: doí ‘Indeed’.

ol-déímá Nom sg: ol-deimá. Acc pl: il-démáíshi. Nom pl: il-demaishí. n. 1 • Lymph nodes in the legs.

2 • [North] Swollen glands in the groin. See: ɔl-ŋárkanî ‘Gland’; en-tíkanî ‘Lymph node’.

a-dɛ́k v. 1 • To pronounce a misfortune on s.o. or sth., with the result that a supernatural being will allow or bring that misfortune about. It is generally believed that God hears cries of the elderly, the weak, and disabled (physically or mentally). So, typically it is such people who can a-dɛ́k. Sometimes this will be done to a child in judgement for wrongdoing. Étédíáá ɔlpáyian ɛnkɛ́ráí. The man has cursed the child. [The child may be a-damá, or misfortune may befall the child because of the curse.]. Étédíáá ɔlpáyian ɛnáíshó. The man has cursed the beer. [The beer will cause trouble for anyone who takes it.]. See: ɔl-dɛ́kɛ́t ‘A curse’.

2 • To insult, abuse verbally. This sense does not involve supernatural activity. See: a-mórr ‘To insult, abuse’; a-inyál ‘To insult’.

a-diaakɨ́ v.apl. Etediaákā ɔlpáyian ɛnkɛ́ráí ɛnyɛ́ enáíshó The man has cursed beer for his child (ie. a misfortune will befall the child if he/she drinks beer).

a-diakɨ́ [North] [North] To curse by means of.

ɔl-dɛkɛ́t Nom sg: ɔl-dɛ́kɛt. Acc pl: ɨl-dɛkɛ́ta. Nom pl: ɨl-dɛ́kɛta. n. Curse. See: a-dɛ́k ‘To curse’; l-mogírô; l-ŋóncóí [North] ‘Curse’.

a-dɛ́m v. 1 • To praise. See: a-ɨsɨ́s ‘To praise’.

2 • To long for; want. See: a-yíéú ‘To long for; want’.

3 • To share with on request.

a-dɛmá v.mid. To be lucky.

a-dɛmʉ́ [West] v v.aux+subjn-infinitive. To remember, think. Ɨ́dɛ́mʉ́ naárrɨ́ kɨ́nyáɨ́tá inkulukuók? Do you remember those days that we used to eat soil? (W). Ágɨ́ra adɛmɨshɔ́. I am thinking (eg. in order to figure sth. out). (W). Ɛgɨ́ra Jôn adɛmʉ́ ŋótónyé naɨshárɨ. Jon is remembering his mother who passed away (ie. has died). (W). See: a-damʉ́ ‘To remember’.

en-dénkél n. Centipede. See: ɛnk-ɔlʉ́pa ‘Centipede’.

ɔl-dɛ́pɛ Nom sg: ɔl-dɛ́pɛ̂. Acc pl: il-dépeí. Nom pl: il-dépeí. n. Large tin of about 20 kilos. See: ɔl-bákɛt ‘Bucket’. Borrowed word: Swahili debe.

dɛ́rɛ Nom sg: dɛ́rɛ̂. Acc pl: dérei. Nom pl: déréi. adj. Combination of black and white, with black dominating; may have shades of green to yellow but is basically "gray". The color could be temporary, as when an item is covered with dark gray dust. Color of a mouse or vervet monkey. Ɛtɨmɨrákɨ ɛnkáshê dɛ́rɛ. The mouse-gray heifer has been sold. Kɛ́ɨ́dɛ́rɛ ŋolé ɛnkɨ́nʉkʉ́. The mist yesterday was mouse-gray. See: en-deróni ‘Mouse, rat’.

n-dɛ́rɛ [North] n. [North] Vervet monkey, also known as the black-faced monkey. griseo viridis, genus Cercopithecus. Etymology: ? < Yaaku.

l-dɛ́rɛ [North] [North] Male vervet monkey.

ɔl-dɛ́rɛkɛny Nom sg: ɔl-dɛ́rɛ́kɛny. Acc pl: il-derekenyí. Nom pl: il-dérekenyí. n. Jerican. ɔldɛ́rɛkɛny lɛ́ nkárɛ́ Jerican of water. Borrowed word: English, jerican.

ɛn-dɛ́rkɛny n. Hairless buttocks of a baboon. See: l-ótim [North] ‘baboon’; ɔ-ɛ́kɛny ‘baboon’.

ol-dérkésí Nom sg: ol-derkesí. Acc pl: il-dérkes. Nom pl: il-dérkês. [North] Acc sg: l-dérkési. [North] Nom sg: l-derkési. [North] Acc pl: l-dɛ́rkɛs. n. Type of acacia tree. Acacia senegal. Found in Olóíríén region.

dɛ́rlɛ́ɨ́ [North] Variant: dárléí. [North] Nom sg: dɛrlɛ́ɨ́. [North] Acc pl: derleyíó. [North] Nom pl: dérleyíó. adj. [North] Yellow. See: sikítói; túlélei; búkóí ‘Yellow’.

a-derlenú [North] v.incep. [North] To become yellow. See: dɛ́rlɛ́ɨ́ [North] ‘Yellow’.

en-deróni Nom sg: en-déroni. Acc pl: in-deró. Nom pl: ín-déro. n. Mouse, small rat; naked mole rat. See: dɛ́rɛ ‘Mouse-gray color’.

ol-deróni Male rat. ilderó rats (W).

a-dɛ́rr v. To have an informal discussion; discuss, converse, chat. Ídérríé Doris? Do you (normally) have informal discussions with Doris? Kɛ́tɛ́dɛ́rrâ. They have chatted. (S). See: a-ɨrɔ́ ‘To talk’. This may include storytelling, either by one person or by exchanges of several people, and can be 3 hours long.

a-ɨtɛdɛ́rr To seduce; flirt.

ɔl-dɛrráti Nom sg: ɔl-dɛ́rrati. Acc pl: ɨl-dɛrrát. Nom pl: ɨl-dɛrrát. n. 1 • Chat; informal discussions; talks. Merétīshō ɨldɛrrát tɔ́rrɔk. Bad chat is not helpful. See: ɨl-ɔmɔ́n ‘Conversation’; ɛn-kɨrɔ́rɔ́tɔ́ ‘Conversation’; a-dɛ́rr ‘To have an informal discussion’.

2 • [North] Joke.

n-dɛrráti [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dérrati. [North] Chat.

n-derrí [North] [North] Acc pl: n-derrîn. n. 1 • [North] Duiker sp., perhaps Cephalophus natalensis.

2 • [North] Cloak worn by elders made from the skin of this antelope. Elders may wear it to a baraza.

l-dérro [North] [North] Nom sg: l-dérrô. n.sg. [North] Desire, covetousness. See: l-ŋuarrá [North] ‘Desire, covetousness’.

L-dɛ̂s [North] n.m n.pl. [North] The Elmolo tribe. See: L-móoló [North] ‘The Elmolo tribe’.

l-désí [Chamus] n. [Chamus] Baboon. papio anubis, papio cynocephalus. See: ɔ-ɛ́kɛny ‘Baboon’.

dɛ́t adv. Recently, in recent days. Ɛyákakɨ́ ɛntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́nɨ naatɔ́ɨ́shɛ́ dɛ́t ɛndáa. A woman who just had a baby had food brought for her. (Pk).

n-detí [North] n.pl. [North] Weeds. Káítáí ndetí. [káytáy] I will remove weeds. (S).

a-díá v. To curse. Kedíá. He is cursing s.o. (S). See: a-dɛ́k ‘To curse’. Etymology: In Maa, there is some evidence for /ia/ developing from /ɛk + a/, supporting an analysis of /dɛk/ as the historical source for modern /díá/. Cf. also Proto-Eastern-Nilotic *-dɛm- 'bewitch' (Vossen 1982:333) and Otuho a-diam-ána 'bewitch'; Vossen posits the rule e~ɛ > ɪa {N,C}a for Otuho..

ol-dîâ Nom sg: ol-dîâ. Acc pl: il-díein. Nom pl: il-díêîn. [Purko] Nom sg: ol-díā. [North] Nom sg: l-díâ. n. Male dog. Ɛtáárá oldîâ ɛnkɨ́tɛ́ŋ metúá. The dog killed the cow. (W). Ɛtáárá ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ oldîâ metúá. The cow killed the dog. (W). Ɛmɨ́rɨ́ta ildíêîn inkinejí. The dogs are chasing the goats. (W). Ɛmɨ́rɨ́ta inkíneji ildíein. The goats are chasing the dogs. (W).

ol-dîâ
Syn: ol-kúyúkúí ‘Dog’. Etymology: Proto-Eastern-Nilotic *-di- 'dog' (Vossen 1982:354).

en-dîâ Puppy; female dog, bitch.

dia parrɨ́ [North] n. [North] Day after tomorrow. See: idia-ɔlɔ́ŋ ‘Distant future, including day-after-tomorrow’.

a-diaá₁ v.mid. To be cursed. See: a-dɛ́k ‘To curse’; a-diaayá ‘To curse’.

a-diaá₂ [àdyiá] v. To gasp, breathe noisly as when one has difficulty breathing; breath heavily; grunt (as when sick). Íjo ídíaa ánaa olomúéí? Why do you grunt like a sick person? Kɛ́tɛdîɛ̂ ŋolé. Yesterday he gasped. (SN). Kédia. He has difficulty breathing. (S). See: a-yáŋ ‘To breathe’.

n-díáátá [North] [North] Nom sg: n-diaatá. n. [North] A curse. See: a-dɛ́k ‘To curse’.

a-diaayá v.dir. To curse on leaving, drive off by curses.

a-díák [àdyák] v. 1 • To miss the intended target (eg. when shooting a lion). Kétédíá. He missed it. (S). See: a-tút ‘To miss a target, miss a chance’.

2 • To err, make a mistake.

a-itadíák To make a mistake or be incorrect; err.

n-díátá [North] [North] Nom sg: n-diatá. n. [North] Shelling (eg. of maize). See: a-dɛ́ ‘To shell’.

en-díátí [èndyátí] Nom sg: en-diatí. [Purko] Acc sg: en-díáti. [Purko] Nom sg: en-díátî. [North] Acc pl: n-díátîn. n.sg. What is not desired in a garden; weed.

díā Acc pl: díéin. Nom pl: díéîn. adj. Unfriendly. Káke díā ɛlɛ́ maŋátintá. But this enemy is very unfriendly. (Pk). Ɛ́tárá ɔltʉ́ŋání díā ɔlɨkáɨ. The unfriendly person has beaten the other. (Pk). Ɛ́tárákɨ ɔltʉŋáni díā ɔlɨ́kāɨ̄. The unfriendly person has been beaten by the other. (Pk). ará díā To be unfriendly.

a-idíá v. To be a mean worthless person. Éídia ɛldɛ́ páyian. That man is a mean worthless person. See: ɔl-áróí ‘Unfriendly man’.

a-dɨdɨ́ŋ v.prog. To bump into, walk into sth. Ádɨ́dɨ́ŋɨ́ta ɛmɛ́sa. I am bumping into the table.

a-dɨdɨŋʉ́ v.dir. To push out forcefully towards the point of reference.

a-dɨdɨŋakɨ́ v.apl. To push out forcefully into.

a-dɨdɨŋʉnyɛ́ v.dir v.mid. To come out forcefully.

ol-díîp Nom sg: ol-diíp. Acc pl: il-díipí. Nom pl: il-díipí. n. Acaricide; cattle dip. Etymology: English 'dip'. See: tîp ‘Acaricide’.

dɨkáɨ Nom sg: dɨ́kāɨ̄. pn. Elsewhere. Etoyíó dɨ́kāɨ̄. The other (place) is dried up.

ɛn-dɨkáɨ n. Another place. See: áɨ́₂ ‘Another’.

n-dikasó [North] Nom sg: n-díkasó. n. [North] Yellowish substance that is carried by bees on their legs, as they fly around; pollen.

n-dikasôî [North] [North] Nom sg: n-díkasôî. [North] Acc pl: n-dikasó. [North] Nom pl: n-díkasó. n. [North] Pollen.

l-dikíé [North] [North] Nom sg: l-dɨ́kɨɛ. n. [North] Type of song sung by a group of boys.

n-dɨkɨ́ɛ́ [North] [North] Boy's dance. See: n-tírrá [North] ‘Warriors' song’; l-aparasíyíó [North] ‘Women's song’; l-ɔ́dɔ [North] ‘Old men's song’; l-ɛbárta [North] ‘Mockery song for almost circumcised boys’; l-kíshúrótó [North] ‘Raiders song of victory’; l-kulonkói [North] ‘Night trekkers' song’; n-kéreyio [North] ‘Unexcised girls' song’; e-wóko ‘Song to narrate one's achievement’.

dɨ́kɨ́r [North] help.

n.f. [North] Help, benefit, profit. Mɛáta díkír. He has no help. (S).

en-díkírr₁ Nom sg: en-dikírr. Acc pl: in-dikiró, in-dikirró. Nom pl: in-díkirro. [North] Acc pl: n-dikirró. n. 1 • A long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge; escarpment; usually formed by erosion; cliff, slope. Ɛɨlɛpákɨtâ endíkírr. They have gone up the escarpment.

2 • Ravine.

3 • [North] Gap between mountains, pass.

en-díkírr e kério Nom sg: en-dikírr é kério. n.prop. Kerio Escarpment, Kenya. peê kɨ́lɛ́pʉ̂ te ndikírr (é kério) when we ascended the Kerio escarpment. This expression refers to a major event in the history of the Maasai, the ascent of the Kerrio valley. Some other sections of Maa will call it ɛn-dikirr ɔɔ́ namʉ́ka 'escarpment of the sandals.' Historians generally accept this to have been the present-day Kerio Escarpment in Kenya, an important landmark in the early history of Maasai migrations from north to south. This event happened a number of hundred years ago. Other major events are often timed as having occured before or after the climbing of the escarpment. The event is used as a type of 'anno domini' in Maasai history. This is a traditional story accepted as history of the Maa. It serves to explain their origin. See: en-díkírr ‘Escarpment’.

en-díkírr naɛni ɨn-kʉ́jɨ́t Nom sg: en-dikírr naɛni ɨn-kʉ́jɨ́t. n.prop. Naarɔɔsura Escarpment, Kenya (lit: escarpment where the grass is tied). See: en-díkírr ‘Escarpment’; Naarɔɔsura ‘Place name’; ɛ-nɛɛni ɨnkʉ́jɨ́t ‘Place name on the top of the Naarɔɔsura Escarpment’.

en-díkírr o l-kiloriti Nom sg: en-dikírr o lkiloriti. n.prop. Kikuyu Escarpment (lit: escarpment of Egyptian thorn-acacia). See: en-díkírr ‘Escarpment’.

en-díkírr ɔɔ́ namʉ́ka n.prop. Probably the present-day Kerio Escarpment; escarpment of the sandals (lit: escarpment of the sandals). Historians generally accept this escarpment to have been the present-day Kerio Escarpment in Kenya, an important landmark in the early history of Maasai migrations from north to south. The ascent of this escarpment happened a number of hundred years ago. The event is used as a type of 'anno domini' in Maasai history, as other major events are often timed as having occured before or after the climbing of the escarpment. See: en-díkírr ‘Escarpment’.

en-díkírr oó nkurmân Nom sg: en-dikírr óo nkurmân. n.prop. Escarpment of the cultivated fields. The name is derived from the fields cultivated with grains and other eatables by means of irrigation. These fields were a source of food for many of the early caravans and travellers going through the area in the nineteenth century, according to Gustave Fischer, the explorer, in 1882. See: en-díkírr ‘Escarpment’; en-kurmá ‘Cultivated field, flour’.

a-dɨ́p [North] v. 1 • [North] To resemble in physical appearance. See: a-risieré [North] ‘To resemble in appearance’.

2 • [North] To be similar (eg. ideas).

a-dɨ́r v. 1 • To go upward with gradual or continuous progress; climb; mount. adɨ́r oldóínyó To climb up a mountain. Syn: a-kéd ‘To climb’.

2 • [North] To enter a vehicle. adɨ́r ngárri To get into a car (S).

a-dɨrakɨ́ 1 • To climb for s.o.

2 • [North] To climb over to where sth. is.

l-dɨrɛ́t [North] n. [North] Small gate used by people at night. This is used when the big gate is closed; it is built so that cows cannot pass through.

ɔl-dɨrɛ́tai Nom sg: ɔl-dɨ́rɛtái. Acc pl: ɨl-dɨrɛ́ta. Nom pl: ɨl-dɨ́rɛta. n. Pack-saddle. aɛnaá ilkúkúrtok tɔɔ́ ldɨ́rɛta peê mɛ́sʉ́lʉ́nyɛ to tie the calabashes on the pack saddles so they don't fall down. See: sainiâî [North] ‘Pack-saddle’.

dírikány [North] [North] Nom sg: dírikány. [North] Acc pl: dirikanyí. [North] Nom pl: dírikanyí. adj. [North] Brown; the colour of a baboon.

l-dírikány [North] [North] Mountain-dwelling baboon. See: l-ótim ‘Baboon’.

n-diríoi [North] Nom sg: n-diríóí. Acc pl: n-diríon. Nom pl: n-dírion. n. [North] Big house. See: ɛnk-ají ‘House’.

ol-dirísha Nom sg: ol-dírisha. Acc pl: il-dirishaní. Nom pl: il-dírīshānī. n. Window. Oldirísha ɛlɛ́. This is a window. Ínkenó oldirísha méítokí aɨmʉ́ enkíjape. Close the window so the cold doesn't keep flowing in. See: e-lúsíé ‘Window’. Borrowed word: Swahili dirisha 'window'.

en-dîs Nom sg: en-dîs. n.sg. 1 • First green grass after rain or fire. Ɛɨpɔ́ngá ɨlashɔ́ e ndîs. The green grass have made the calves' stomachs get full. See: sɔ́rɔ [North] ‘New green grass’; em-pílílí ‘New green grass’; m-biríri [North] ‘New green grass’.

2 • [North] Jaundice, anaplasmosis.

ɔl-dísí Nom sg: ɔl-disí. Acc pl: il-dísií. Variant: il-diisiini. Nom pl: il-dísií. Variant: il-díisiiní. n. DC, District Commissioner. Ɔlkɛjúādɔ̄ oshî ɔ́mānyā oldísí. The district commissioner resides in Kajiado. (Pk). Etymology: < the English letters "D C", for "district commissioner".

a-dɔ́ In some suffixed forms:: dɔr. v.s. 1 • To be red, prototypically blood-red. The precise shade is understood according to collocation, eg. the color a white person turns when mad or embarrassed, the color of lipstick or a fruit. Ɛdɔ́. It is red. Kɛ́dɔ̄ oshî intápʉka órŋaróojí. The flowers of the Orŋarooji tree are red. Kédóru oshî ewúéjî nétuduŋokí. The part (of the body) that has been cut becomes red. Óre oshî kárat naó náa kɛ́dɔ. A ripe carrot has the red colour. (Pk). Kɨ́dɔ́ enkúme. Your nose is red. Áɨ́tɔ́dɔ̄r ɛlʉ́kʉ́nyá tɛ rékō. I will make the head red by applying red ochre. Ewó ɛlɛ̂ ŋánayíóî amʉ̂ ɛ́tɔ́dɔ́rɔ́. This fruit has ripened because it is red. Kááɨ́tɔ́dɔr. I will make you be red (ie. hit you until I see blood). Tɔ́dɔrɔ. Be red! Átɔ́dɔ́rɔ. I have become red (angry, or bloody). Usage: For some speakers (W), a-dɔ́(r) cannot be used for livestock; while a-nyokíé can be. For almost all other referents (including blood) and all red hues, either a-dɔ́(r) or a-nyokíé could be used. For some speakers a-dɔ́(r) might be extended to light reds.. See: a-nyokíé ‘To be reddish’; móríjóí₁ ‘Maroon’.

2 • To injure. Áɨ́tɔ́dɔrɔ. I injured him. (lit: I made him red). Áítódōrīē orinká. I injured him with a club. (lit: I made him red using a club.). See: l-ɔdɔ́ [North] ‘Blood’.

a-dorú 1 • To become red (eg. from bleeding). Edóru. It becomes red.

2 • To become rusty.

a-dɔ́ mokúá n. To be reluctant; do sth. unwillingly. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɛnkɛráí sukúul káke kɛ́dɔ́ mokúá amʉ̂ mɛáta imbúkuí e sukúul. The child has gone to school but she is reluctant because she does not have school books. See: a-dɔ́ ‘To be red’.

a-dɔ́ ɔ́ŋʉ In some suffixed forms: a-dɔ́r ɔ́ŋʉ. v.s. 1 • To be fierce, angry and dangerous (lit: to be red (as to the) eye). This designates a complex of being brave, fierce-looking, serious; it is evident that when one designated by this and fights, he wins.

2 • To have a red eye. See: a-dɔ́ ‘To be red’; ɔl-ɔŋʉ́ ‘Eye’.

doí [North] Acc sg: deí. [North] Acc sg: reí. adv. 1 • certainty, urgency, sth. one should take seriously; indeed. Kɛ́ār doí iyíóók ɛlɛ̂ tʉ́ŋání. This man is indeed going to kill us. Káyīēū doí nílotú sáâ uní. I want you to come at nine o'clock a.m. (lit: I want you indeed to come three hours.) (Pk). The implication of this utterance is that there will be some major consequence or damage if you don't come at that time. The effect of leaving doí out would be to express more of a wish, rather than a command.

2 • Actually. Ɛshɔmɔ́ doí apá? Ɛákʉ? He has actually gone long ago. Is it right? (W).

a-doikí In some suffixed forms: a-doikín. [North]: a-dokí. v. 1 • To dive into; drop into or onto. This verb can be combined with aotikí 'to do on purpose'. Ɛtadóíkīō oltóô eŋúmótó; máítayú The pail has dropped into the well; let us get it out. Tádoikí eŋúmótó Drop into the well!

2 • To alight on.

a-doikinó To have fallen onto.

áa-doikino v.pl v.dat v.mid. To fall into (fighting, etc.); fall onto; drop on to each other.

ol-dóínyó Nom sg: ol-doinyó. Acc pl: il-doinyó. Nom pl: il-dóínyo. Variant: dónyó. [North] Acc sg: l-dónyíó. [North] Nom sg: l-donyíó. [North] Acc pl: l-donyíó. [North] Nom pl: l-dónyio. n. 1 • Mountain, hill. Shɔ́mɔ ɛncʉ́mátá ɔ́ ldóínyó amʉ̂ nɨnyɛ́ etíī inkíshu. Go to the top of the hill because there the cows are. Ɛgɨ́ra aaparɛ́ oldóínyó aló arewú inkíshú. He is going alongside the hill to go and bring the cows. (W).

ol-dóínyó

2 • [North] Maralal.

en-dóínyó Hill. See: l-ówua [North] ‘Mountain’.

Ol-dóínyó Mára n.prop. This mountain got its name because it is dotted with shrubs and clumps of bushes.Name of a mountain near Ol-dóínyó ŋirô (lit: patchy/dotted mountain).

Ol-dóínyó ŋirô n.prop. This mountain is situated near South Horr, Samburu District, Kenya. It is 9283 feet high.Mount Ng'iro.

Ol-dóínyó ɔ́ɨ́bɔ̄rr n.prop. Mt. Kilimanjaro (lit: mountain which is white).

Ol-dóínyó ónyókíé Nom sg: Ol-doinyó ónyokie. n.prop. 1 • Mt. Suswa (lit: mountain which-is-red).

2 • Name of a conspicuous hill about 20 km north-east of Magadi. On old maps this hill sometimes appears as Mt. Shelford, after one of the earlier engineers of the Magadi company.

a-dokí [North] v.dat. [North] To go down into, go down through. See: a-doikí ‘To go down’.

a-dokú v.dir. 1 • To overflow. Etuŋúáyiokí kʉlɛ́ naáyiará mɛtádokú. The milk that is boiling has been left to spill over. (Pk).

2 • To climb up over (eg. a fence) towards the point of reference.

3 • To come over a boundary, as a person from another tribe or Maa-speaking section. Óre apá peê eponú ɨLaikipíák áadokū, nɛ́mut ɨlMáásâɨ̂. When the Laikipiak came over, they finished the Maasai.

4 • To visit a home at night. See: a-dookí ‘To visit at night’.

5 • [North] To be hysterical; have a seizure (esp. of warriors). This may describe the shaking of a warrior who is about to attack, but is blocked. See: a-rúá ‘To be hysterical’.

a-dɔ́l [Chamus]: dol. PF: átóduá, etodólūā. SUBJN (K): tóduaa. SUBJN (Pk): táduaa. v.prog. 1 • To see, behold. Kóre peê ɛ́dɔ̂l iyioó lósowuaní nɛ́arári áaɨsɨg. When the buffalo saw us, they ran away fleeing. (SN). Ágɨ́ra abikokí meéu amʉ̂ maló naá ɛ́ɨ́tʉ̂ adúarɛ. [ɛ̀ɨ̀tʉ̀] I am waiting for him to come because I cannot go without seeing him. (Pk). Átódúaa tɔ lpáyian. / ta lpáyian. I saw it on the man. (S). Átɔ́dúaa Tôm ɛgɨrá arewishó. I saw Tom when he was driving. (either actually driving, or learning to drive) (W). See: a-ɨŋɔ́r(r) ‘To see’.

2 • To watch out (for), take care (of). Tóduakákɨ ɛnâ gárrɨ mashɔ́mɔ ainyaŋú kʉlɛ́. Watch this car for me; I am going to buy milk. (W). Shɔ́mɔ tɨ́pɨka ilkeék ɛnkɨ́má nɨ́dɔ̄l aké mɨ́sʉláa ɨ́nâ motí. Go put firewood in the fire and take care so that you do not knock over the pot. (Pk). Tóduaa (va: táduaa) aké mɨ́sʉlakínó atúá engúmótó. Take care lest you fall into a hole. (Pk). Táduaa amʉ̂ kéítóki taá awoyú. Take care because it will bleed again. (Pk). Táduaa ɨ́lɔ̂ sóít mɨ́kɨ̄bātāt. Take care so that you do not fall because of that stone. (Pk).

3 • To think, perceive, forsee on the basis of a collection of cues. Etódúá Kɨ́mɛlɨ ajó kégól ɛntɛmatá. Kimeli perceived that the test would be hard. (W). Átódúaa ajó káabatát ɛná báɛ̂ tɛnáās I have foreseen that this issue will stumble me if I do it.

a-ɨtɔdɔ́l To show s.o. sth.

a-ɨtɔdɔlʉ́ To talk around sth. without wanting to say it (fo:lit: to make s.o. see it).

a-dɔlɨshɔ́ To see; be able to see.

a-dɔlɨcɔ́ [North] 1 • [North] To be able to see.

2 • [North] To have one's period.

a-dɔlishoré To see with. Kíata ɨnkɔnyɛ́k nikídolishóre. We have eyes to see with.

a-duaayá v.dir. 1 • To see going away; see off.

2 • Realize. Óre aké peê edúaya ajó ɛ́táshálá... If she realizes that she is getting old...

áa-duaa To be seen (sg); to see each other (pl). Etodúaatɛ. They saw each other.

a-duaarɛ́ To meet with. Áyíéú nádúáárɛ́ ɔláításhéíkínoni. I want to meet with the man in charge.

a-dɔlʉ́ To see approaching. Todɔlʉ́! Watch out! Ɛdɔlʉ́nɨ̄. He is seen coming.

a-dolunoyú To be seen, be visible. Edolúnoyú. It is visible approaching. Medolúnoyú. It cannot be seen approaching.

a-dɔlíé To see with/at.

a-duaakɨ́ To see at, for. Mátoduaakɨ́! Let us watch for (s.o.)!

a-duaakɨ́ olŋûr To feel sorry for (lit: to see mercy for).

a-duaakɨ́ olôm To feel envy for (lit: to see jealousy for).

n-dólólít [North] n. [North] Long cylindrical club. See: ɔl-cʉrtɛ́t ‘Cylindrical club’.

l-dondó [North] Variant: l-dóndô. [North] Nom sg: l-donyó. [North] Acc pl: l-dóndóî. n. [North] Shrew; elephant shrew.

n-dónyíó [North] [North] Nom sg: n-donyíó. [North] Acc pl: n-donyíó. [North] Nom pl: n-dónyio. n. [North] Hill, esp. if isolated. See: ol-dóínyíó ‘Mountain’; sʉgʉ́mɛ [North] ‘Hillock’.

a-dookí In some suffixed forms: a-dookín. v. 1 • To climb over to. Káadookí. He will climb over it (eg. a mountain) to me.

2 • To jump over into. Edoóki olówuaru inkíshú tɛ bɔ́ɔ. The beast will jump over (the fence) into the kraal to (get) the cows. Edoóki ɨ́sááî aré. He will jump over into it for two hours. Áaitadoóki bɔɔ́. He will drop me into the kraal (eg. as in an elephant throwing me over the fence into the kraal). See: a-ipíd ‘To jump’.

2 • To move over to another village or place where one will no longer be visable.

3 • To move to another home at night. Ɛshɔmɔ̂ áadooki ɛndâ áŋ áanya inkírí. They have gone at night to that home to eat meat. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɔláyíóní adookí ɔlɨkâɨ̂ tɛ nkâŋ ɛ́nyɛ. The boy has gone to visit the other ones in their home. (Pk). This has the connotation of s.o. "jumping over the fence", though one need not actually jump over any fence in order to visit.

a-itodookí v.dat. To cause to pass over, hand over.

n-dɔ́ɔ́r [North] Nom sg: n-dɔɔ́r. n. [North] Early morning grazing, before cattle are milked. See: limô; línká; pɛ́rpɛr ‘Early morning grazing’.

a-dooríé v.inst. 1 • To go over by means of. adooríé ɔlcatá ɛnkárɛ́ To cross the water using the log.

2 • To find unexpectedly; "come across". Etadoórīē ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ modooní ɛnkárɛ̄.́ The blind cow has happened to find water. See: a-dooyó ‘To cross over’.

l-dóórr [North] [North] Nom sg: l-doórr. [North] Acc pl: l-dóórrí. n. [North] Thief. See: ɔl-apúrroni ‘Thief’.

n-dóótó [North] n. Far. Kɛ́ār nkíyôk ndóótó. An ear can fight far. (S).

n-dɔ́ɔ́tɔ́ [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dɔɔtɔ́. n. [North] The mountain range south of the South Horr-Marsabit road.

a-dooyó v. 1 • To climb over; move to the other side of sth. where one is no longer visable; go over the horizon.

2 • To overflow.

3 • To visit a village at night.

4 • [North] To set (of the sun).

a-itadooyó To throw over.

n-dorokó [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dóroko. [North] Acc pl: n-dorokôn. n. [North] Edible fruit of the Cordia tree. Corida.

ɛn-dɔrɔ́n Nom sg: ɛn-dɔ́rɔn. n.sg. 1 • Redness. See: a-dɔ́ ‘To be red’.

2 • Rust.

3 • [North] Meat when still raw. See: in-kírí ‘Meat’.

4 • [North] Avoidance term for meat.

n-dɔ́rɔ́tɔ́ [North] Variant: n-dórótó. [North] Nom sg: n-dɔrɔtɔ́. [North] Acc pl: n-dɔrɔ́t. [North] Nom pl: n-dɔ́rɔt. n. [North] Bare ground; completely denuded soil. See: ɔl-pʉrâ ‘Bare ground’.

a-dorú In some suffixed forms: dorun. To redden. See: a-dɔ́ ‘To be red’.

n-dorúno [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dóruno. n. [North] Red sky of sunset or sunrise.

l-dórróp [North] [North] Nom sg: l-dorróp. [North] Acc pl: l-dórrópú, l-dórrópí. [North] Nom pl: l-dorropí. n. 1 • [North] Upper arm.

2 • [North] Humerus bone.

dɔ́rrɔ́p Nom sg: dɔrrɔ́p. Acc pl: dórrópú. Nom pl: dorropú. [North] Acc pl: dórrópú, dórrópí. adj. 1 • Short in height, length; brief in temporal duration. ɔlpayíán dɔ́rrɔ́p the short man. ɛmbáíkínó dɔ́rrɔ́p a short visit. Mará dɔ́rrɔ́p. I am not short. (W). Ɛɨ́dɔ̄rrɔ̄p ɛnkáyíóní aláŋ ɔlpayíán kákɛ eadó tɛ nkɛráí. The boy is shorter than the man but taller than the child.

2 • [North] Poor. See: en-dórrópó ‘Shortness’; kinyí ‘Small, young’.

ɛn-dɔ́rrɔ́p sésên Nom sg: ɛn-dɔrrɔ́p sésên. Acc pl: ɨn-dórrópú séséni. Nom pl: ɨn-dorropú séséni. n.f. 1 • Deceased uncircumcised girl (lit: short body).

2 • Deceased woman, of the age to have children (though possibly still without children). The principle idea is that the woman did not live her life fully; she did not have all the children she should have (though she might have had some children). See: ɛ-masáɨtâ ‘Deceased man in prime of life’; ɛn-taŋátaŋâ ‘Deceased old woman’; ɔl-kɨmáɨ́ta ‘Deceased old man’; ɔl-áɨ́mówúárani ‘Deceased uncircumcised boy’.

n-dórrópīcō [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dorrópīcō. n. 1 • [North] Abbreviation, shortening.

2 • [North] Poverty, lack. See: dɔ́rrɔ́p ‘Short’.

en-dórrópó Nom sg: en-dorropó. n. Shortness. See: dɔ́rrɔ́p ‘short’.

a-dorropú v.incep. To become short.

a-dót v. 1 • To weed (a field); remove weeds. Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian adót ɛnkʉrmá adotú endíátí. The man is cleaning the field of weeds. See: a-sɨ́p ‘To thoroughly clean’.

2 • To strip off the outer skin layer. adót osésen To strip off (the outer skin layer from) a body.

3 • To pull apart. adót ɔlkɛ́mpɛ To pull apart a hoe (ie. separate the stick from the metal).

4 • To exchange an original idea, belief, or plan for a radically different one. Édót entúmo, moókīrē áâ Naɨrɔ́bɨ. He will change the meeting; it will no longer be in Nairobi.

5 • (of a defendant) To successfully argue in favor of one's self, such that the complainant's case, which was originally presumed to be correct, is dismissed or rejected as wrong. Usage: law. ɛ́tádótó ɔlmʉrraní ɨmbáa naátejokí tɛ ntúmô (i)The warrior has successfully argued in favor of himself whatever has been said about him in the meeting. (ii)The warrior has changed whatever has been said in the meeting. Etymology: From Proto-Eastern-Nilotic, from Central Sudanic *-ɗɔ 'to weed' (C. Ehret 2003:149, "Language Contacts in Nilo-Saharan Prehistory." Language Contacts in Prehistory, Studies in Stratigraphy, ed. by Henning Andersen, 135-157. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.). Note: This verb is of the same argument structure as a-púrr 'to steal from'

a-dotó v.mid. To be stripped off of the outer skin layer; have the skin off. Ɛtadóte ɛnkɛ́ráí ɛnkaɨná The (outer layer of) skin of the child's hand has come off.

a-dotú v.dir. To take out, uproot, pull out, remove (eg. a pot from the fire); pluck (eg. chicken feathers, hair). Edotú. He will take it out / pull it out. Edotúni It will be pulled out. Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian adotú endíáti tɛ nkʉ́rmā. The man is uprooting the weeds from the field.

a-dotoó v.dir. To uproot sth. planted firmly in the ground.

a-dóú v. To descend towards the point of reference; come down, climb down.

a-itodóú 1 • To bring down from a high place.

2 • To demote.

a-doyíó v. 1 • To go down; drop down, descend. Edóyio ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ ɛ́naakɛ́. The sun goes down (sets) everyday. May include going from a high land to a low land (eg. toward Mombasa from Nairobi).

2 • To go south (eg. to Tanzania from Kenya).

3 • [North] To go east, toward the sunrise. See notes at a-ɨlɛ́p, 'to ascend.'.

4 • To decrease in intensity. Ɛgɨ́ra adoyíó ɛnyɔratá. Love is decreasing.

5 • To become worse. Ɛgɨ́ra olkúáâk adoyíó. His behavior is becoming worse. Kótodóyie ɛlɛ́ tʉ́ŋání. The man has descended. (S) The man (eg. his health) has gotten worse. (S).

a-itadoyíó 1 • To drop sth.

2 • [North] To rest.

3 • [North] To cause to come down. See: a-bórī ‘To be at or move to a lower level’; a-ɨlɛ́p ‘To go up, west’.

en-dóyíórotó Nom sg: en-doyíórotó. Acc pl: in-doyiorót. Nom pl: in-dóyiorót. n. 1 • Going down. endóyíórotó ɛ́ nkɔlɔ́ŋ The going down of the sun (ie. sunset). Káyíéú endóyíórotó aló Suswa I want to go down to Suswa (i.e from Nairobi). See: a-doyíó ‘To go down’; a-dooyó ‘To set (of the sun)’.

2 • West.

ɔl-drâm Variant: ol-dam. n. Drum. Ɛ́ntaguatʉ́ inkeék naáoshíéki ɔldrâm. Carve the sticks that are going to be used to beat the drum. (Pk). Borrowed word: English 'drum'. See: ol-wúlul ‘Drum’; o-sínkólīō ‘Drum’; n-câ [Chamus] ‘Drum’.

a-dúá [North]: a-duá, a-dúá. [àdúá, àdwá] In some suffixed forms: a-dúár. v.s. 1 • To be bitter in taste; be sour. Ɛdúá ɔlcáni lɛ́ nkɔjɔŋáni. The medicine for malaria is bitter. Ɛdúá ɛndáā náɨ́rragá ɨnkɔ́lɔŋɨ kúmōk. The food that has laid for many days is bitter. Kédúá sháŋaá. Whiskey is bitter. See: en-duarán ‘Bitterness’.

2 • To be overly sweet, so as to be disagreeable. Kɛ́dúá ɛná shái tɛ súkári. This tea has too much sugar.

3 • To be angry, bitter, hot-tempered. ɔltʉŋáni odúá a mean, bitter, hot-tempered person.

4 • [Chamus] To be envious.

a-duarú v.incep. To become bitter. Kétódúárá. It became bitter.[kétódwárá]

a-duaá Note: This word is rarely used in this formv.mid. To be seen. Moókīrē ɛɨdɨ́m olpurrishóí atupúrrisho amʉ̂ edúaa. The thief can no longer be able to steal because he is seen. See: a-dɔ́l ‘To see’.

a-duaakɨ́ v. To see as s.o. does sth. aduaakɨ́ atûâ ají To see him as he gets into the house. See: a-dɔ́l ‘To see’.

a-duaarɛ́ [North]: a-duarɛ́. [àdwàrɛ́] v.mid v.inst. 1 • To see s.o.; meet with. Káyīēū nádúāārɛ̄ olkitók le sukúul. I want to see the principal of the school.

2 • To interview. See: a-dɔ́l ‘To see’.

en-dúáátá Variant: en-dúátá. Acc pl: in-duaát. Nom pl: in-duaát. [North] Acc sg: n-dúáátá. [ndwáátā] [North] Nom sg: n-duaatá. [North] Acc pl: n-duaát. n. 1 • Sth. seen or viewed; appearance. Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian aituŋeikí ɔlɨkâɨ̂ endúáátá tɔrrɔ́nɔ̂. The man is discouraging the other from doing sth. evil. (Pk).

2 • Point of view, opinion.

3 • Sighting, view, vision. ɛndúáátá ɔ lápa The sighting of the moon. See: a-dɔ́l ‘To see’; a-duaá ‘To be seen’.

a-duaayá [North]: a-duaya. [àdwàyá] v. 1 • To see sth. as it goes away; see off. aduaayá ɔlɔmɔ́nɨ mɛshɔ́mɔ to see the guest as he goes away.

2 • [North] To see as s.o. or sth. goes away.

3 • To see sth. far away. Náduaáya olowuarú ɛ́jɨ́ŋɨ́tâ ɔ́sánâg. And then I saw a beast getting into the thicket.

4 • To watch s.o. in order to learn to be more like that person; emulate. Tóduááī ɔláɨ́tɛ́ŋɛ́nani linó. Imitate your teacher. See: a-dɔ́l ‘To see’.

en-duarán Nom sg: en-dúárán. n. 1 • Bitterness, as of coffee, certain leaves and fruits. Mɛɨshɔ́rʉ enduarán ɛnyáɨ́ ɛnâ dáa. You cannot eat this food because of its bitterness.

2 • Meanness (of people); bitterness, resentment. See: ɛ-sayíét ‘Cruelness’.

ɔl-dʉ́ka Nom sg: ɔl-dʉ́kâ. Acc pl: ɨl-dʉ́kaí. Nom pl: ɨl-dʉ́kaí. [Purko] Acc pl: ɨl-dʉ́kayí. n. A shop.

Ɛshɔmɔ́ olkirikóí aiwúsh tɔɔ́ ldʉ́kayí. The loiterer has gone to loiter in the shops. Borrowed word: Swahili duka; from Arabic dukaan 'shop'. See: pʉnʉ́ka [North] ‘Town’.

a-dʉkɛnyá v. 1 • To hesitate, be timid, fearful. ɔltʉŋáni ɔdʉkɛ́nya person who is timid, fearful.

2 • To be tired, weary.

dʉ́kʉ́ny₁ Nom sg: dʉkʉ́ny. Acc pl: dúkúnyí. Nom pl: dukunyí. adj. 1 • Short. Usage: insulting; humorous.

2 • Sth. that looks like ɛndʉ́kʉ̄ny.

ɛn-dʉ́kʉ́ny₂ n. A short calabash for holding or drinking beer (once it's been brewed). See: en-kúkúrí ‘Calabash’; ɛ-mála ‘Brewing gourd’.

ɛn-dʉkʉ́ya Nom sg: ɛn-dʉ́kʉya. Acc pl: ɨn-dʉkʉyaní. Nom pl: ɨn-dʉ́kʉyaní. n. 1 • The head of a person or animal. Etíí ɨlpapɨ́t ɛndʉkʉ́ya ó ltʉŋáni. There is hair on the head of the man. endúkúya ɛ́ lʉ́kʉ́nyá [ɛ́lʉkʉnya] forehead (W -K).

2 • The front (of a crowd, a line, front rows of students in a classroom); the "front" of a car where the driver and bonnet are oriented; the entrance to an ɛnkajɨ́ 'house'. Ɛɨtáshɛ ɔláígúɛ́nání tɛ dʉ́kʉya entúmo. The chief is standing in front of the meeting.

3 • First in ranking (eg, head of the class, the top of a list). Ɛnkɛ́ráí ŋɛn nátií dʉkúya ɨnkulíe tɛ súkuúl ɛ́nyɛ̄. The bright child is first in his school.

4 • First in order. enkitók ɛ dʉkʉ́ya First wife (first married; not first in preference or in priviledge).

5 • Head of a bed (or bedroom), where a person's head usually rests.

6 • Before. peyíê étûm aáwa iyíóók dʉkʉ́ya ɔlaitóriani so that he could take us before the Lord (C).

tɛ dʉ́kʉya in front (of). See: a-iturúk ‘To precede’; ɛ-lʉ́kʉ́nyá ‘Head’; ɛn-aɨsʉɨ́ ‘Head’; en-kúé ‘Head’.

dʉkʉ́ya Nom sg: dʉ́kʉya. n.r. 1 • Ahead. Nélo aké nɨ́nyɛ Menyé dʉkʉ́ya ɛgɨrá aké nɨ́nyɛ arrɛtɛn olêŋ He, the Father, went ahead preparing everything.

2 • Before; [North] Before. peyíê étûm aáwa iyíóók dʉkʉ́ya ɔlaɨtɔ́riani so that he could take us before the Lord (C).

ɛn-dʉkʉ́ya ɛ́ nkárɛ́ n. Leading edge of flowing water. See: l-ɔɨŋɔ́nɨ lɛ́ nkárɛ́ [North] ‘Leading edge of flowing water’.

en-dúlé Nom sg: en-dulé. Acc pl: in-dúlên. Nom pl: in-dulén. [North] Acc sg: n-dʉ́lɛ́. [North] Nom sg: n-dʉlɛ́. [North] Acc pl: n-dʉ́lɛ̂n. [North] Nom pl: n-dʉlɛ́n. n. Flute, reed flute.

a-dʉ́m v.prog. To steal and drink milk (mostly by warriors). Eétuo ɨlmʉ́rrân áadʉm ɛnkají métíī ɛnɔ́pɛny. Warriors have come to steal and drink milk when the owner is not there.

a-dʉmaá v.dir. 1 • To pick up and carry away; take.

2 • [North] To push. See: a-dʉ́m ‘To steal and drink milk’; a-dʉmʉ́ ‘To pick up’; a-rrúm ‘To push’.

a-dʉmʉ́₁ In some suffixed forms: a-dʉmʉ́n. v.dir. To collect; pick up, lift up. Tʉ́dʉmʉ́ ɔlmaisurí! Pick up the banana! Tɛ néōshī tɛ manyatá esékékua nɛ́dʉ̄mʉ̄ ɨlmʉ́rrân pɔ́ɔ̄kɨ̄ ɨnarɛ́ta ɛnyɛ̂. When a trumpet is blown in the ceremonial village, all the warriors pick up their weapons. Nɛ́dʉ̄mʉ̄ ɨlártatí ɔ́ ɨlkɨlánī ɔ áre They will pick up two ceremonial sticks and robes. Tɛ́ bɔ́ɔ átúdúmua. I collected it outside. (Pk). Nɨ́dʉmʉ́ emodíêî oó nkíshú. You (will) pick up cow dung. Nɛ́dʉmʉnɨ́ ɛnáíshó najî ɛnkɨ́rɔ́rɛ́t. They get beer called the "talking one" [for marriage negotiations]. See: a-dʉ́m ‘To steal milk’; a-rrapʉ́ [North] ‘To pick up, lift’; a-ɨlɛ́p ‘To climb’.

a-dumunyíé To use for picking up.

a-dʉmaá 1 • To pick up and carry off.

2 • To sit on s.o. else's seat.

a-dʉmɨshɔ́ To steal. Ádʉ́mɨ̄shɔ̄. I can steal.

a-dʉmʉ́₂ In some suffixed forms: a-dʉmʉ́n. v. To jump up and down in a dance. Ɛdʉmʉ́ ɛlɛ̂ mʉrraní This warrior can jump high (higher than normal height). Kɛ́ɨ́dɨm ɛlɛ̂ áyíóní atʉdʉ́mʉ ɛ́sáâ nabô This boy can jump up and down for one hour. Note: Cf. a-dʉmʉ́(n) 'to pick up' Áaitudumúá osinkólio. The song has made me jump. Usage: See synonym list at a-ipíd 'To jump'. See: a-ɨ́d ‘To jump’; a-itíám ‘To jump’; a-ɨpɨrɨ́ [North] ‘To jump’.

a-dʉmʉnyɛ́ v.mid. 1 • To set off on a journey. Kɨ́dʉmʉ́nyɛ tɛldɛ́ ápâ áapuo America We will travel next month to go to America.

2 • To get up, wake up; arise. Ádʉ́mʉ́nyɛ tɛ ɛmpɔ́lɔ̄s ɛ́nkɛwarié aló bɔɔ́. I (habitually) wake up in the middle of the night to go out. Nɛ́dʉmʉ́nyɛ ɨntásatí áre ɛ́ ɨ́na áŋ. Two old ladies of that home get up.

3 • To stand up. See: a-inyototó ‘To stand up’; a-dʉmʉ́ ‘To pick up’.

ol-dundúla Nom sg: ol-dúndula. Acc pl: ɨl-dundulaní. Nom pl: ɨl-dúndulaní. n. Abnormally swollen navel. See: súrúm ‘Abnormally large navel’; ɔl-mʉkɔ́nyɔ ‘Swollen navel’.

a-dúŋ v.prog. 1 • To sever, cut into pieces. adúŋ ɛnkɛ́rr ɨlpápɨ́t to sheer sheep (lt. to cut sheep the hairs) (W). Néduŋuní ɛncatá náádó. They cut (off) a long stick. adúŋ inkírí tɛ nkalɛ́m to cut meat using a knife. Máapɛ́ aké níkipuo áaduŋuduŋ ɨlɛ́nyɔ́k lɔɔ́ ɨlkɨdɔŋɔ́ lɔɔ́ isirkôn. Let's just go and cut into pieces hair from the donkies' tails.

2 • To cut into the surface of sth., make an incision. Áadûŋ nɨ́ncɛ. They will cut me. (W). Nɛ́atáɨ kʉlɨ́kāɨ̄ ɔɔŋâm enkíok nabô, néduŋ ɛnkáɨ́. There are other people who notch one ear and they cut the other (to mark which animals are theirs). Edúŋīshō ɨnkálɛ́ma. The knives will cut (ie. they are sharp).

3 • To divide into subgroups, partition. adúŋ inkíshú / ɨntárɛ́ i. to divide cows / goats+sheep from one herd into separate herds. ii. to paddock female cows / goats+sheep (so they cannot be impregnated). Separating female animals is particularly done in times of drought, when multiplication of a herd cannot be sustained. Some find it unnecessary to do this for cattle as their reproduction is naturally moderated in times of drought. Nɛ́ākʉ̄ naá óre peê epuonú iláshumpá áarʉ iyíóók, néduŋ naá kát aré. So when the Europeans came and forced us out, they divided us into two. (This refers to the migration from the Northern part of Kenya. When the Maasai were forced out of their land, one group passed east of Mt.Kenya and other west.). Néduŋokí ɔlpáyian kítok ɨlapá tʉ́ŋánák lɛnyɛ́nāk. The old man divides (his wealth) to all his people.

4 • To intersect, cross. adúŋ enkóítóí to cut across a path. adúŋ ingárrin to cut across a road where cars are travelling (lit: to cut cars). aitudúŋ engárri ingárrin To make one's car pass other cars. Médûŋ intóyîê áŋ ɔlɔsɨnkɔ́. Our girls do not cross the center of the home (kraal).

5 • [North] To take a shortcut.

6 • To stop a physical or metaphorical stream (eg. water, animals) from continuing to flow. adúŋ ɛnkárɛ́ to stop water from flowing. adúŋ ɨltáaɨ́ / ɔltáa to cause a power blackout. Nérukúnye aké ɨntáre. Néjokí "Túduŋo." Then just so many sheep and goats came out. He said, "Cut." (ie. stop the stream of animals from coming). Nérukúnye aké inkíshu. Óre aké peê éduŋ nkíshú... Cows just flowed out. Now when he stopped the (stream of) cows...

7 • To cease bearing children.

8 • To interrupt or cease an ongoing activity. Kíntúdúŋo osínkólio. You have interrupted my song. (Pk). Átúduŋo osínkólio. I stopped singing (ie. I interrupted the song). Kéítúdūŋī táatá entítō táatá sukúul. The girl will be caused to miss school [due to early marriage]. adúŋ injíó to interrupt sleep. adúŋ esíáai to interrupt the work one has been doing. Usage: rude. Túduŋo lɛlɔ omón. Stop talking! Túduŋo ɨlɔ róréī. Stop talking! (Pk). Áaituduŋóo. He will become an obstacle to me accomplishing it. (lit: He/she will cause me to cut it away from myself.). Náaitudúŋ emoyíán darása. The disease made me miss the class (eg. for several weeks). (Pk). A class could also be 'cut' (ie. interrupted) by the teacher leaving in the middle of teaching, or a student leaving class before the lecture is finished.

9 • To diminish, reduce sth. Eyéwuo olmórûô ɔ́ata esíle aɨshɨ́r metúduŋokiní. The debtor has come to complain so that he may have the debt reduced. (lit: The old man who has a debt has come to complain so that it will be reduced for him.) (Pk).

10 • To perform; achieve; do. Imíkíntókīnī doí áaduŋie ɨntaléŋo. You will no longer be a participant (do anything) in the ceremonies. Káa doí ídúŋíto tené? What are you doing here? adúŋ ɨntɔná to do a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty (lit: To cut the roots).

11 • To decide. Kítuduŋô áajo peê kípûô Karen We have decided to go to Karen.

a-duŋíé 1 • To cut with.

2 • [North] To cut out in a given manner.

a-duŋó v.mid. 1 • To be cut off or severed completely (eg. a string; a rubberband from too much stretching).

2 • To be stopped, dry up (eg. water from flowing, woman from giving birth).

a-duŋoó v.dir. 1 • To cut off, cut away (eg. a necklace).

2 • To leave behind, exclude. Usage: Metaphorical.

3 • To get an alternative rather than use what has been spared for future use.

4 • [North] To isolate, fence off (eg. a cow).

5 • [North] To be trapped inside sth.

a-duŋú v.dir. 1 • To cut out.

1 • To cut for one's self.

3 • To cross over toward the point of reference.

4 • To decide to give false information.

5 • [North] To save (a portion of one's animals) by good husanding through a drougth (etc.).

a-duŋokinó v.apl v.mid. [North] To be short of some commodity.

a-duŋudú, a-duŋdúŋ[Nōrth] 1 • To cut to pieces.

2 • To cut repeatedly. Níkiduŋuduŋ. We shall cut it into pieces.

a-dúŋ osínkólīō To compose.

a-dúŋ síádí [North] [North] To see s.o. in the distance but continue on one's way without meeting.

a-dúŋ enkigúɛ́na Usage: legal. This may involve simply making a decision, without sentencing anyone.To decide a matter, by a recognized authority such as a judge or arbitrator.

a-duŋokí enkigúɛ́na This involves handing down a decision with a sentence, which could range from a fine to being sentenced to death.To sentence (for a crime); condemn. Néíguɛnáreki, néduŋokiní enkigúɛ́na ɨncɛ́rɛ kégorí. He was charged, he was sentenced in the law case that he would be hanged.

a-dúŋ induŋéta ɛ́ ráshé To say a proverb. Népōnū áaduŋokino induŋéta ɛ́ ráshé They come to say proverbs.

a-duŋíé raché [North] [North] To become a proverb.

a-dúŋ ɛnkárná To select a name for, give a name to. Meékūrē kímpótíéki ɨ́nâ árná níkímpótíéki apá ɨrá entítō; níkípónúnūī áaduŋoki ɛnkárná níkímpótie ɨnkɛ́râ. You are no longer called by the name you were called when you were a girl; you come to be given a name that children will call you by. (ie. when you are married).

a-duŋó táʉ v.mid. To die (lit: To be cut to the heart).

a-dúŋ ɛnkɔ́p 1 • To divide land into sections (one's own land into paddocks using fencing, or to be owned by various people).

2 • To go on a very long treck (ie. to go so far that one is separated far from where others are and they cannot catch up). Kóreê Leonard? Etúdúŋō dúóó ɛnkɔ́p. Where is Leonard? He has gone far away.

a-dúŋ ɛnkɔ́lat To do a specific piece of work required to be done.

a-dúŋ ɨlɔmɔ́n To make a resolution.

a-dúŋ enkigúɛ́na To give a verdict. See: a-ŋɨ́c [Chamus] ‘To cut’; en-duŋóti ‘A piece’; en-duŋét ‘Knife, decision’.

a-dúŋ síádí v. To go to the opposite direction, leaving those with whom one is supposed to walk do things. See: a-iŋuáá ‘To leave’.

en-duŋét Nom sg: en-dúŋet. Nom pl: in-dungétā; in-duŋetá. Acc pl: in-dúŋeta. n. 1 • Knife. Ɨ́yaʉ́ enduŋét mátuduŋie ɛnâ kiriŋó. Bring a knife that we can use to cut this meat.

2 • Decision. enduŋét ɔɔ́ mbáa a resolution. See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.

en-duŋét ɛ́ ráshé Nom sg: en-dúŋet ɛ́ ráshé. Acc pl: in-duŋéta ɛ́ ráshé. Nom pl: in-dúŋeta ɛ́ ráshé. [North] Acc sg: n-duŋét ɛ rácɛ́. n.phrase. Proverb, wise saying; reference (lit: the cutting of the hide). A long time ago, elders made in-duŋéta ɛ́ ráshé. This happens at a ceremony where everybody is called to come and witness the 'cutting of the hide'. The cutting is done only when a certain issue has been proved to be the truth and will never change. The event becomes a reference. Ɛ́táá apá ɨnâ báɛ̂ enduŋét ɛ́ ráshé. That thing has become a proverb (a reference).

a-duŋó taʉ v.mid. To die (lit: to be cut (as to) the heart). See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’; ɔl-táʉ́ ‘Heart’.

en-duŋón Nom sg: en-duŋón. n.sg. Craving for sth. by a pregnant woman. Kɛ́áta enkítok nánʉ̄tā enduŋón. The pregnant woman has a craving for sth. See: ŋamán [North] ‘Craving for sth. by a pregnant woman’.

ol-dúŋórét Nom sg: ol-duŋorét. Acc pl: il-dúŋóreta. Nom pl: il-duŋóreta. n. Last born child. Ant: ɔl-kɨkáʉ́ ‘First born’. See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.

en-dúŋórét Last born girl.

en-dúŋórotó Nom sg: en-duŋórotó. Acc pl: in-duŋorót. Nom pl: in-dúŋorót. n. 1 • Partition; small sub-fence used within a large fence (ol-pááshé) (lit: the cutting off). Kɨ́naʉrátɛ amʉ̂ kɨ́nkarrâ ɔlpááshíé néméékūrē kɨndɨ́m áaɨkarrá endúŋórotó. We are tired because we have fenced the fence and we will are no longer able to fence the partition.

2 • Compound created by a partition within a larger compound. endúŋórotó oó sirkôn Small compound for donkeys (not usually mixed with cows).

3 • Cutting-off point. Einépūā apá lɛ́lɔ̂ enduŋórotó ɛ́ ntɛ́mátá. Those were eliminated (found) by the cut-off point of the exam. See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.

en-duŋóti Nom sg: en-dúŋoti. Acc pl: in-duŋót. Nom pl: in-duŋót. n. Piece, portion. enduŋóti ɛ́ nkiriŋó piece of meat. enduŋóti oó nkishu small part of the herd.

ol-duŋóti Big piece (of meat). See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.

en-dúŋótó Nom sg: en-duŋotó. Acc pl: in-duŋót. Nom pl: in-duŋót. n. 1 • Cutting (of any kind).

2 • The division, cutting (eg. of spoils) into portions; a cut.

3 • Partitioning, as of land into individually-owned plots, a house into rooms, etc. ɨlmʉ́rran induŋót section of warriors.

4 • Gash. Eímūā ɔsárgɛ endúŋótó ɔ́ lálɛ́m. Blood flowed out of the gash made by the sword.

5 • Decision; resolution. Éísīdāī ɨnâ duŋotó ɔ́ɔ lɔmɔ́n That resolution of the news (discussion) is good. See: a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.

dúóó₁ Variant: duó. adv. 1 • Earlier on the same day, some hours back. For S, Wagner (n.d., p. 176) writes that dúó means 'earlier today', while with a lengthened vowel dúóó means 'very early today'. Nɛ́ɨ̄m ɨ́nâ óítóí nɛ́ɨ́tʉ dúóó ejokiní. He passed the way that he had earlier not been told (ie. told not to go). Mɨ́ncɔ̄ kɨ́lɛ́jɨ́, amʉ̂ mɛáta ɔltʉŋáni ójô etubúlūā dúóó. Do not let anyone deceive you, because no one knows when he grows.

2 • Any longer. Kálɔ ári apá ɨlɔ̂? Imeékūrē dúóó ayíólo. Which year was that? I no longer know it.

3 • Previously mentioned; relevant. Néponunûî áaranyɨshɔ tɛ́nâ dúóó áji And people come to sing in the relevant house. See: Pronouns-Demonstratives. Ant: adé ‘Later on in the day’. See: ɔl-adúóó ‘Previously mentioned one’; táatá ‘Today’; anapârr [North] ‘Today’.

a-dʉ́p v v.aux. 1 • To be effective in doing sth. and do it well; competent; have good ability to. adʉ́p inkírí (i) To be able to chew meat (ii) To be able to cut meat. adʉ́p imbúkuí To be able to read books. adʉ́p atedíaa To be able to curse (ie. sth. unpleasant will be sure to follow). adʉ́p atamayíána To be able to bless (ie. sth. pleasant will be sure to follow). Kádʉ́p eyíérárɛ́. I really know how to cook very well. See: a-ɨdɨ́m ‘To be able’.

2 • To affect the bowels so they excrete or evacuate; purge. Restrict: food, medicine. Áatʉdʉpá ɔlcáni. Medicine has purged me.

3 • To confirm. See: a-rót ‘To purge’.

a-dʉpɨshɔ́ To be proficient, able in doing sth. (typically sth. that affects a patient, like chewing meat, cutting trees, witchcraft, inducing pain in others).

a-ɨtʉdʉ́p To cause to effect; make effective. See: a-ɨtʉdʉ́p ‘To make effective; kindle a fire with live fire’.

a-dʉpá v.mid. 1 • To be effective, reliable, dependable. ɔltʉŋáni ɔdʉ́pa reliable, dependable person. Káadʉpá ɛnkɛráí. My child is dependable.

2 • To be efficient. ɔltʉŋáni ɔdʉ́pa (i) person who is efficient (ii) person who is effective.

3 • To abound. Kɛ́dʉ́pa ɛlɛ́ lɛ́ɛ náa sídáí shoréísho ɛ́nyɛ. This man is great and his friendliness is good. (Pk). See: a-dʉ́p ‘To affect’.

ɛn-dʉpâî₁ Nom sg: ɛn-dʉ́pai. Acc pl: ɨn-dʉpá. Nom pl: ɨn-dʉ́pa. n. Sisal plant. Sansevieria intermedia, Sansevieria robusta.

Kéuní ɛndʉpâî tɛ Tanzania. Sisal is planted in Tanzania. In the Samburu area, this is often used in making roof mats or in tying sticks when making a house.

ɛn-dʉpâî₂ Nom sg: ɛn-dʉ́pai. n.sg. The trait of being dependable or reliable. Enótō olórika tɛ nkárakɨ́ ɛndʉpâî ɛnyɛ́. He got the seat because of his dependability. See: a-dʉpá ‘To be reliable’.

a-dʉpakɨ́ v. 1 • To mount, mate. Usage: primarily animals.

2 • [North] To follow. See: a-sʉ́j ‘To follow’; a-rʉbarɛ́ ‘To walk with’.

n-dʉ́pia [North] n. [North] Unsweetened tea.

a-dupó v.mid. To prosper; benefit. Átúdúpe tɛná síáai. I have benefited from this work.

a-dupoyú To be prosperous; benefit from.

(en-)dúpótó n. Favor, goodness.

n-dûr [North] n. [North] African pied wagtail. See: n-cekût [North] ‘Yellow wagtail (non-breeding)’.

ol-dúruk Acc pl: il-dúruki. Nom pl: il-dúrúki. n. 1 • Uncleanness; dirt, impurities. Meishópōyū ɛnâ kɨ́lâ amʉ̂ kétīī ildúrúki. This cloth cannot be worn because there are stains on it.

2 • Defilement. Óre ɛ́nkɨ́pɨ́rtâ ɛ́na kérr náa ɛnɛ́lɛdúruk lɛ́ntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́nɨ̄ lɛ́mɛ̄ɨ̄shɔ̄ ɛnyɨkakɨ́ ɔlɛ́ɛ̂. The reason for this sheep is the uncleanness of the woman who has just given birth which does not allow men to keep close to her. See: a-idurúk ‘To be unclean’.

n-dʉ̂rr [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dʉ̂rr. [North] Acc pl: n-dʉ́rri. [North] Nom pl: n-dʉ́rrî. n. [North] Stonechat (bird). Saxicola torquata.

a-dʉ́t v.prog. 1 • To choose, select. Tʉ́dʉ́ta nkitábu kíní oó nkítok. Choose either this book or the big one. (S). Tʉ́dʉ́ta nkitábu o ncáset. Choose either the book or the cassette. (S). Túdútie nkitábu ncáset. Choose either the book or the cassette. (S). Túdútie nkitábu kíní nkítok. Choose either this book or the big one. (S). Tʉ́dʉtá aná saé ɔ́ ána nkáɨ́. Compare this (string of) beads with this other (to choose the one you want). (SN). Ɨ́dʉ́tʉ́dʉ̂t kʉná saɛ̂n. You (pl) choose among these beads. (SN).

2 • To compare.

3 • [North] To bite (like a hyena biting another animal).

a-dʉtaá To choose, select; prefer more than. Kádʉ́táa aló sukúul aláŋ tɛnátɔ̄n tiâŋ. I will choose going to school than staying at home.

a-dutíé To prefer. amʉ̂ ɔltáʉ́ láí aké ádútíé because it's second to my heart.

a-ɨtʉdʉ́t 1 • To cause to choose from two or more options.

2 • To compare.

ɔl-dʉ́taɨ́ n. Boil. Mmetumóki ɛná áyíóní atɔtɔ́na aɨtɔbɨrakɨ́ amʉ̂ ɛ́tɨ́jɨ́ŋá ɔldʉ́taɨ́ ɔltúlii This boy cannot sit well because he has a boil on his buttock. (Pk).

n-dʉ́tátá [North] [North] Nom sg: n-dʉtatá. n. [North] Selection. See: a-dʉ́t ‘To choose’.

ɔl-dʉtʉtâî Nom sg: ɔl-dʉ́tʉtâî. Acc pl: ɨl-dʉtʉtá. Nom pl: ɨl-dʉ́tʉta. [North] Nom pl: ɨl-dʉ́tʉtá. n. Swelling on the body that contains pus; boil. Kémé ɔldʉ́tʉtâî ɔ́ɨmʉ enkumé. A boil on the nose is painful. See: ol-gúsa ‘Swelling’.