I r ir'i ' i i r ^ l l ' wiMt l i tfViJIfifi " l iT l liili r Bi l iii 'i i T ii^ T i " ii ' J VHilliam Bascom, Dirertor Museum of Anthropcogy University of California Berkeley 4, California r \ \^G I- ■IvJrT ;y, has an ob- servation, that tile value of a distinction of this kind, between the methods of inflexional formation in dilFerent languages, is of no great importance.f Something of the same character pervades that most remarkable of African dialects, the Woloif, indeed to such an extent, that new words, never heard before, might be formed from known roots, according to a recog- nised process, as in the Yoruba, w Inch would not fail of being understood. M. Dard, in his " Dictionnaire Wo- lofF," states this fact most unequivocally ; " Nos livres fran9ais," he says, " peuvent done etre traduits assez exactement dans le langage des negres woloiTs ; et nous pouvons affirmer que ces memes negres saisiront le sens des mots formes d'apr^s cette methode, tant ils sont habitues a decomposer et a composer les mots."| In this respect the Woloff comes nearer to the Yoruba than any of the other languages to which I have referred, without excepting even the Kafir and Sicuana. A prin- ciple of this kind, it is true, is of necessity to be found in operation in all polysyllabic tongues ; but the distin- guishing feature in the Yoruba is the beautiful com- pleteness and perfect regularity which characterize its formative process. 80 far, however, as our researches have proceeded at present, this leading feature of the Yoruba language will not help us in assigning its position amongst the families of the llamitic stock. But there is, in relation to this part of our subject, a fact to be noticed, which will enable • Vide "A Grammar of the jMandingo Languago," by the Rev. R. M. Macbrair, § 19—21. t Vide^' The 17th Rej)ort of the British Association," p. 218. J Vide " Dictionnairc Woloff- Fraii^ais ct Fran^ais- Woloff/' ]jar M. Dard. ( 7 ) US to take a first step in our process of exclusion. I mean, that with all this perfect regularity of formation there is a total absence of that elaborate system of clas- sification by means of formative prefixes, which distin- guishes the South-African family; which was first de- veloped by Boyce in his Grammar of the Kafir language,* and has been recently explained in a more philosophical manner by Dr. Krapf in his Kisuaheli works. He re- solves this grand peculiarity into an action of the South- African mind in its contemplation of nature. " The mind of the South African," he says, " divides, as it were, the whole creation into two halves, of which the one is governed by the principle of spontaneity of movement, and of creative activity, whilst the other follows the principle of passiveness and necessity. The South-Afri- can mind distinguishes the animate creation from the inanimate ; and, again, distinguishes in the animate creation rational and irrational beings, men and brutes. Furthermore, in the inanimate creation it distinguishes between life and death, as it were. In general, it would seem that the South-African mind, in the formation and cultivation of its language, was guided by the impression of life which pervades the whole creation in various gra- dations or modifications." t This mental distinction, thus described by Dr. Krapf, developed itself in a general classification of nouns substantive, by means of a system of formative prefixes. And the entire absence of any such classification in the Yoruba is fully sufficient to ex- clude it from that extensive family of languages which occupies the W'hole of Africa south of the line, and of which I have recently discovered the Temneh (with its two cognates, the Sherbro and the BiiUom) to be a branch. * Vide § II. 5. et passim. t " Outl. of El. of Kisuaheli Language." Part II. Ch. II. p. 30. ( 8 ) The second striking feature of tlie Yoruba language which claims our notice, is, the curious euphonic system which regulates the concord of tlie verb and pronoun. Each personal pronoun in the singular number has three distinct forms, which cannot be used indiscrimi- nately, but the appropriateness of which depends ex- clusively upon the vowel sound of the verb with which they are in construction. That vowel sound affects the vowel of the pronoun, altering it so as to make it of the same kind or quantity. The first, indeed, of the three forms just alluded to is a sort of general form, being the original and full form of the pronoun ; but the use of the two latter is wholly regulated by the vowel sound of the verb. For this purpose the vowels of the Yoruba language are apparently made to form two separate classes, accord- ing to the closeness or openness of their sound ; thus — Close vowels ... o e i i u u Open vowels ... o e a a Then, according to the close or open sound of the vowel which occurs in the governing verb, the pronoun assumes the close or open o. The full forms of the three personal pronouns are, emi, iwo, on. The forms which they assume before the first class of vowels are, mo, o, 6 ; and before the second, mo, o, o . The third personal pro- noun, 6, 9, is marked w ith the acute accent, to show that the distinction between the second and third consists in the latter being enunciated with an elevation of the voice. The Yoruba language abounds in these intonations. It is observable, also, that the negative particle is subject to the same changes, its original form being ki, before close vowels Ko, and before open, ko. This system of muta- tions, which I would call the Vocalic Euphony System, may be exhibited in the following table : — ( 9 ) Verbs. NI, MBE, SE, &C. Pronouns. I '2 EMI I WO 3 ON Neg. Part. KI KO, SE, SI, SI, KU, LU MO O KO KO, FE, LA, KA MO O 6 KO There is a still further developement of this system in the case of the 3d pers. pronoun, when used objectively. It consists in that case of a single vowel-sound, which varies not only according to the class of the vowel in the verb, but according to its individual sound ; so that it possesses no less than seven forms, whose use is not op- tional, but regulated by the verb : thus — Verb. 3d Pers. Obj SA . A SE f E BE E TI 1 RO y FO o RU u This system, thougli appearing only in the single in- stance of the concord between the verb and the pronoun (unless indeed we include the formation of nouns of pos- session, already described, which is strictly parallel,) is still observable as proving the existence of that princi- ple, which seems everywhere to pervade the African mind, of making the sound an artificial vehicle of the sense, so that the words which, in a sentence, have a cer- tain relation to each other, may be known to have that relation by their similarity of sound. This principle gives to the languages of Africa an external superficial character ; scarcely less so, though of a totally dillerent kind, than that which is manifested by the monosyllabic languages, where position is the only guide to the mutual ( 10 ) relation which obtains between the component parts of a sentence. I have observed that the appearance of this principle of euphonic concord seems to connect the Yoruba with the langua,^es of Africa generally. I must add, however, that it affords us no clue to the position which this language holds amongst them, except it be negatively, by pointing out to what classes it does not belong. The simple fact, that in the Yoruba the euphonic changes affect tlie vowel-sound alone, whilst in those systems which prevail so generally throughout Africa the concord is effected by consonantal changes, furnishes us with a very marked distinction, sufficient to exclude this language from the other classes in which the euphonic principle is found; although the existence of the principle in any shape may still be regarded as a connecting link, in tracing out the larger families of human speech. I know of but one instance in which there is any thing that very closely resembles the vocalic euphony of the Yoruba, and that is in the concord of the verb and pro- noun in one tense only in the Haussa language. There the vowel which serves as an auxiliary to the verb varies according to the vowel-sound of the pronoun ; so that we have Ni /sAii, ka y/soii, ki /sou, ta ^soii, mu f/soH, for the several persons of that tense.* Here, however, we may observe a distinction ; for whereas, in the Haussa, the pro- noun influences the verb, in the Yoruba, on the contrary, the verb acts upon the pronoun. And this is the only instance of any thing very nearly resembling the Yoruba euphonic concord ; for there is no resemblance, except in the bare existence of a prin- ciple, between this vocalic change, and the regular har- * Vide " Vocabulary of the Haussa Language," by the Kev. J. F. Schon, p. 25. ( 11 ) monious system which pervades and directs the whole construction of that vast family in the south, to whicli the appropriate name of the Alliteral Class has been applied. The known dialects of that great class have been divided into four separate families, the Congo, the Damara, the Sicuana, and the Kafir, to which may now be added at least tw^o others, the Kisuaheli and the Temneh. Their general resemblance to each other in point of construction clearly proves them all to belong to one stock ; whilst the dissimilarity existing between them and the Yoruba, in the particular we are now con- sidering, will confirm us in the conclusion to which we have been already led by the total want in the latter of that system of classification by prefixes which pervades and distinguishes the former. There is, however, one other very remarkable language, long known to Europeans on the West Coast, which ex- hibits the peculiarity of the euphonic concord ; I mean, the WolofF. But here it only presents itself in the single instance of that most unique and efTective particle to which Roger gives the title of " le signe de position,"* and which, according to Dard, has seven different forms depending on the initial of the noun which it defines.t This phase of the euphonic concord, though totally un- connected with that of the South-African languages, does yet bear a nearer resemblance to that than it bears to the phase which we trace in the Yoruba. And hence I would argue, that the vocalic euphony system of the latter does not only exclude it from the vast alliteral class of the south, but also from that western family, whatever it may prove to be, to which the Woloff, at present standing alone and unconnected, distinguished as * Vide "Rech«rches sur la langue Ouolof," par M. le Baron Roger. t " Dictionnaire Woloff- Franoais et Fran^ais-Wolotf," par M. Dard. ( 12 ) it is by many extraordinary peculiarities, shall eventu- ally be traced. The third feature which 1 shall notice in the Yoruba is one of a still more negative character than either of those which have preceded. It is the total absence of conjugation in the verb. There are, it is true, a few par- ticles used as auxiliary verbs, to mark distinctions of mood and tense ; but these, with the single exception, perhaps, of the future auxiliary vio, are significant in themselves, and consequently separable from the verb they are employed to modify. Thus we have le and ma, denoting a potential and a subjunctive mood respectively ; as also for the tenses, ti, past, and yio, future. But there is nothing that presents the appearance of inflex- ion : the verb always appears in its root form, which never varies. The grand peculiarity of African languages generally, as it respects the verb, is the extreme perfection to which they have carried that kind of conjugation which Chev. Bunsen has denominated the Semitic. By this name is denoted " the modification of the predicate con- tained in each adjective verb," to give his own definition, in contradistinction to what he calls the Sanscritic con- jugation, " which is intended to mark the modifications of which the copula is capable, according to time and mode of existence."* In the Semitic languages, these modifi- cations are effected by an alteration of the form of the original verb, either by the mere change of vowels in the same radical consonants, or by an addition of servile let- ters with a suitable change of vowels.f The seven con- * Vide "Seventeenth Report of the British Association," p. 282, in a paper on the results of the recent Egyptian researches in reference to Asiatic and African Ethnology, and the classification of Languages, by C. C. J. Bunsen. t Vide " Grammar of the Amharic Language," by the Rev. C. W. Isen- berg, Ch. IV. § IL 3. * •( 13 ) jngations of the Hebrew, and the thirteen of the Arabic verb will at once occur to our minds, all formed in the manner above described. The Ethiopic language, strictly Semitic, has ten of these different forms ; whilst in the Amharic, which connects Semitism with Africa, Isenberg has exhibited no less than twenty-four variations of form belonging to the regular and perfect verb. Chev. Bunsen states that the old Egyptian shows a germ of this Semitic conjugation ; but the developement of that germ in the Coptic is not organic, being effected by an auxiliary. The same system prevails to some extent in the Berber ; so much so, that Newman says in his grammar, " From primitive verbs are derived others with a modified mean- ing, exactly on the same principle as in the Ethiopian and Syro-Arabian."t He subsequently mentions three forms of these derivative verbs : 1. The Causative, with respect to which he says, " This is so entirely a living process, that a causative verb, it would seem, may always safely be invented from any given verb, without risk of being misunderstood.":!: 2. The Passive or Neuter; and, 3. The Reciprocal ; adding that " more derived forms than these exist, but cannot yet be methodized."§ As we proceed southward, however, to the large alliteral family already so often mentioned, we find this system of conjugation developing itself, if not more fully, at least with more of definiteness and regularity. To mention some few of the many dialects which compose that family, the Kafir exhibits at least eight modifications of the verb, the Siciiana six, the Kisuaheli seven, the Mpongwe eleven, and the Temneh an equal number. The * " Seventeenth Report of the British Association," p. 282. t " Vide " A Grammar of the Berber Language," p. 313. I Ibid. p. 314. ^ Ibid. p. 315. ( 14 ) conjuojation called by some the Objective,* by others the Relative,! is a peculiarity which marks all these lan- guages, and is not to be met with, as far as my know- ledge extends, in any that does not belong to this family. It denotes that the action described is performed rela- tively, for or in behalf of another. This conjugation does not appear in the Wololf, which, however, is re- markably prolific in its modifications of the verb, count- ing no less than eleven, and many of these peculiar to itself, having no place in other languages ; as, for in- stance, the Preparatory, the Iterative, the Diminutive, and the Intensive Negative conjugations ; thus serving to keep up that character for singularity which distinguishes this unique specimen of human speech. Even in the Mandingo there seems a slight touch ofSemitism in this respect, as a causative conjugation may be formed from the radical by an organic change ; but to the best of my belief, these modifications of the predicate are not car- ried any further in that dialect. And now, after taking this summary view of the prin- cipal families of Africa, in respect of this grand charac- teristic, when I add, that in the Yoruba there is not the slightest trace of any thing approaching to it, I think we shall feel constrained to admit that the total absence of such a distinguishing peculiarity must of necessity ex- clude the Yoruba from any direct relationship to the families possessing it. Thus we are led again, by a third argument, independent of the two former, to the conclu- sion that this language has no connexion with the alli- teral family of the south ; we are also strengthened in our former view of its complete separation from the WolofF; and, in addition to this, we now find that it is * Boycp, " Kafir Grammar" § VI. n. p. 49. t American Missionaries' " Mj)()ngwe Grammar," § 57 ( 15 ) equally far from the more strictly Semitic families of the northern and north-eastern portions of the African con- tinent. If we now turn to the map of Africa, we shall perceive that the area over which we must search for the affini- ties of the Yoruba language is very considerably di- minished ; that, in fact, nothing now remains to be ex- plored for this purpose but the tract on either side of the banks of the Niger, with the Guinea coast, which is en- closed by the course of that mysterious river, and the line of Mahommedan kingdoms which stretches eastward on either side of the inland sea of Tchad, from the Niger to the Nile ; the whole space being included between the fifth and fifteenth degrees of N. latitude, and between ten degrees W. and thirty degrees E. of longitude. There is another very striking feature in the Yoruba language, which I feel unwilling to pass over in this memoir, although, at the present stage of our knowledge on the subject of African philology, it will not afford any help in assigning to this language its proper position on the ethnological chart. The adverb is a part of speech in which we do not commonly recognise any characte- ristic sufficiently prominent to become a distinctive mark of any language, either generic or specific. But in the case of the Yoruba there is a most observable peculiarity in the use of this part of speech, wiiich must, I think, eventually prove to be such a distinctive mark. Speaking in general terms, we may say, that each individual adverb of qualification possesses an idiosyncrasy of its own which altogether incapacitates it from supplying the place of another. It contains within itself the idea of the word which it is employed to qualify, although, as to form and derivation, totally unconnected with tliat word. In this way " almost every adjective and verb has its own ( 16 ; peculiar adverb to express its quality/'* or rather its de- gree. This peculiarity must certainly greatly increase the expressiveness of the language. Thus, for example, in sentences where we should employ the word "veiy" let the subject of which we were speaking be what it might, the Yoruban would express the same meaning with far more of definiteness and precision by a separate adverb in each case, no two of which could be used con- vertibly. We should say, for instance, " The tree is veri/ high ;" " tlie bird flies vcri/ high ;" " this cloth is veri/ yellow ;" " the scarlet is veri/ red ;" " the glass is vety dazzling." But the Yoruban would vary his adverb in every example ; thus " iggi ga Jiqfio ;" " eiye fo tian- tian;' " aso yi pon rokirokif " ododo pipa roro;" " awojijin ndan maratimaran" It is true, we have adverbs which can only be applied to certain classes of subjects, as the word " beautifully" can only be used concerning objects of sense ; but even here the tendency to general- ize is observable : " beautifully" belongs of course, in its original acceptation, only to objects of sight, as, " the cloth is beautifully yellow ;" but we employ it constantly in reference to objects of hearing, speaking of harmony as beautifully soft, and so on. In the Yoruba, on the contrary, we observe the working of a principle the very opposite of this generalization. Thus the word " fiofio," used above, can only apply to the idea of height, and that, too, only when the subject of which height is predi- cated is connected with the ground, and stands upon it ; for when the idea of height implies distance from the ground and separation from it, another distinct adverb, " tiantian," must be employed. So, too, the adverb " ro- kiroki" can only be used of a yellow colour, although the word itself does not mean yellow; and " roro" only of a * Vide " Vocabulary of the Yoruba Language," by S. Crowther, p. 29. ( ly ) red, or, at least, dark colour, though the word has no such meaning; the fiict being, that they imply ideas connected with those colours respectively, and not with the category of colour generally. And this principle seems to per- vade the language ; so that, in order to speak it correctly, it is necessary to know not only the verb or adjective wliich expresses what we wish to say, but also the pe- culiar and appropriate adverb which denotes the degree or quality attaching to it. This singular feature of the Yoruba language is unique, and therefore I shall not waste time in comparing it with the adverbial systems, whatever they may be, of other African languages. The above remarks have throughout had reference to grammatical peculiarities. These, however, are not the only points deserving of notice in connexion with our present subject. Language is designed to give expres- sion to thought. Hence, by examining the particular class of composition to w^iich any given language has been especially devoted, we may trace the direction in which the current of thought is wont to flow amongst the tribe or nation in which it is vernacular, and so investi- gate the principal psychical peculiarities, if such there be, of that tribe or nation. In this view, then, we may say that a leading characteristic of the Yoruba language, deserving of a prominent place in these remarks, is to be found in the rich and abundant profusion of its prover- bial sayings. A glance at the Dictionary before us will suffice to convince us that in this respect the Yoruba is no ordi- nary language. It should seem that there is scarcely an object presented to the eye, scarcely an idea excited in the mind, but it is accompanied by some sententious aphorism, founded on a close observance of men and manners, and, in many cases, of a decidedly moral ten- ( 18 ) dency. It is true that this concise and pointed method of speech is, in a degree, common to all nations amongst whom civilization has made but little progress ; for, as has been justly remarked, " proverbial expressions are peculiarly adapted to a rude state of society, and more likely to produce effect than any other ; for they profess not to dispute, but to command ; not to persuade, but to compel : they conduct men, not by circuitous argument, but immediately, to the approbation and practice of in- tegrity and virtue."* In the Yoruba, however, there is an extraordinary exuberance of these sententious sayings, not confined to any particular caste undertaking to be the guide of the rest ; but everywhere in the mouths of all, imparting a character to common conversation, and marking out a people of more than ordinary shrewdness, intelligence, and discernment. If brevity and elegance be regarded as the two main excellencies of a proverb, the Yoruban aphorisms may claim an equal rank with those of any other nation in ancient or modern times ; for besides the condensation of the discriminating sentiment into a small compass, which is always observable in them, there is, for the most part, also an almost poetical contrivance or construction of the parts, which marks a refinement of taste greater than we should naturally have expected. 1 believe that the number and the character of these proverbial sayings will almost bear us out in calling them the national poetry of the Yorubas. I am not aware of the existence among them of any heroic pieces, or war and hunting songs, such as those which prevail amongst the southern tribes, and of which Casalis has given us * Vide Home's " Introduction to the Scriptures," Vol. II. Part II. Book II. Ch. I. ^ vi. ( ly ) several remarkable specimens.* The poetry of the Yorubas, if I may call it such, seems rather to be of the didactic kind, probably evincing a diiferent character of mind in the people ; and which cannot fail, I think, to remind us, both in sentiment and in style, of some of the poetical books of scripture. I would proceed to point out one or two features of the Yoruban proverb which are worthy of notice. In the first place, they are in the main metaphorical. Some object of sense is selected, to which the character intended is attributed, and some quality, or other acci- dent, is predicated of that object of sense, which is de- signed to figure the intended predicate. As an illustra- tion of my meaning, I may quote the proverb, Agbe ni ije egbin omi, ^' A calabash receives the sediment of water," which is explained to mean, " An elder nmst exercise forbearance;" or, EnNITI O da LI ERU ITO, " Ashes always fly back in the face of him that throws them," i. e. the calumnies, or injuries, which one man aims at another will recoil on his own head. This metaphori- cal style is not essential to a proverb ; but I think we may say it is essential, or at least most highly conducive, to the poetical character of a proverb. Casalis has ob- served the same in the Sisuto proverbs in the south. " Les Bassoutos," he says, "me paraissent avoir ete tout particulierement heureux dans ce genre de composition. Leur langue, par sa precision energique se prete admi- rablement au style sententieux, et I'elementmetaphorique est entree si abondamment dans sa formation, qu 'on ne * Vide " 'Etudes sur la langue Sechuaiia," par Eug. Casalis, Partie III. p. 32. ( 20 ) saurait la parler sans s'habituer insensiblement a revetir ses pensecs de quelque image qui les fixe dans la me- moire."* As an instance of this metaphorical style, we find amongst his catalogue ofSisuto proverbs, " La pointe de I'aiguille doit passer la premiere," meaning, "Be direct in your discourse, avoid disguising the truth by evasive words." Another example of the same kind amongst the Yorubas is, Ate yun ate wa li a ite ekuro oju onna, " To be trodden upon here, to be trodden upon there, is the fate of the palm-nut lying in the road." Multitudes more of a similar character might be men- tioned. The characteristic, however, which gives to the Yoruban proverbs their peculiar claim to be regarded as a national didactic poetry, is a feature which w^as first pointed out to my notice by my esteemed and valued friend, the Rev. Henry Venn. It is that same feature which Bishop Lowth considered one of the grand cha- racteristics, and which Bishop Jebb has proved to be the sole distinctive characteristic, of Hebrew poetry. We call it the system of parallelism, and by this word Me denote " a certain equality, resemblance, or relationship, between the members of each period ; so that in two lines, or members of the same period, things shall answer to things, and words to words, as if fitted to each other by a kind of rule or measure."! This parallelism in Hebrew poetry has been stated to consist of four species, which have been respectively termed the gradational, the antithetic, the synthetic, and the introverted. The gra- * " 'Etudes sur la lang. Sech." Part III. p. 84. t Vide Home's " Introduction to the Scrii^tures," Vol. II. Part II. Book II. Ch. II. 1x496. To the examination of Scripture poetry contained in that invaluable work I am indebted fur the arrangement of this part of my subject. ( ^1 ) dational is that species in which the second clause rises above the first, either in significance or in expression ; the antithetic is that in which the two clauses are con- nected by contrast instead of similarity ; the synthetic is that in which the parallelism lies in the construction of the sentences, noun answering to noun, and verb to verb, being strictly artificial ; and the introverted is that in which, whatever be the number of clauses, the first is parallel to the last, the second to the last but one, and so on. Of the gradational parallelism we meet with a few instances amongst the Yoruban proverbs ; thus, in the ascending scale, we have, OSO ONIBUJE k6 PE ISAN, OsO ONINABl k6 JU ODUN LO. • • • • • " Marks made with buje do not last more than nine days, Marks made with inabi do not last more than a year." AlIERE NI YIO KEHIN OKO, 'AtTA NI YIO KEHIN ILLE. " The farm-house will be after the farm, The ridge of the roof will be after the house." And in the descending scale we may notice the two fol- lowing — Bi 1W9 k6 LI owe, o LI ENA ; Bl IWO k6 LI ENA, O LI CHUN RERE LI ENNU. " If you have no money (to give), you may pay visits ; If you cannot visit, you may send kind messages." This partakes of the character of the logical sorites. AbEBBE NI IBE IKU, AbEBBE NI IBE ORAN ; Bl ORU BA MU AbEBBE NI IBE E. • • • " A pleader (with the gods) wards off death, A pleader (with the judge) wards off punishment ; ( 22 ) If the heat is oppressive A fan wards off that." Of the antithetic parallelism we also meet with some examples ; indeed, this species is peculiarly adapted to adages and aphorisms. The following are specimens — ASE ALAPA LI OSO, KO GBO ; AsE CHUN GBOGBO FU IGGI, O YE IGGI. " However a ruined mud wall may be garnished, the trouble will be useless ; But all trouble bestowed upon things made of wood is advantageous." Jl AGBA OTTI, JI AGBA ETTU I EnNITI ARAN WA KI IJI AGBA. " The owner may broach his cask of licpiid, or barrel of powder ; But he who is sent with it dares not broach the cask." Ari ti enni mo iwi ; fl apadi bo ti re molle. " He who sees another's faults knows well how to talk about them ; But he covers his own with a potsherd." Enia lassan po o ju igbe ; Enni rere won o ju oju lo. " Ordinary people are as common as grass ; But good people are dearer than an eye." This last reminds us forcibly of the Scripture proverbs in its style of composition ; each word in the second clause being antithetic to some word in the first. Exam- ples of this character are to be found in almost every chapter of the Book of Proverbs; as, for instance, xi. 1. xiii. 3. xiv. 34. xv. G,20. xxi. 12. &c.&c. The Yoruba abounds more in the synthetic parallelism than in any other. A few examples will serve to show the peculiarities of the species. ( 23 ) Kl ADABA SUSU KI O WI FU JEDIEDIE, • • • • ' Kl EIYE KI O WI FU EIYE. ■ • • • ** Let the white pigeon tell the woodpecker, Let bird tell bird." Agba ko si, illu baje; Balle ku, ille di ahoro. " When there are no elders, the town is ruined ; When the master dies, the house is desolate." Bebbe ki o ri okose : Sagbe ki o ri awon. " Beg for help, and you will meet with refusals ; Ask for alms, and you will meet with misers." Under this class we often find proverbs in which the second clause, constructed with a studied similarity to the first, contains the explanation of the figurative lan- guage which the first employed. Thus, Aji bo wa iba li aba ila li atellewo, AwA KO MO enni ti o ko 6 ; • • • • • ■' Aji bo wa iba li owo adasan, awa ko mo enni tl o je e. • > • • • " We wake, and find marks on the palm of our hand. We do not know who made them ; We wake, and find an old debt, We do not know who contracted it." Abere bo lowo adette, o di ete; Oran ba ille, o di ero. ^' If a needle fall from a leper's hand, it requires con- sideration (to pick it up) ; If a great matter is before the council, it requires deep thought." AkI IGBA AKAKA lowo AKITl ; AkI IGBA ILLE BABBA ENNI LOWO ENNI. • • • • " No-one can cure a monkey of squatting ; So no-one can deprive a man of his birthright." ( 24 ) AsTSORi k6 ni ikun bi aobX ; Otosi ko lowo bi oloro. • « • • " A pistol has not a bore like a cannon; A poor man has not money at his command as the rich." ^Imado iba se bi eledde, abilluje ; Eru iba jobba, enia ko kun. '* A wild boar, in the place of a pig, would ravage the town ; And a slave made king would spare nobody." Elubo se ogbodo ri, Eru se ommo ni ille babba re. * • • • ■ " As the elubo was once a soft unripe yam, So the slave was once a child in his father's house." The twenty-sixth chapter of Proverbs is full of aphorisms of this class, in which the second clause ex- plains the first. Of the introverted parallelism the following is a spe- cimen — Ibaje apo ni Ibaje apa ; Bi apa ba ja, ^\po aballe. " The injury of a bag Is (caused by) the injury of the pack-rope ; If the pack-rope breaks. The bag will go down." For the most part, however, the Yoruba proverbs are not long enough to display this species of parallelism ; but we may notice something similar to it in the inverted order of the corresponding words in the two parallel clauses which we often meet with ; thus Eleke LI eke iye ; Ohun ti aba se ni iye 'ni. ( 25 ) " To a liar a lie is natural ; Any thing which a man is in the habit of doing is natural to him." Here eleke is made the subject in the first clause, though it corresponds with 'ni in the second ; and ohun Ti ABA SE is the subject in the second, though it corre- sponds with EKE in the first. Such is the striking feature of parallelism which so evidently characterizes the Yoruba proverbs. It is this which gives them their claim to the title of poetry ; for there does not appear to be any thing which can be' strictly called rhythm or metre in any of them ; although the feature which I am about to notice may be regarded as a slight approximation to it. I mean that there is in the main a conformity of length between the lines which are designed to be parallel or antithetic ; and that where there is a third line, either preceding or following, which stands alone, it is of a different length from the others, and, in most cases, considerably longer. These stanzas, if we may call them so, of three lines, are of very frequent occurrence amongst the Yoruba proverbs, and the peculiarity just noticed will, I think, be found to pre- vail almost universally in them. The following are examples — ose ni isaju ekun, Abamo ni igbehin oran, Gbogbo ottokulu pe, Nwon k6 ri ebo abamo se. ^' Sorrow is before weeping, Mortification is after trouble. All the community assemble,Theyfmd no sacrifice against mortification." AiYE LI Okun, EnIA LI OssA, AkI IMO IWE, Kl AKO AIYE JA, ( :^« ) ^' The world is an Ocean, Mankind is the (lagoon) Ossa, One cannot swim, So as to cross the world." IW9 IBA Rl, IWO KO GBODDO WI I • • • -^ Nl I PA AKONI. '' You may see, You must not speak ; It is that which is the death of the strong man." i. e. a strong man may perish for want of being apprised of his danger. Igbo biribiri, Okunkun biribiri ; Okunkun ni yio sette igbo. " The forest is very dark, The night is very dark ; The darkness of the night is deeper than the darkness of the forest." Erin ntu ekuru, Efon ntu ekuru: titu ekuru ajannaku b6 ti efon molle. • • • > " The elephant makes a dust, The buffalo makes a dust ; The dust of the elephant Hides that of the buffalo." EnNU IMG 'nNU, Ete imo ete, Ni iko oran ba ereke. " Mouth keeping to mouth, Lip keeping to lip, Bring trouble to the jaws." EwuRE je, o re ille, Agutan je, o re ille; Aje iWA ille Ba eledde je. ( 27 ) " When the goat has fed, it returns home, When the sheep has fed, it returns home ; Not returning home after feeding Ruins the character of the pig. " It is observable that in these stanzas, for the most part, the concluding line is about double the length of the others, and admits of being divided into two. We may compare with these the triplets in which Scripture lan- guage frequently runs; as. Matt, viii . 20, " The foxes have holes. And the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head."* We have, however, examples of a different disposition of the triple stanza in the Yoruba, where all the lines are parallel, although, even in such cases, the last is in contrast, whilst the two others are in apposition"; thus, Ada ebo fun gunugun, O li on kg ru, Ada ebo fun Akalla, O li on kg ru, Ada ebo fun eiyelle, O gbe ebo grubo. " Sacrifices were prescribed to the turkey-buzzard, But it refused to offer them. Sacrifices were prescribed to the Akalla vulture, But it refused to offer them. Sacrifices were prescribed to the pigeon, And it offered them." In this, and in several other examples already given, the lines are evidently bi-membral, as is constantly the case in Scripture poetry. The Yoruba stanzas, however, are not confined to two or to three lines : there are instances of quatrains, in which three lines are parallel, followed or preceded by an odd line ; for example, * Vide Home's " Introduction," Vol. II. p. 508. ( 28 ) Eru yio je, esu yio mo, esu yio lo ; NiBO LI ALATAMPOKO YIO w6, " The locust will eat, The locust will drink, The locust will go away; But where will the grasshopper hide itself?" Agba metta ki isi ekulu ipe ; Bl OKAN PE EKULU, Ekeji ani ekulu, Eketta ani ekulu. " Three elders cannot all fail to pronounce the word ekulu ; If one says ekiilu. The second may say ekulu. But the third will say ekulu." Occasionally we find them passing the number of four, as in the following very simple but really poetic stanza of seven lines, which, \ve may observe, commences with an odd line, and then divides itself into three couplets, of strictly parallel lines, gradually increasing in length : Bl OJUMO MO, Olowo gee owo, Iranwu agbe kekke, Ajagun agbe apata, IWONSO abere gbe assa, • • • • ^AgBE Aji TI ON TI ARUKO, OmMO ODDE aji TI APO TI ORON. • • • • • • " When the day dawns, The trader takes his money. The spinner takes her spindle, The warrior takes his shield, The weaver takes his batten, The farmer wakes, himself and his hoe, The hunter wakes with his quiver and his bow." ( 29 ) The above remarks would seem sufficient to substan- tiate the claim of the Yoruba proverbs to a place amongst the poetry of nations. But without dwellino; longer on this point, I will proceed to notice one or two other distinctive features. One is — what indeed we might expect in a nation yet in its infancy, and scarcely rising out of barbarism — that the point of the proverb very often lies in the fact of two words having a very similar sound, with a wholly different sense, making the proverb in such cases, a play upon the word. We have numerous instances of this amongst the Yoruba adages : to quote a few — OjO pa BATTA B'ATA BATTA b'aTA LI ORI APATTA I LT ODE AJALUBATA, BATA NI IGGI, BATTA LI AWO. The rain on the batta (shoes) goes patter, patter, pat- ter, as on the apatta (rock) : in the street of the ajalubata (head drummer), the bata (drum) is wood, the batta (shoes) are skin." This sentence is designed as a play on the word apatta, containing a frequent repetition of b and t sounds. But there are others whose meaning is more obvious; as, Abere bo lowo adette, o di ete — " If a needle falls from the hand of a leper, he requires consideration" to pick it up, because his hand is mutilated by the disease. The play in this sentence is in the words, adette, and o DI ete. One who di ette, is leprous, must di ete, be- come thoughtful. Igun ti ogun mi k6 jo ti egun — " Piercing me with a lance is not like piercing me with a thorn." Here the resemblance between the three words igun, ogun, egun, gives a peculiar liveliness to the expression. Bi OMMO DA oRi KAN APA, APA A — " If a child trcats the apa tree insolently, it wounds him." The word apa « wounds" is the same as the name of the tree. ( 30 ) Ore Ague se li Offa o di egbe— " The good which Agbe did in Olfa is wasted ;" lit., is become loss. The word denoting loss is egbe', similar in sound to Agbe. He is said to have been a noted philanthropist among the Yorubas. Iraje apo ni ibaje apa. — "The injury of the bag is (caused by) the injury of the pack-rope." Xpo and apa are similar. Baba bo baba molle — " A great matter puts a small matter out of sight." Baba and baba are only distin- guished by the accent. Bl ALAPATA BA PA ERAN,AWON ALAGBATA ABU U LI AJAN "■ When the butcher kills the animal, the retailers cut it into pieces." The resemblance between alapata and ALAGBATA is Sufficiently obvious. Multitudes more of a similar character might be col- lected, but the examples above given are enough to show the tendency of the Yorubas to the figure of rhetoric commonly called paronomasia ; in which characteristic again, as in the parallelism already described, there is a striking similarity to the poetry of the Hebrews and other oriental nations.* I must not omit to mention, in this brief account of the Yoruba proverbs, that there is a degree of moral light observable in them which renders them peculiarly in- teresting, and gives them, I may add, a real value in connexion with the inquiry into the moral government of the universe ; inasmuch as it presents us with a lively comment on the words of St. Paul concerning the Gen- tiles, " which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thouglits the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another." (Rom. ii. 1.5.) These proverbs, in many in- * Vide Home's '' Introduction," Vol. II. p. 292. ( 31 ) stances display ideas concerning the providence of God, the moral rectitude of actions, or the practice of social virtues, which (to say the least) we should hardly have expected to find in a people so wholly separated from the influences, direct or indirect, of that revelation which God was pleased to make of Himself to man. The words of Casalis, with reference to the Sisuto proverbs, are in my opinion even more applicable to those of the Yoru- bas. " Sous le rapport moral, il est interessant d'observer les vestiges de cette conscience universelle, a laquelle Dieu a confie la direction de toute creature intelligente. Nousacquerons par la la certitude qu'il n'est pas d'homme sur la terre qui ne sache discerner entre ce qui est mo- ralement bon et moralement mauvais, et qui par conse- quent ne soit susceptible d'encourir la condamnation attachee a la transgression des lois divines."* Amongst his list of Sisuto proverbs we meet with some that ex- press a moral sentiment ; as, for example, " La trappe prend le grand oiseau aussi bien que le petit ;"t " Le sang humain est pesant, il empeche celui qui I'a repandu de fuir ;" " Le meurtrier dit, Je n'ai tue qu'une bete, mais I'animal sans poil (I'homme) ne perit pas sans etre venge ;" " L'homme trompeur est une aiguille a deux pointes."]: But there is something more striking in the high standard of morality observable in the sayings of the Yorubas, displaying as it does a conscious recogni- tion of the intrinsic excellence of those peculiar virtues which we commonly regard as being appreciated only in civilized society. Were we to measure this people by the standard of their proverbial morality, we should come to the conclusion that they had attained no inconside- * " 'Etudes sur la lang. Sech." Part III. p. 84. t Ibid. p. 87. I Ibid. p. 89. ( 32 ) rable height in the developement of social relations, hav- ing passed out of that savage barbarism, in which every individual lives for himself alone, into a higher state of being, in which the mutual dependence of one member on another is recognised, giving room for the exercise of social virtues as a sort of moral compact for the safe- guard of society. A few instances will suffice to explain my meaning. Thus the mutual relation between man and man, and the consequent duty which man owes to man, are dis- tinctly acknowledged in the brief sentence, Enniti o se ibaje enia, o se ibaje ara re. " He who injures another, injures himself" The excellence of truthfulness as one of those virtues > which are essential to the existence of society, is evi- dently implied in such proverbs as the following, con- demnatory of the antithetic sin of lying. Pipe ni yio pe eke ko mu ra. " The time may be very long, but a lie will be detected at last." Dr. Krapf, in his laborious researches on the east coast, was unable to find any word expressing the idea of gra- titude in the language of all the Suaheli tribes, a fact significant enough as to the total absence of the moral feeling denoted by that name. Amongst the Yorubas, on the contrary, not only is the word dupe, '^ to give thanks," a word of constant and daily occurrence, but they have proverbs relating to ingratitude sufficient to show that, in theory at least, its turpitude is acknowledged to the full. Thus they say, Enniti ase li ore, ti kg dupe ; Aba se e ni ibi, ko don o. " He to whom kindness is shown, and he does not re- turn thanks, ( 33 ) You may do him ill, and he will not feel that either :" intimating that an ungrateful person must be destitute of all feeling. So again — Enia ki ise 'ni ni rere Kl API IBI su u. '' He who has done you a kindness should never be ill- used." ArI BA 'ni JE AGBON ISALLE BI O KU LI OWURO AYA LI ALLE. " An ungrateful guest is like the lower jaw, which, when the body dies in the morning, falls away from the upper by night-time." The light in which the Yoruban moralists regard jus- tice and equity may be gathered from the following pithy piece of advice — Eti, gbo ekeji ki o to dajo. " Ear, hear the other side (of the question) before you decide." The duties of contentment and patience are energeti- cally and forcibly recommended in the two subjoined aphorisms, duties which can scarcely be recognised as such while man is in a state of barbarism ; Ma gbiyele ogun ; Ti owe enni ni it6 'ni. • • • " Depend not on (the fortune of) battle ; What a man possesses is enough for a man." Ibino k6 se nkan fu 'ni, SuRU babba iwa : Ibino ni iyo offa li apo, Ohun rere ni iyo obi li apo. " Anger does nobody good, Patience is the best (lit., father) of dispositions : Anger draws arrows from the quiver, Good words draw kola-nuts from the bag." ( 34 ) Another remarkable proverb may be mentioned, in which we notice the same implied reproof of a partial respect of persons which we so often find in Scrip- ture. Tl)is proverb supposes the case of a poor man looking on at the erection of a house: a rafter is dis- covered to be not long enough for its intended purpose ; the poor man ventures to recommend the plan of splicing two rafters together, to increase its length : his advice is at first despised, because he is poor, but eventually adopted on the failure of all other plans. This history the pro- verb gives, in the usual brief sententious manner of that class of composition, Bl EKKE OTOSI KO TO OKE LI ORO, ATO LI ALLE. " If the poor man's rafter does not reach the top in the morning, it will reach it in the evening." We are forcibly reminded of the striking parable in the ninth chapter of Ecclesiastes, whose moral is given in the words, " Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength ; nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is de- spised, and his w^ords are not heard." The following is an evident proof that the Yorubas are capable of appreciating the higher and more gene- rous sentiments of refined society, such as are the farthest removed from that mere love of animal gratification which marks the savage : DiDON LI O DON LI A NBA ORE JE EFO TI ILLE ENNI TO NI IJE. " We partake of our friend's entertainment, because (friendship) is pleasant, not because we have not enough (to eat) in our own house." We are accustomed to view the untutored barbarian as one who utterly disregards the life of his fellow-man. Yet even amongst the wild Basuto there are proverbial expressions which show that they are conscious of its ( 35 ) value : two such have been already noticed ; another is to this effect, "Si un homme a et6 tue secretement, les pailles des champs ie diront."* In like manner the Yo- rubas have this remarkable saying — OhUN GBOGBO LI ADIYELE, SUGBON KO SI ENNITI O MO I YE ARA EJJE ARA ENNI. " Every thing has its price. But no-one can set a price upon blood ;" a remarkable saying in every point of view, especi- ally when we look upon it as a self-supplied text from which to preach the Gospel of redemption by the pre- cious blood of Christ. The same observation may apply to those proverbs which show how correct an estimate the Yorubas have formed in some respects of the character and attributes of the Divine Being, thereby proving the unqualified de- claration of Holy Writ, that " the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eter- nal power and Godhead ; so that they are without ex- cuse.f" That they have a true idea of God's watchful provi- dence, and care for all His creatures, is evident from the following very beautiful proverb, whose import is the same as that of the English adage, " Man's extremity is God's opportunity." Bl O KUN ONl, KUN OLLA, KI OGBE KI O PA AGILITI, OJO ARO. " If the Agiliti will die to-day or to-morrow (for want of water), rain will surely come." * Vide " 'Etudes sur la lang. Secb." p. 8!'. t Horn. i. 20. ( ••» ) The Agiliti is an animal of the guana tribe, which is said to live for a very long time without water. There is another, said to be a very favourite saying of one of the present chiefs of Abbeokuta, which conveys such a lesson of dependence on the guiding providence of God, that it ought not to be omitted here — O FI IJA FUN OlORUN JA, FOWOLE ERAN. " Leave the battle to God, and rest your head upon your hand." But not only do tliey thus prove their acquaintance with the fact that God's providence superintends all things upon earth, and that man is dependent on that overruling power; they farther speak of man's relation to God as His servant, evidently regarding that relation as applying to all times and circumstances ; and that, too, so as almost to force upon us the conclusion that they viewed that service in the light of a privilege. At least, it is difUcult to give any other explanation of such a proverb as the following — Arc ni idena orisa. " The ar9 (i. e. a man with a withered limb) is the por- ter (at the gate) of the gods." I understand it as denoting that if a man through in- firmity cannot be engaged in the active service of God, he is still God's servant, and may fulfil his obligations passively. Surely these are indications of no ordinary perception of moral truths, and sufficient to warrant the inference, that in closeness of observation, in depth of thought, and in shrewd intelligence, the Yoruban is ov tvx^ov dvr}p — no ordinary man. The existence of proverbs such as these ( 37 ) amongst a people situated as the Yorubans are, is a fact pregnant with many thoughts on which the theologian and the moralist may dwell with advantage ; and may awaken in all an interest in a nation towards whom the sympathies of the public have been already directed by the exciting events of their recent political history. We can now see a little w^ay into the thoughts and feelings of that people, which has come prominently before our notice as the butt of the last effol-ts of the expiring slave-trade, and the repeller of those efforts: we can now dive a little into that sea of mind, to which the Da- homian tyrant would fain have cried, Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther ; which he would fain have bound in the chains of slavery, like the Persian monarch of old ; but which refused to be fettered, rising up wholly like a flood, and forcing his proud army to flee before it. Surely great interest must attach to an insight into the mind of such a people, now for the first time furnished to the civilized world, in the work before us, by one of the most intelligent amongst them, whose long acquaintance with foreign civilization renders him capable of appreciating the importance of the work which he has undertaken, and of estimating the difficulty which attends upon the task of rendering intelligible, in a new language, the ideas of another, wholly diverse and alien. To the philologist this work presents a new field of inquiry of a most deeply interesting character. The nature of those inquiries which it suggests I have en- deavoured to set forth in these few introductory obser- vations ; in which I profess to have done no more than merely point out the principal distinctive features of the language ; tlius preparing the way, I trust, in some little ( 38 ) measure, for future more extended surveys of the Yoru- ban in connexion with other African dialects, when our acquaintance with Hamitic philology shall have become more enlarged. Mean time the remarks already given will be sufficient to recommend the accompanying work to the perusal of those who feel an interest in Africa, and who long for the coming of that day, when not "five cities" only, but all cities and towns and villages, not " in the land of Egypt" only, but in all the tribes of that dark continent, " shall speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of Hosts."* * Isa. xix. 18. VOCABULARY OF THE YORUEA LA^^GUAGE, &c. &c. The five vowels, a, e, i, o, ti, represent the sounds usually termed Italian, as lieard in the words — ENGLISH. GERMAN. a Bath, hat. Voter, hand. e Bait, bet. Stets. i Beat, hit. Ziehen, sinn. Boat. '■ "^ Honig. u Boot, full. Hut. There are also two modified vowels and two dipthongs — e, a sound between the sounds of bat and bait, hardly distinguish- able by an English ear from the latter sound ; approximating closely to tlie English interogative aye? or the German a, Vdter. a sound between a and o, as heard in laiv, water, bought, not; represented in Swedish by a. ai, nearly equivalent to the English /, in mile. oi, as in voice. Among the consonants it is only necessary to notice that — g is always hard, as in gate, j is always soft, as in join, h has always its distinct sound, as an aspirate. P^ip — the hard sound, to which gb is the soft correlative. s=:sh. Of the accents, none are employed, as in English, merely to mark the stress to be laid on a particular syllable. The circumflex usually indicates a contraction, which is also in all cases a long syllable, e. g. dabobo, from da-abo-bo. The acute (') and grave Q) accents are simply marks of intonation — i. e. of the rise or fall of the voice — often, as in the Chinese language, affecting the signification. Words not divided by a hyphen are uncompounded roots, or words whose etymology is uncertain. When a word is compounded without any change of the simple, it is merely divided by a hyphen into its component parts. When there is such a change, an analysis is added of the whole word; e.g. Iforiballe (fi-ori-ba-ille) ; or of the syllable which needs elucidation, e. g. asennu-enni (se-ennu ). YORUBA YOCAByLAM. A. A, much used in composition as a prefix ; as Ye, " to live," " to have functions of life ;" aye, " a state of living." Aa ! a word of exclamation. Aba, Abara, s. a slap with the palm of the hand. — IW9 gba mi li aba, " You slapped me." Aba, s. remembrance, thought. — Emi ndaba re, " I was thinking of you." Hope, expectation. — '^Aba ki ni iw9 nda, " What hope do you entertain V ;/'Aba, s. a kind of mat. — Eni Aba ko to bi eni ore, eni aba ko se ika, rirun ni irun womwom, "An aba mat is not so durable as an ore mat ; it is too brittle to bend." Abada, Fabada, adv. (Haussa) for ever. — Emi ko se behe mo lai, abada, " I shall never do so any more, for ever." Abafe, s. a tree, the tender leaf of which is used for medicine against the bite of the snake. Abaje, s. the name of a kind of yams. A-BA-JE, s. the act of eating one with another. Abaiyeje, Obaiyeje (Ba-aiye-je), s. busy-body, lit. world- spoiler. — Abaiyeje ko se ifi idi oran han, "Secrets should never be told to a busy-body." Aba-mo, mortification, painful reflection. — Ose ni isaju ekun, abamo ni igbehin oran, gbogbo ottokulu pe nwon ko ri ebo abamo se, lit. "Sorrow precedes weeping; mortification follows a grievous matter ; the B ^- •>?1 ABA whole community assemble, but find no sacrifice against mortification." Abanije, Obanije, (Ba-enia-je), s. a despiser, calumnia- tor, a slanderer. — Obaniaje obaara re je, "He who despises another despises himself." ^ Abanije, s. one who partakes of the same dish. — Aba- nije ma ba ni se ifa enia, enniti o je didon ni ije kikan, " He who shares his friend's prosperity, but does not move a hand to help him in his work, is selfish ; for he who eats the sweet should be ready to eat the ' bitter." /^Abanise ( — se), s. a helper, coadjutor, a fellow-worker. — Abanise ma si banise m9, " A helper who would help no more." ^Abanigbele ( — gbe-ille), s. an inmate. Fire is prover- bially personified as " Abanigbele ma mo oju enni," "An inmate which cannot be tamed." /^Aba-pade, s. casual occurrence. — Ohun abapade ko J9 ohun ti ari telle, " An accident is not like an expected result." Abara, see Aba. Abata, s. a park ; an open place in the front of the palace. /- Abata, s. a marsh in a plain, a pool. — ^Abata takete bi ennipe ko ba odo tan, " A pond appears like a self- supported body of water, whereas it is dependent on unseen springs or drainage :" applied to persons who seem to be what they are not. ^^Aba-ti, s. the missing of a thing, insecure holding, not sticking fast to. — "Abati alapa, aba a ti aba a re, "A wall appears ready to fall ; we cannot throw it down ; we seek its shelter." A common proverbial saying. ^^ Aba-w^on, s. a stain, a blot. — Aso funfun on abawon ki ire, " A white cloth and a stain never agree." Abba, s. incubation. — Adire nsun abba, "The hen is sitting." 2 / ABA Abba, s. a stack, rick, pile of corn on a platform, store. Abba, 5. an iron hook by which prisoners' feet are made fast on a block of wood, the stocks; a hook on which a padlock is hung. — Abba ko se ikan mo ni li esse, bikose enniti nse buburu,"The stocks are not pleasant, but they are good for a rogue." Abbe, s. the lower part, beneath. — Bi oran ba sii okunkun abe e wo li abbe, " If a matter be dark, dive to the bottom." Abbelle (Abbe-ille), adj. private, secret. — Ohun ti ako fe ki enia ki omo li ase li abbelle, " What is not wished to be known is done in secret." Abbeya, Abbiya ( — iya), s. the armpit. Abe, s. razor, lancet. — Didi niimu abe imu, " Wrapping up a razor preserves its sharpness." ^ Abebbe, s. a fan made of hide, used by African gentlemen to stir the air and cool themselves ; an advocate, a pleader. — Abebbe ni ibe iku, abebbe ni ibe oran, bi oru ba mu abebbe ni ibe e, "A pleader with the gods wards off death ; a pleader with the judge wards off punishment ; a fan wards off the heat when it is sultry." :, A-be-i-yannu, s. importunity, incessant solicitation. — En- niti mbe abeiyannu yi9 ri ohun ti nfe gba lowo olu- ware, " He who begs with importunity will get what he wants." Abekuluje-odan (Ba-ekulu), s. a white bird, with long neck and legs, which generally accompanies the ekulu, a species of the deer. Ab-ennu-gbagba, s. a kind of loose trousers. ^^Abere, s. needle, pin. — Ipa abere li okun ito, " It is the path of the needle which the thread is accustomed to follow." Abese, s. a good-for-nothing person. — This word is fre- quently used to abuse inferiors ; as, I wo abese yi, " You good-for-nothing fellow." 3 B 2 / ABE Ahetelle ( — te-ille), 5. a begging before hand, a bribe. — Abetelle ni ifoiu onidaio nitori abetelle ki ile ise idajo otito, "A bribe blinds the judge's eyes; for bribes never speak the truth." f Abetu, s. a brook, running water, a rivulet. Abiamo, s. a woman having a young child, a parent. — Abiamo abehin jija; a playful name used in ad- dressing a woman with an infant. Abiga, s. a mixed breed of a large and small horse. Abi-ku, s. the spirit of children who die in infancy. In- fants, or children who die under ten or twelve years old, are called Abiku, and are never buried in the town, being sometimes even thrown away in the bush, as a punishment. They are supposed to have had evil spirits for their companions, who have enticed them away. The evil spirits are supposed to punish the chil- dren w^ith cruel whippings, if they do not give them the things which they require of them. If a child grows thin, his companion spirits are affirmed to be taking away his food from him ; hence, to appease these spirits, sacrifices are resorted to ; and to frighten the spirits away, charms are hung about the child, and iron rings are put on his feet, the jingling of which is supposed to drive the spirit far away. Abi-keiiin, adj. younger, last born, Abila, adj. striped, varied in colour, checkered. — Aso abila gbogbo li o li oruko, " Each coloured cloth has its name." Abilleko (Ille-oko), s. a married woman who is living with a husband. ■^ Abino-ku-enni, s. a malicious person, a persecutor, a calumniator. — Enniti ko fe oran enni ni ise abino- • • • * • • kuenni, " He who does not love his neighbour acts ly^ maliciously." '^ Abiron, s. an infirm person, a sick person.^— Bi o ti wCi ki o ri aki irerin abiron, boya ohun ti o se e loni. ase 4 ABO iw9 lolla, " A sick person should never be laughed at, because what happens to him to-day may happen to you to-morrow." Abo, s. a returning, a coming back, cessation. — Oku abo, salutation on one's returning. — Ayun abo mi, o di emeffa loni, " My goings and returnings are six." " I have travelled the road six times to-day." — Ko dekun ko dabo, " It does not cease." Abo, s. half, moiety. — Emi ko je fun 'o li abo isu bikose ottotto, " I will not give you half a yam, but a whole one." Abogan, Ab-owo-gan, s. the musquito, also called yam- yam, a name common to all little stinging flies. Aboggibope (Bo-iggi-ope), s. a heathen, an idolater, lit. a worshipper of wood and palm. Abo-pa, adj. fatted, fed for the slaughter. Aborisa (Bo-orisa), s. a worshipper of false gods, idolater, the same as Aboggibope, a name indiscriminately given to all idolaters. ^Abose (Abo-ise), s. work done by a person in his own farm after his master's work is done, job work. — Abose ki ise ise oio, ise babba ni igba ojo enni, " Job-work is not the chief business (of a servant) ; the master's work has the (first) claim on his time." Abosseje (Ba-osse-je), s. the violator of sacred time, a sabbath-breaker. Abo, s. a tree which bears fruit like the sweet-sop, or custard- apple, from the stick of which the natives produce fire by friction. Abo, s. a bag to keep clothes in. — Bi asp pe li abo a hu, " If clothes remain long in the bag they rot." Abo, adj. female of beasts, also applied to infants ; as Abo mbi ako 1 "Male or female?" Never applied to grown-up persons. — Abo-agutan,an ewe — Abo-ewure, a she-goat — Abo-esin, a mare — Abo-eledde, a cow — 5 ABO Abo-galla,a doe — Abo-kenniu, a lioness — Abo-malu, a cow — Abo-ri, a female lizard, &c. &c. Abo, s. refuge, shelter. ^ Abojuwo, Ibojuwo (Ba-oju), s. superintendence, a look- ing after. — Iwo ni nse abojuwo lehin babba, toju ille rere, " You superintend in the master's absence ; see well to the house." ^Abo-oka, s. a bundle of guinea-corn. — Nigbati agbe ba ndi abo oka ino re adon, nipa abo oka ni yangidi owo iti iwa, " He who ties up bundles of corn re- joices, because from bundles of corn come bundles of money." ^' Abu- J A, s. a short cut to a place, anticipation of another's words. — Enniti o ba mo idi oran telle on ni ibu • • • • • • abuja eke, " He who knows a matter beforehand con- founds the liar." Abuja-onna, s. a lane, a cross street or road. y Abu-ka, s. the act of encompassing. — Bi aba bu igbe li abuka ari eranko ino re pa, " If a bush is surrounded, the animals in it are easily killed." ^ Abuke, s. a hunchback. — A ki isipe inaro fu abuke, "A hunchback is never asked to stand upright. Abu-kon, s. an addition to, a blessing. ^^, Abu-kun, 5. a remainder, a deficiency, disgrace, contempt. — Chun ti ise ohun abukun ki ama se e si cm mo • • • • • ennikeji enni, " A contemptuous act should never be done towards a fellow-man." Abula, s. adulteration. / Abu-le, s. a patch, a piece sewed on to cover a hole. — Abule ni imu aso ilo to, enniti ko ba se itoiu abule yio se ara re li ofo aso, "Patching makes clothes wear long, and he who does not care to patch will lose his clothes." Abu-mo, s. a piece put to, additional, exaggeration. Abu-ran-owu, s. cotton carded and prepared to be spun. Aburo (A-bi-iro),a6^'. erect, upright. — Filla pupa aburo, " A cap standing erect." 6 ABU ■ Abu-ro,s. a younger relative. — Aburo ki ipa egbon ni\tan, " The young cannot teach traditions to the elders." Abu-si, s. a bush adjoining the town spared for its shelter. Abuso (Ru-iso), s. falsehood of one's own invention. Ada, s. billhook with wooden handle^ mostly used by farmers. ^ Adaba, Ataba, s. a dove. — ^Adaba kekeluke ko si oja ti ko na tan, " There is no market in which the dove with the prominent breast has not traded." A pro- verbial expression by which a cowry is compared to a dove for its circulation as current money. *^DABA-susu, s. a species of white pigeon. — Ki adaba susu ki owi fu jedi'edie, ki eiye ki owi fu eiye, " Let the matter be spread abroad," lit. " Let the pigeon tell the woodpecker, (?) and bird tell bird." Adabo-boni (Da-abo), s. a defender, a succourer. Ada-bo-oja, s. a small market, the second day's market. ^ Ada-bowo (Bo-owo), 5. the taking responsibility upon one's self. — Bia ti ran 'ni ni ise li aie bi iwo ba seni « • o • • • si ise adab9wo ara re, ** As a message is given to you, so deliver it : if you vary it, the consequences will rest with you." Ada-do, Erekusu, s. an island. Ada-gun, s. a lake, a pool or pond. Ada-gunle-apo (Ada-gun-ille), Eb7ri, 5. a large quiver, generally placed in the ground in battle, from which the soldiers are supplied with arrows. Ada-ji, Ada-jiwa, 5. the time of the second cock-crowing. Adajo (Da-ejo), 5. a judge, an umpire, one who decides matters. Adakadeke, s. a mischievous person, a liar. Ada-ma-le-se, s. one unable to perform what he under- takes. Ada-mo, s. a mistaken view, heresy. Ada-moran, 5. a counseller, a suggester. ^ Adan, s. a bat. — Adan dorikodo o nwo ise eiye gbogbo, - ' ^3 \ 7 ADA "The bat suspends itself, but watches the other birds." Adaniduro (A-da-enia-duro), s. a detainer. Adanilaga ( — laga), s. he who wearies one, an importu- nate person. Adanilara ( — lara), s. one who mortifies, or disappoints ; one who designedly or purposely does a thing to vex another. Adanilaraya ( — ya), s. one who enlivens or cheers up another. — Bi opo enia ba kuro li egbe ofo adanila- raya ni ifo ni jojo, "Though many guests are absent, he only who enlivens the party is missed." Adanilekkun ( — li-ekkun), s. one who forbids, a prohi- bitor. f Adaniloju ( — li-oju), s. one who disappoints. — Adaniloju ko se ifi ehin ti, " He who disappoints another is un- worthy to be trusted." ( Adaniloro ( — oro), s. a tormentor. — Adaniloro fi agbara ko ni, " He who torments another (only) teaches him to strengthen himself." Adaniniji ( — ni-ji), s. one who frightens or alarms ano- ther; one who raises a sudden expectation. [^ Ada-pe, s. the contraction of words or names. — Adape ore ki ii'e ki amo itumo oruko, "Contraction of words conceals the sense." I Ada-ri-ji-ni, s. one who forgives. — Adarijini ni isette ejo, " He who forgives ends the dispute." Adaripon, ( — ori-pon) s. the male lizard, so called because of its yellow head. Ada-ru-da-po, adj. indiscriminate. Ada-san, s. an old debt incurred by some distant relative. — Aii bo wa iba li aba ila li atellewo, awa ko mo enni ti o ko o, aji bo wa iba li owo adasan, awa ko mo enni ti o je e, " We wake and find (we find as soon as we have consciousness) marks on the palm of, our hand: we do not know who made the marks : we wake 8 ADA and find an old debt, and we know not who in- curred it." Ada-si, s. gleaning, a thing spared from the rest. Ada-win, s. parts of money due, payments by instalments. ' Ade, s. a crown studded with beads in a tasteful manner. — Obba ko ni filla ade li oni, " The king has no cap but a crown." ir' Adebipani (Da-ebi-pa-enni), s. or adj. that which causes famine or starvation. — Adebipani ki ise 9re enni, " He who causes one's starvation is not one's friend." Adehun (De-ohun), s. one who concludes a bargain, a bargainer, a bargain. Adelebo (De-ille-bo), s. a married young woman. Ade-mo, Ade-mu, s. a drinking calabash. Adena (De-onna), s. one who watches on the road, one who lies in ambush, a hinderer, impediment. Adetisille (De-eti-si-ille), s. a listener, one who listens ,^ /to a thing spoken in private. Adette (Da-ette), s. a leper. — Abere bo lowo adette o di ete, oran ba ille o di ero, " If a needle fall from a leper's (mutilated) hand, he cannot pick it up without much consideration and contrivance : so a great matter before the council requires deep thought." Adi, 5. oil made from the kernel of palm-nuts. Adi, conj. notwithstanding, after all. Adi-don, 5. sweetmeats, confectionery, parched corn ground and prepared for the use of the warriors in their expeditions. Adire, Adie, s. a domestic fowl. Adiredo (Adire-odo), s. a water-fowl. — Adiredo, ko se ib9 ip9ri, " A water-fowl is not fit to worship the tutelary god Ipori." Adire iranna, s. a fowl killed at the death of a person as ^ his passport to the invisible world. — Adire iranna ni isaju oku, ^' The fowl is the forerunner of the dead." Adi-mo, s. a state of being shut in. 9 c ADI Adin-gbe, s. any thing dried over a fire, such as meat or corn prepared by warriors for their marauding expe- ditions. Adiro (Lokiti-aro), s. a pierced-bottomed vessel used for straining. Aditanmo (Da-itan-mo), s. a distant relative. — Aditanmp esuo ti o li ekulu li o bi iya on, "The antelope seeking relationship with the deer, says his mother was born of a deer." Aditi (Di-eti), s. a deaf person. Adi-gba-ro, s. one who remains in a standing posture. Adiri, s. grape shot. Ado, s. a small-sized calabash, used for keeping powdered medicines, as a vial. Ado, s. an adulterer, a whore. Adoffa (Ewa-di-effa), adj. one hundred and ten. Adogunsille, Adottesille (Da-ogun-si-ille), s. one who creates war, disturbance, or revolution. Adoje (Ewa-di-oje), adj. one hundred and thirty. Adorin ( — orin), adj. seventy. — Adorin eso, " The se- venty principal or head guards of the country." Adorun ( — orun), adj. ninety. Adotta (Ewa-di-otta), adj. fifty. Adottesille (Da-otte si-ille), s. a revolutionist, an ag- gressor, a mischievous person. Adottotta (Ewa-di-otta-9tta), adj. by fifty, fifty in com- pany. Adossan ( — ossan), adj. one hundred and seventy. Adu, one who is very black, jet black. Adu, adj. small, little, few. — Adu enia ki o wa nibe, " Not a few people live there." Adun, Adon, fiavour, fragrance, sweetness ; grace, beauty, Adura, Adua, prayer, supplication. Adugbo-lu, Idugbolu, s. a stumbling-block, an object stumbled at by falling upon it on a sudden. Afaimo (Fi-aimo), adv. not unlikely, not impossible. 10 AFA Afara, 9. a bridge ; two sticks rubbed together, from which fire is produced by friction. Afara, s. slowness, sluggishness. Afara oyin, s. the honeycomb. Afe, s. a kind of white-bellied rats. Afe-imojo, s. an animal of the rat kind, the tail of which is used by the king of Yoruba as a sign of royalty : he generally holds the tail before his mouth when he walks abroad. — Obba si iruke, " The king takes off • • • • o the tail;" /. e. from his mouth. — Enni ti o pa afe- imojo, ki omu re Qyo, eda li ara oko ije, " Whoever kills afe-imojo must take it to Oyo ; eda only is due to the people of the province to eat." A-fe, s. pleasure, pride. A-fe-fe, s. wind, breeze, gale. Afehinti, s. support, prop. Afe-ju, s. one who distorts his face, especially in working. Afemojumo (fe-mo-ojumo), s. morning, twilight, dawn. Afe-no, s. chaff, that which may be driven away by the fan. — Afeno ni ti lyangbo, " Chaff is to be fanned away." Afere, s. a very light wood, like the cork wood. Afesonna (fe-si-onna), s. a betrothed person. Afe-tan, s. perfect love. Afi, Afibi, conj. unless, except. — Emi ki yio duro afibi o ba yara, " I will not wait unless he is quick." Afibipore (fi-ibi-pe-ore), s. an ungrateful person, one who returns evil for good. Afi-han, Ifihan, s. the act of shewing, an exhibition. Afi-ji, Ifiji, s. remission, forgiveness. Afin, s. the king's palace. — From this is derived Alawofin, contracted Alafin, " He who enters the palace," Afin, s. an albino. Afingba (fin-igba), s. one who cuts figures on calabashes. Afin-ju, s. a decent clean person, cleanliness, neatness. Afinosajere, Afinosehin, AFIN9S0DE (fi-ino-se-ajere), .>'. 1 1 c 2 AFI an unfaithful, treaclierous person. — Afinosajere afe- hin se ikoko, " An unfaithful man (receives your words) in a perforated vessel, but keeps behind his back the vessel (which would retain them), or, turns his back instead of his face." Afirese (fi-ire-se), s. an act of wantonness or irreverence. Af-iyanju-se, s. the doing a thing by constraint or com- pulsion, reluctance. Af-iye-si, s. an oversight, a thing to be noticed or su- perintended. Afo, s. space, room. — Bu mi li afo, " Give me space." ^Afo, s. pig's mire. — Apa afo bi eledde, this is said of a dirty person, one who wallows in the mire. — Eledde pa afo tan o nwa enni rere ti yio fi ara yi, " A pig which has wallowed in the mire seeks a clean person to rub against." Afo-ba-je, s. an overthrow, utter destruction. Afoforo, s. the cork wood. Afogbo (fo-ma-gbo), s. disobedience, petulance. — AwTgbo afogbo ti ifi owo ajae mo omi, " Disobedience will drink water with his hand tied up." Afogun, Opalaba, s. a flat bottle having four corners. Afoju (fo-oju), s. a blind person. — Ohun ti afoju fi oju re ri ki oto fo, on li ori mo, ko ton omiran ri mo, " What the blind saw before he was blind is the last sight he will ever see." Afojudi, s. obstinacy, insolence — adj. obstinate, petulant, impudent. Afojusonna (fi-oju-si-onna), s. earnest expectation, a looking on the road for. Afo-mo, s, the parasite. — Afomo ko li egbo, iggi gbogbo ni ibatan, " The parasite has no root ; it claims rela- '-^ tionship with every tree." Afonnahan (fi-onna-han), s. a guide, a leader, a di- rector. Afonrugbin (fon-iru-gbin), .9. a sower. 11* AFO Aforanlo (fi-oran-lo), s. an inquirer into a case, one who seeks advice. Aforan-mo, Iforan-mo, s. suspicion ; a suspecter. Aforesibi, Foresiggi ( — ore-se-ibi), s. an unthankful per- son, one who does not value kindness. Afo-se, 5. soothsaying. Afo-ta, s. depraved vision, a defect in the eye. Af-owo-b6, s. secret, a thing not to be made known. Afowo-ta, s. a careless search. ^ Afura, Onifura ( — fu-ara), s. a suspicious person. — Onifura alejo ti itete ise onille pelle, "A man of sus- picious character (found in a house) is first to salute the master (instead of waiting to be saluted)." Aga, 5. chair, an elevated moveable seat. — Aga-itisse, footstool. Agabagebe, s. an hypocrite, a dissembler. Agada, s. a short sword, scimetar. — Agada ko mo ori alagbedde, " The sword shows no respect for the maker of it." > Agadagodo, 5. lock, padlock. — Agadagodo ko mo ino ara won, ''One lock does not know the wards of another." Agalamasa, s. deceit, device, trick ; a double dealer. Agan, s. a barren woman, one who never bears. Agangan, s. the stone on which beads are ground. Aganju, s. the king's palace. Aganju, Aginju, s. wilderness, the depth of a forest or grass-field, ocean. Aganran, s. a kind of green parrots. Aganwo aw^o, s. a tall tree used for boards and planks. The fruit of this tree yields butter like the shea butter nuts, sold by the Mandingos in Sierra Leone. Also, the horny substance on the head of the guinea fowl. Agara, Aga, s. weariness, fatigue. Agba, 6'. adult ; manhood. — 'Agba-agba, " Man by man." ^ Agba, s. barrel, cask. — Ji agba 9tti ji agba ettu, enniti 12 AGB aran vva ki iji agba, " The owner may broach his cask of liquid or barrel of powder (if he please) ; but he who is sent with it dares not broach the cask." Agbagba, s. plantain. Agbagba-eiyelle, s. a spotted pigeon. Agba-bo, s. foster-child. Agbabon (agba-ibon), s. large gun, cannon. Agbada, s. a loose garment. — Agbada ya li oron o baje, "An agbada torn at the neck is spoilt." ^/ Agbado, s. maize, Indian corn. — Igba dodo li agbado igbani, " Indian corn is the true support of a people." Agbadu, Sebe, Owon, s. names of a black snake with a red stripe on the neck. Agbagun (gba-ogun), s. that which causes a gathering of warriors. Agbaiye (agba-aiye), s. the whole world. Agbaja, (aba-oja), Igbaja, s. girdle, band, sash ; one who girds himself. — Agbaja gba talla, "One who girds himself with a white girdle." Agbakankan, s. a forest-bird ; so called from its cry. Agba-k6, s. exact time ; coming in contact ; meeting. Agba-ku, s. frame for carrying a load, usually of bamboo. Agbalaja, s. a kind of small country shirt in common use. Agbala, s. court-yard, yard, walled garden. Agbalagba, s. an aged person, r Agballe, s. a kind of insect. — Aid igba agballe lowo arabi, ko si enniti igba ille babba enni lowo enni, " No one can separate the agballe from the arabi ; (two insects always found together) ; and no one can deprive a man of his inheritance." Agballu, s. the whole city. Agbami (agba-omi), s. the midst of the ocean. Agba-ni, s. helper, one who renders assistance. Agbanrere, s. the rhinoceros ; an animal with one horn, supposed by the natives to be the unicorn. — Agban- rere olowo kan, " The one-horned agbanrere." 12* AGB Agba-ojo, s. ancient of days. y Agbara (gba-ara), s. strength, might, ability ; a kind of bush-rope used for tying rafters together. — Ao-bara ma mo ero babba olle, "A strong man, who is a spendthrift, (may be called) the father of idleness." Agba-ra, s. wooden fortification. — Ogun ja agbara otte sono " The enemy pulls down the fortification." Agbari (igba-ori), 5. skull, crown of the head. — Agbari ko ni modunmodun, "A (mere) skull has no brains in it" Agbarigba, s. an animal with long horns, and two white streaks on each side. Agba-si, s. accumulation, addition. Agba-sin, Agba-to-ju, Agba-wo, s. a female sheep, goat, &c., entrusted to the care of a shepherd, who receives in payment part of the offspring ; oversight of any thing belonging to another. Agbassa, s. solid mass of rock. — Agbassa babba okuta, " A rock is the father of stones." \.- Agba-tan, s. entire help, complete assistance. — Agbatan li agba olle, " You must help an idle man thoroughly (if you help him at all)." Agbayon, Agbayonkon, s. the miraculous berry ; (a plant so called by Europeans). Agbe, s. a gourd, a calabash not cut into halves, but simply pierced at the top, used for carrying water, palm-oil, or palm-wine. — Agbe ni ije egbin omi, agbalagba ni ijiya oran, "As a calabash receives the sediment of water, so an elder must exercise forbear- ance." — Bi apon omi bi o dano, bi agbe ko ba fo aton omiran pon, " When one is carrying water, and hap- pens to spill it, if the calabash be not broken, you . can get more." Agbe, s. forgetfulness, slip of memory. Agbe, s. one who takes ; one who resides in a place. Agbe, s. a kind of woodcock ; alms. — Iwo nse agbe, " You ask alms." — Agbe ni ida aro, aluko ni ikosun, 13 AGB lekeleke li alalia funfun, " The agbe has blue feathers {lit. is the dyer in blue) ; the aluko has red (Jit. is the painter of red dye) ; but the lekeleke white (lit. is the owner of the white cloth)." Agbe-bo, s. a hen. — I wo ba agbebo adire li oia iwo nta- gere si i ira, iba se rere oluwa re ko je ta a, " You met a hen in the market, and hastened to purchase her : had she been worth keeping the owner would not have sold her." Agbede (gbe-ede), s. a wise or clever person. Agbede-meji, s. the middle. — Agbedemeji esse li ori ekun, " The knee is the middle of the leg." Agbegbe, s. neighbourhood ; region. Agbeji (gba-eji), s. a hat. Agbe-jollo, s. a long-necked calabash. Agbelebu, s. a cross. Agbe-ni, s. one who helps, or speaks on behalf of, another. Agbe, s. one who sharpens. Agbe, s. a kind of native sword. Agbe, s. a farmer, agriculturist. Agbedde, s. smith's shop. — Ogun ko r9 ike, agbedde ko ro batta ; oko ko soro.iro agbedde pa okko ta, "Ogun (the god of smiths) does not manufacture ivory ; the blacksmith does not make shoes ; and if there were not hard w^ork in agriculture, the blacksmith would not make hoes to sell." ^''Agbe-je, s. an early pumpkin, much eaten before other vegetables are in season. When over-ripe it becomes bitter. — Agbeje gba won la ani ki apa a ni pansa, " (After) the agbeje has saved men from starvation, it is judged fit to be cut into a common calabash." (A proverb against ingratitude.) — Agbeje ko koro ni ille nla, " The agbeje is never bitter in a large family." Agbe-kuta (gbe-okuta), s. a stone-cutter. Agbe-ma-ye, s. a hen which does not lay. Agbin-yi-kagba, Akogba, s. hedge. 13* XGB /' 'Agbo, 5. a ram. — ^"Agbo meji ko 1119 omi akoto kan, " Two . rams cannot drink out of the same calabash." — Roro ^^ agbo ni imii agbo niyin, 9lla ti babba ni imu ommo /' ' iyan, " A ram's mane gives him a noble appearance ; (and) a father's honour makes a son proud." Agbo, 5. a decomposed vegetable liquid used by the natives for v^ashing. Agbo, s. ring of dancers, flock, fold. Agbo-agbado, s. sheaves of corn piled up in a conical shape. Agbodegba, s. one of a gang of thieves stationed outside the house to receive what the rest steal within. Agbowode, s. tax-gatherer, publican. Agbo-ille, s. square of a house, court-yard. Agbon, s. cocoa-tree and nut. — Agbon ko se ije fun eiye ki eiye, " Agbon is not good for a bird to eat." /^ Agbon, s. a wasp. — Mo mo o tan ko je agbon ki o li oro, " Self-conceit deprives the wasp of honey." /- Agbon, 5. the chin. — Bi 9 b9Ju bi 9 bonu isalle agb9n li ^ a ipari re si, " When the face is washed, you finish at the chin." — Ari ba 'ni je agb9n isalle bi o ku li owur9 aya li alle, " An ungrateful guest (is like) the lower jaw, which, when the body dies in the morning, falls away from the upper by night time." Agbon, s. basket. Agbonbere, s. a children's play by snatching eatables from one another. — Agb9nbere pete igara, "Agbonbere ap- proaches to stealing." Agbonrin, Agbonyin, s. the deer. — ^Aki ifa eran ikon gb9n eran agb9n yin n9, " No one will throw away deers' flesh for squirrels'." ixAgboya, s. pretended deafness. — Enniti npe 'o ko sun- konu, iw9 li 9gb9 agb9ya, " He is going on calling you, and you pretend to be deaf." Agbugbo, s. a forest bird of the duck tribe. Agemo, s. the chamelion. Agere, s. the stand on which the idol Ifa is placed. 14 L AGl Agidi, s. an implacable person. — Agidi ti on ti iyonnu, akurete ti on ti lya, "An implacable person is always a source of trouble, a pliable person is sure to suffer." Agiliti, s. an animal of the guana tribe. — Bi o kun oni kun olla ki ogbe ki o pa agiliti ojo aro, " If the agiliti will die to-day or to-morrow (for want of water), rain will surely come." A proverbial expression, because the agiliti is said to be able to live without water for a considerable time. — Agiliti abi ara yiyi, " The agiliti with a rough skin." Applied to people with cutaneous disorders. Agisa, Akisa, s. rags. — Akisa aso li afi isu osuka. Illu kan mbe nwon ama pe illu na ni illu alagisa, ^' Rags make up a pad :" there is a town called " The Ragged Town." Ago, s. a cup, mug, jug. Ago, Agoro, 5. a kind of striped rat, remarkable for craf- tiness and swiftness, and the care it takes of its young ones. — Agoro ti o gbon sasa ebiti pa a ambotori malaju, ^' The Ago (a very clever animal) is caught in a trap : how much more the Malaju (a very stupid animal)." Ago, first salutation in approaching a house, indicating that the inmates should keep themselves tidy, so that they may not be taken by surprise. Agogo, s. the name of a tree loftier than the rest; tallness. — Eiyelle ko li agogo kiki arupe, "There is no tallness among pigeons ; they are all dwarfs." Agogo, s. a bell, an hour. Agogo kan, one bell, one hour. — Agogo kan lu, " It struck one o'clock " Agogori (gon-go-ori), s. point of a thing, extreme point of a sharp thing. Agoro, s. the hare. — Aja ti ire re ba daniloju li ade si 14* AGO agoro, " The dog which is known to be very swift is set to catch the hare." Agoro, s. a title of honour, a grade below that of Asipa. ^ Ago, Aggo, s. a tent, a temporary building, a shed. — Bi ako ba le itete kgWe ago li apa na, " If one is not able at once to build a house, a shed is first erected." Ago, s. a shroud, a winding-sheet ; a fish, — Ago olu eja. Ago, the prince of fishes. Ago, Agoni, s. a person who neglects due discipline over his dependants, and allows them to fall into slothful habits. — Ago won de ara ehin, " An Ago (suffers his dependants to be slothful) till some one shall come (who shall awaken them)." Agon, s. a settled grudge, bad feelings to another. Aguala, Ajaosu, s. the planet Venus ; a dogstar. — Aguala mba osu irin nwon sebi aja re ni ise. ^Aguala ki ise aja osupa, " Venus travels with the moon; they sup- pose it to be her dog. Venus is not the moon's dog." 'Ajude, s. an iron armlet worn by hunters. Agufon, s. a kind of long-necked crested bird : it is a common superstition that its bones cannot and must not be broken. Agun-monna, s. a running plant. Agutan, s. a sheep. — Agutan enia, a stupid person. Aha, s. a small calabash, used for giving children water. Aha-mo, s. the state of being enclosed, strait, difficulty. Ahamora ( — ara), s. he who puts armour on ; one who entangles himself with many things. Ahanna, s. a wild, obstinate person. Ahariya, s. bird-shot. Ahere, s. a farm-house. — Ahere ni yio kehin oko, atta ni yio kehin ille, " The farm-house remains to the last (upon the ground), and the ridge of the roof com- pletes the building :" a proverbial saying, intima- ting that a person will be compelled to seek a shelter at last. 15 AHO Alio, interj. a contemptuous expression, signifying, " I do not care." Ahon, Awon, s. the tongue. — Ahon ni ipinle ennu, " The tongue is the end of the mouth." AiioRo, s. ruins, deserted houses, desolation. Ahoto, s, a small tight trousers, or drawers. Ahusa, s. a fruit resembling walnut. Ahu-so-oro, s. falsehood, invented story. Ai, a negative particle, chiefly used in combination with other words. It is compounded of a privative and i the nominal formative prefix. AiBERu (Ai-ba-eru), adj. without fear, fearless. Ai-DA, adj. not ceasing, not stopping. — Aida ojo ni, " It is rain without stopping." AiDA-ARA, s. infirmity, unsound state of health. AiDERA (de-ara), adj. not negligent, not growing slack. AiDiBAJE ( — da-ibaje), s. incorruption. Ai-FE, s. unwillingness, reluctance. AiFENi (Fe-enni),5. uncharitableness. Ai-Fo, adj. unbroken, sound, whole. Ai-FO, adj. unwashed. AiFOYA (Fo-aiya), s. boldness, fearlessness. Ai-GBA, s. non-receiving. AiGREDE (Gbo-ede), s. want of understanding or know- ledge of a language. Ai-GBo, AiGBORAN, s. unbclicf, disobedience. — Aigboran babba afojudi, "Disobedience is the father of inso- lence." Ai-GBo, s. a motionless state, unwillingness to move. Ai-JE, AiJEUN, without food. — Aije aimu, not eating, not drinking. Ai-JE, adj. not answering, not effectual. AiJEBBi (Je-ebbi), adj. uncondemned, guiltless. AiJiYAN (Ja-iyan), adj. without denying, undeniable. AiKOLA (Ko-ila), adj. not tattooed, not circumcised. Ai-KON, adj. without grumbling, not murmuring. 16 AIK AiKossE (ko-esse), adj. not tripping or stumbling, with- out oflence. Ai-Ku, adj. not liable to die, alive. Ai-KUN, adj. not remaining, finished. AiLABAWON (ni-abaw9n), adj. undefiled, having no stain, no spot or blemish. Ai-LEGAN ( — egan), adj. having no blame, blameless. Ai-LERA ( — le-ara), s. infirmity, bodily weakness. AiLERi ( — eri), 5. purity, cleanness, freedom from filth. Ai-LERi, adj. having no witness, without a witness. AiLESE (ni-ese), adj. without sin, righteous, innocency. AiLEwu ( — ewu), adj. having no danger, safe. AiLOMMo (ni-ommo), adj. childless. Ai-LU, s. a plant ; adj. not having a hole, not bored. Ai-MA, adv. two negatives making an afTirmative. — Emi ko le ise aima lo, " I must go." Ai-Mo, s. want of knowledge, ignorance, a. unknown. Ai-Mo, Ai-Mu, adj. without drink. Ai-Mo, adj. unclean, filthy. AiMOYE (mo-oye), s. wanting knowledge, ignorance; adj. not wise. Ai-Mu, adj. not sharp, dull, not catching. Ai-Ni, adj. not having ; s. need, necessity, destitution. AiNiPEKUN ( — ipekun), adj. having no end, everlasting. AiNiYE ( — iye), adj. innumerable, countless, myriads. AiNiYENiNO ( — nino), s. want of understanding, dulness of apprehension. AiNiYiN ( — iyift), adj. dishonourable, disreputable, want- ing honour or reputation. Ai-PADA, adj. not returning. Ai-PE, adv. not long, of no long duration. Ai-PERi, s. the mushroom, a disease common to children, corruption in wounds. Ai-REKOJA, s. soberness, self-controul. Ai-RiNAN, AiRiRAN, s. dimncss of sight, blindness. Ai-Ri-wi, adj. inexcusable ; lit. having nothing to say. 17 u AIR Ai-Ro, adj. without consideration, thoughtless. AiROJu, AiRowo ( — ri-oju), 5. business, employment, oc- cupation. Ai-SA, adj. not picked up, scattered. Ai-sAN, s. sickness, disease. AiSANu ( — se-anu), 5. unmercifulness, want of compassion. Ai-SE, adj. not coming to pass, unfulfilled. Ai-sE, AsE, s. a large door, a gate. Ai-SE, s. inaction. Ai-SE, adj. not sinning, not offending ; having no be- ginning. AisEGBE ( — se-egbe), s. equity, impartiality, equality, justice. AisEMELLE ( — imelle), Aisimelle, s. diligence, activity. Ai-SETTAN, adj. or s. void of deceit, simplicity, openness, sincerity. Ai-si, adj. not being, not present. Ai-si-Mi, s. indefatigableness, perseverance. Ai-siN, s. independence. AisiYEMEJi (se-iye-meji), s. or adj. certainty; not double- minded, without doubt. AisoDODo ( — se-ododo), s. injustice, unrighteousness. AisojusAju (oju-isaju), adj. or s. showing no respect ; impartiality. ArsoTO ( — otito), adj. not dealing truly, untrue, unjust. / AiTARA, followed by yo, s. or adj. equality, equal. — Esin meji sure li aitara won yo, " Two horses ran equally, or inequality;" i.e. without either surpassing the other. Ai-To, s. or adj. absurdity, crookedness, not durable. AiwuKARA, s. or adj. unleavened cake, not fermented. AiYA, s. breast, bosom, heart, stomach ; courage, influ- ence. — Bi ako li aiya rindorind9, aki ije ay an, "If the stomach is not strong, do not eat cockroaches." Aiya-f6, v. to fear, to be discouraged. AiVA-jA, V. to be panic-struck. Ijaiya, 5. fearfulness, discouragement. 18 AIY AiVA-LA, V. to be fearful, to be panic-struck. AiYA-PA, V. to be terrified, to be frightened. Ai-YAPA, adj. not deviating from the right path. Ai-YATTO, adj. or s. integrity ; not separated ; undivided state. Ai-YE, adj. lifeless. AiYE, s. the world, earth ; condition, state, time of life, time ; reign. — Aiye li Okun, enia li Ossa, aki imo iwe ki ako aiye ja, " The world is (may be compared to) an ocean ; mankind is the lagoon Ossa. However well a person swims, he cannot cross the world ;" (i.e. It is presumptuous for man to attempt to com- pass the whole world.) Ai-YE, adj. not understood, unintelligible ; not ceasing, not stopping. Ai-YE, Ai-GBo, s. not giving way, unyielding. AiYERAiYE, AiYE-TiTi-LAi, udv. for cvcr, world without end, eternally. AiYEssE (yi-esse), adj. or s. immovable ; stedfastness. Aja, s. a dog. — Aja egberun ko gbo oruko, "A dog valued at half-a-crown(i.e. an old dog; half-a-crown being the price of a full-grown dog) cannot be taught." — OkTpa aja li afi ib9 Ogun, "An old dog must be sacrificed to Ogun ;" (i. e. Ogun claims the best). — Aja ti ko let! ko se idegbe, ^^A stupid dog will not do for the chase." — Bi aja ba li enni lehin apa obbo, " If a dog has a master after him, he will not be afraid to kill the large monkey." Aja, s. attic, uppermost floor. Aja, s. a fairy, said to be of a diminutive human form, who carries persons into the wilderness and instructs them in magic and all kinds of medicines. Aja, Ajara, Ogbolo, s. a running plant, resembling a wild vine, used by the natives to varnish their houses when newly plastered with mud. Aja-bo, Ijabo, narrow escape with much struggle and 19 AJA difTiculty. — Ajabo ni ti iwe, bi iwe ja ab9 I9W0 oloko, '' The frog (iw^) is sure to escape from the hands of the farmer." V Ajadi, adj. having the bottom broken off. — Ajadi agbon odi olara, ^'A basket with its bottom broken through is useless." Ajae, s a cord with which the hand is bound to the neck. Ajaga, s. a shackle for the neck. I AjAGAJicr, adj. firm as a rock or the stem of a tree. — Ajagajigi enniti o mi kukute mi 'ra re, " He who tries to shake the stem of a tree, only shakes himself" Ajagbon, s. the tamarind tree and fruit. Ajagun, 5. a soldier, a warrior. Ajaille, s. a pit into which thorns are put and carefully covered over, so that when a thief falls into it, his foot is severely wounded; a ceiling over the dead; vaulted roof of a grave. — Pansa ille o li ariwo nin9 ajaille ba agba li eru, '* When a grave is made there is a great deal of noise (from the loud talking of the labourers who dislike the task), and the sight of a vault makes old men tremble." Ajaje, s. lewd fellow, a mean person. Ajaka, Ajakalle, s. an epidemic, an infectious disorder. V Ajako, s. an animal very much resembling a dog. — Ogbo- gbo awon ni bi ajako, " He who kills an ajako is sure to suffer for it" (a superstition). Ajala, Ijala, s. escape through much lighting. Ajan, s. meat cut in small pieces for sale. — Bi alapata ba pa eran awon alagbata abu u li ajan, " When the butcher kills the animal, the retailers cut it into pieces." 'Ajanapa, s. a bird snare made of cloth. — Aparo jare ajanapa ki li o, mu aso wa ise li oko. Ajare aparo li oko li agbe imu aso ilo, ^' The partridge says, ' What business has the farmer to bring his cloth here?' The farmer says, ' How could I come to my farm 20 AJA without cloth?'" (/. 6'. There are two sides to every question). Ajannaku, s. the elephant. — Oku ajannaku 11 ayo ogbo si, ta li oje yo oju agada si eran, alabo owo, " It is easy to cut to pieces a dead elephant; but no one dares attack a live one." \ Ajao, s. an animal between the bird and rat kind. — Ko se eku ko se eiye ajao, '^ The ajao is neither rat nor bird ;" (i. e. He is neither one thing nor the other). Ajapa, s. a petty wholesale trade ; a nickname given to the tortoise. Ajara, see Aja, s. a medicinal plant, used for curing sore breasts : it is also eatable, and is used in rubbing houses to give the walls a gloss. Ajaso, s. hearsay, false report. IAje, s. money ; the god of money. — Aje saluga, o fi enni iwaiu sille se enni ehin ni pelle, 6 ri ki oran ki o tan. " Aje often passes by the first caravan, as it comes to market, and loads the last with blessings ;" (/. e. The race is not always to the swift). Aje, s. a trial, ordeal by water. Aje,5. a sorcerer, a witch. — Aje 9mm9 hee,ya miso wogan, apa ma gbagun, '' A witch kills, but never inherits." The owl is considered the bird into which the spirit of a witch transmigrates when it wishes to do evil. Aje, s. paddle, oar; wadding. Ajefowo, s. the name of a garden herb, so called for its sweetness. Ajejee, s. calabash bored with many holes like a colander, to wash the sediment of the locust fruit and eggusi seed. Ajeji, s. stranger, foreigner. Ajekun, s. fragment, remainder after eating. Ajelle, s. an agent, a consul, a deputy. Ajenia (je-enia), s. cannibal, man-eater. Ajere, s. a country pot with many holes like a sieve to dry meat in over the fire. 2i A AJE Ajeti, s. remnant left after eating to the full. Ajeyo, adj. having eaten to the full, satisfied. Ajibowaba, adj. existing a priori. Ajigbese, s. a debtor. Ajimo, 5. Friday, observed as sacred by the Mahommedans. Ajin, 5. profound silence, darkness, depth of night. — Ajinjin, "There is profounddarkness: it is midnight." Ajina, s. the act of spending, daily expenditure, marketing. Ajinde, Agbende, s. the Resurrection, — ^Ki Ajinde olla kioje, "May a future resurrection answer (my hopes)!" an expression probably learntfrom the Mahommedans. Ajisinsin, s. concealment, a concealed matter. 'Ajo, s. journey. Ajo, s. anxiety, solicitude, carefulness. Ajo, s. assembly, a meeting, a gathering together. Ajoku, adj. unquenchable. Ajo-mo-po, Ajo-je-po, s. a feasting or drinking together, a banquet. Ajo-ran, the act of catching fire. — Bi ille ko kan ille ki ijo ajoran, "Houses not contiguous do not easily catch fire." Ajo-rin, i'. companionship on a journey. Ajo r6, s. a mutual combination, bargain, agreement. Ajo-so, a mutual talk, consultation, a talking together. Ajo-yo, s. participation in joy. Ajuba, s. newly cultivated grassfield. Ajumo, s. combination, co-operation. Aka, s. the name of a tree, the armadillo. — Aka ko gbe odan, igbo ni igbe, " The armadillo dwelt in a forest, and not in a plain." — Two li ojuti bi aka, "You are bashful like the armadillo." Aka, s. a storehouse, built in the shape of a V, supported by four sticks, with three or four apartments for stores. Akabbe aso, s. the pole on which the cloth is wound while weaving. 22 AKA Akaka, s. the posture of squatting, or sitting cross- legged. — I wo dakaka yekete bi agbalagba, " You squat like an old person." — 'Aki igba akaka lowo akiti, aki igba ille babba enni lowo enni, " No one can cure a monkey of squatting ; and no one can deprive a man of his inheritance." Akala, s. a carnivorous bird. — Bi oku ba ku laiye akala 7s amo li orun, (akala agbe orun mo), " The akala smells the carcase, however high in the air he may be." Akalambi, s. a bag, a sack. — Akalambi li afi ipiye li ogun, "A sack is used to plunder with at a war camp." Akamo, s. the act of encompassing, enclosing, or sur- rounding. Akan, s. the crab ; a name given to the epaulet worn by soldiers or naval officers. Akanse, adj. special, made to order, uncommon. Akara, s. bread, cake, of which latter there are various kinds. — Akara-awon, fancy cake made in imitation of a net. — Akara-bowo-bowo, fancy cake made in imitation of a ring. — Akara-fule, a soft cake made of white beans and the vegetable occro. — Akara-ku, a hard cake made of beans, and used by warriors for provision in their war expeditions. — Bi o ba /K' gbo ogun mi, ki iduro din akaraku, " Whenever he hears of my w^ar, he never waits to make provision." This is said of a busy-body who rejoices at another's trouble. — Akara-lapata, cake made of Indian corn. Aka-so, 5. a ladder, steps. Akaso-ewu, a kind of short garment, from the neck to the waist, which may either be drawn tight, or w orn loose ; generally worn singly. Aka-su, s. a large lump of agidi for family use. — Akasu babba ekko, " Akasu is the father of all other loaves." ^ Ajakasu ko mo bi lyan mu, " He who eats akasu does ^ not know that a famine prevails." 23 AKA ^Akata, s. a broad-brimmed straw hat used by the natives to ward off rain or the rays of the sun, instead of an umbrella. Akatapo, Akatanpo, 5. a cross-bow. — Akatanpo ko to ^ ija ija, ta li o mu iggi wa iko loju, "A cross-bow is not enough to go to war with (since the introduction of fire-arms) : whom do you dare to face with a I- stick ?" — Alakatanpo fi oju woke, " A cross-bowman is obliged to look upwards." Aka-we, Akawe-oran, s. similitude, comparison of words or matter, signification. Akayin (ka-eyin), s. one who loses his teeth. Ake, s. a crier. Ake, s. an axe. See Akeke. ( Akede (ke-ode), s. a public crier. — Akede ko jiyan gbi- gbona, " The public crier does not eat warm food," because he is liable to be called away from his meat at any moment. Akegun-oko, s. an old hoe. Ake-ja-onna, s. a cross street, lane. Akeke, Ake, s. the axe. — Ake kan wo igbo agbo okiki, Akeke ti nke iggi ko se gbenagbena mbu ettu si atari, " An axe enters a forest ; we hear a sound. The axe that cuts the tree is not afraid, but the carpenter performs charms for his defence." (There are some trees which it is considered dangerous to fell without the protection of a charm.) Akerekere, Akeke, s. the scorpion. — Akeke Ojogan fi id ija ara, ille fi oju di ni, akeke ko se idi ni ibo, " A scorpion stings with his tail ; a domestic is apt to be insolent: one cannot hide a scorpion in the hand." Akeri, Yonyon, s. a plant used for washing, also for sauce ; a hater. Ake-si, Ikesi, s. the act of calling upon, or visiting. — Oku akesi mi anna, "I thank you for calling upon me yesterday." 24 AKE ^ Akete^ 5. bed, bedstead, — Akete kekere ko gba enia meji, " A small bed will not hold two persons." Akette, s. hat. Akettox, Akettun, 5. a new hoe, a bough, branch of a tree. y Akije, (ki-ma-je), s. dumbness, not answering salutation. — Ille kan wa li Oyo nigba atiJ9 ti anpe li akije, " There is a house in Oyo which was called of old time the place of silence." There is a tradition that a white man died and was buried there. Aki-lo, s. parting salutation, farewell. Aki-molle, Ikimolle, s. the act of pressing down. Akiri, s. a wanderer, rover. ; Akisalle, s. a running plant, with a pod very much like a pea. — Aki iti ehin akisalle iwure, " One cannot bless the gods without using the word akisalle." . n. to blow (as the wind); love, wish, will, consent. — Afefe nfe ara tutu, "The wind blows; the body is cool." Fe, v. a. to fan, winnow, blow the fire. — Ewiri ni ife ina agbede, " The bellows blow the blacksmith's fire." Fe, v. n. distort the face at work ; breathe heavily. Fefe, Ferefere, adv. nearly (used of time). — Ojo wa kun fefe, " Few of our days remain." 103 • FEF Pefe (fe-efe), v. a. to seek occasion to find fault; be cen- sorious. Feiiinti (fi-ehin-ti), v. n. to recline, lean the back on. Fe-idi, v. a. to investigate a secret matter. Fejefeje, food, provision, subsistence. Feju (fe-oju), V, n. to blow much, blow vehemently. Feju, v. n. to look sternly or with distortion of the face. — Afeju toto ko mo okonri, " (Much) gesticulation does not prove manliness." Felefele, adj. soft, of fine and delicate texture. Felefele, Belebele, adj. thin and fiat, elastic. Fennukonu (fi-ennu-ko-ennu), v. a. to kiss ; agree. Fennusi ( — si), V. a. to answer, reply to ; meddle with. Fere, adj. light, not heavy ; adv. almost, nearly. Fe-rekoja, v. n. to blow vehemently. — Afefe anna fere- koja, "The wind of yesterday blew beyond mea- sure." Feri, v. n. to be less hot, cool a little. Fi, verbal prefix, used only in composition, conveying the idea of putting, or leaving in a place. It gives a definite verbal meaning to the word in conjunction with which it is employed ; e.g. Fi aso sille, "Put the clothes down." — O fi mi si oko, " He left me in the farm." The i often is contracted ; e.g. Fetisi, for Fi- ETisi, to listen to, incline the ear. Y\ followed hy Balle (ba-ille, to touch the ground) v. a. to do away with, to put away. Bo (dip), V. a. to soak, steep, dip. Bun (give), v. n. give, grant. Eran-rubo, v. a. to sacrifice a beast. FojuAiYE (fu-oju-aiye, to give up to the world), V. a. to deliver up to be gazed upon by the public. Fun (give), v. a. to give to, to ofier. • • FuNi(give to one). iJ.a, togive, to present to one. 104 FI Fi/oUoivedb^GBO'NA (gbo-ina, at the fire), v. a. to warm a thing at the fire. Ha (suspend), v. a. to hook on, hang on a pin or between a forked stick. Han (appear), v. a. to show, exhibit, reveal, discover ; direct. Ji (to), v. a. to forgive, give as a favour. Jewo aiye (je-ew9-aiye, a prohibition to the world), V. a. to condemn to death, de- prive of the privileges of life. Jona (burn), v. a. to burn in the fire ; scorch ; consume to ashes. Je (eat), V. a. to eat, devour ; make a king, or headman ; place in post of authority ; reign, govern. Ka (upon), V. a. to place one thing upon another. K6 (hang), v. a. to hang up on a pin, rope, or hook ; hook on. KoN or KuN (addition), v. a. to add to, aug- ment. Le (place), V. a. to put, lay upon ; deliver up. — Fi kinni na le mi lowo, " Deliver that into my hand." Mo (on), V. a. to suspect; attach to. — Okonri na fi oran na mo mi, " The man • • • • suspects me of that matter." OW9-TA (touch slightly with the hand), V. a. to search slightly ; touch carelessly. RE(curse),v.a. to curse, execrate; imprecate. Ro (swing), V. a. to hang, suspend. Ro (sprain), v. a. to sprain. Ron (chew), v. a. to devour ; masticate : Ron (dip), V. a. to dip into sauce. RuBO (ru-ebo, make sacrifice), v. a. to sacri- fice. 105 p , FI Fi followed bi/ San (pay), v,a. to estimate, value. San-owo-kan (estimate at a cowry), v. a. to contemn, treat with contemptuous si- lence. — Iwo ko da mi li oliun, o fi mi san owokan, '^ You did not answer me, you despised me." Si (to), V. a. to put, add to. — Fi omi die si i, " Put a little water to it." SiLLE (si-ille, to the ground), v. a. to put down ; acquit, release, leave, forsake. SiNO (si-ino, to the mind), v. a. to put into ; keep in mind, harbour in the mind. — Fi eyi sino re, " Put this into it." Sin 07' SiNsiN (secretly), v. a. to hide so as not to be traced in any way, conceal. SoLLE (so-ille, dash on the ground), v. a. to strike down ; lay the foundation of a house. Son (accuse), v. a. to accuse, complain of. Se (do), v.a.to change, constitute, appoint, establish. Selleya (se-eleya, to ridicule), v. a. to ridi- cule, mock. — Ma fi mi selleya, " Do not mock me." Sessin (se-essin, cause disgrace), v.a.to de- spise, bring into public disgrace. Sura (su-ara, collect near), i^ a. to treasure up, lay by. Ti (by), v.a. lean against ; suspend a mat- ter ; fix finally. Tore (ta-ore, detach a gift), v. a. to give away as a present, make a present of. We (twist), V. a. to compare, resemble, illustrate ; enwrap. Fi, v.a. to swing, wave to and fro, be unsteady, incline to one side. — Iggi ti mo ru f i siwaju, spn o sehin die, 106 FI " The wood which I am carrying is too far forward ; push it back a little." Fi, aux.v. were, did. — Nigbati iwo yio ha fi I9, ta li o wi fun, " When you were going, whom did you tell ?" — Nigbati ofi fi fun mi, iwo ko ri i, " When he gave {lit. did give) it to me, did not you see it ?" Fi, prep, by, to, with . FiDiBALLE (idi-ba-ille), v.n. to sit down. FiFAYA, adj. torn, rent in pieces. FiFi, FiNFiN, adv. dimly, darkly ; s. the dawn, twilight. FiFO, adj. blind ; broken as a vessel. Fi-FUN, s. FuN-FUN, adj. whiteness, the white part ; adj. white . FiFUNi, v.a. to grant, vouchsafe, give. Fi-K ANN AK ANNA, V. a. to sliug a sHng. FiLLA, s. a cap, country cap like a night cap. Filla Abeti, Eti Aja, a cap with two flaps for the ears. Filla Jofolo, a hunter's cap. Fin, v.a. to engrave, mark calabashes or bowls ; fill a hole with smoke, smother ; seek so as to find out something. Fin A, s. a thin piece of leather cut length-wise (such as is inserted in the handle of an umbrella). Finiga, s. {Eiig.), Vinegar. FiNJu (fin-oju), V. n. to be clean, neat, snuggy, tidy. FiNRAN ( — oran),u.w. to aggress, seek occasion for dispute. FiOFiOjacZv. exceedingly high, (conjoined with the adjective Ga). — llle giga fiofio, " An exceedingly high house." FiRi, adv. far, greatly, much ; qualifying verbal adjec- tives. — llle yi ga ju tiwa lo firi, " This house is much higher than ours." Fitilla, s. lamp. FiYEDENo (fi-iye-de-ino), v. a. to be patient under vexa- tion or grievances. FiYESi (fi-iye-si), v. a. to attend to. — Fiyesi ohun ti o nse, " Mind what you are doing." 107 FIY FiYEsiNi (fi-iye-si-ni), l\ h. vouchsafe, Fo, V. n. To fiy (as a bird), jump, skip, leap ; beat (as the heart from fear), pass or break off (as rainy clouds), pass over.— ^Ojo o fo, " The rain passes off." — Aiya fo mi, " My heart beats." Fo, V. a. to feel (emptiness or loneliness). — Ofo 9mm9 mi fo mi," I feel loneliness on account of my child's absence." FoFo, s. foam. — Fofo fo li oju omi, " The foam floats on the surface of the water." FoFO, adv. glittering, dazzling. — Wura njo fofo nino awo fadaka, "The gilding inside the silver plate glis- tens." FojisoN (fi-oji-son). Yon followed hy Son, v. a. to sue or accuse for adultery. FojuDi, (fi-ojudi), -y. a. to be saucy, to be insolent. Foju-KAN-wo (fi — ), V. a. to squint. Foju-PE (fi — ), V. a. to wink with the eye, beckon. Foju-To (fi — ), V. a. to superintend . Fojusi (fi — ), V. a. to attend to. FoLOFOLo, s. the lungs, the lights. FoRiBALLE (fi-ori-ba-ille), v. n. to bow the head, submit ; adore, worship. FoRi-si, V. a. to pay attention to. FoRESiGGi (fi-ore-se-iggi), s. an ungrateful person ; one who does not acknowledge kindness, but returns evil for good. FoRiTi, Feriti (fi — ), V. a. to endure, persevere. FosoKE, (fo-si-oke), v. n. to jump, skip, float. — Omm9de fosoke fun ayo, " The child jumped for joy." FoYA, V. n. to fear, be dismayed. — Mo foya jojo, " I was very much afraid." Fo, v.a. to wash clothes ; wash by rubbing or scrubbing, rub hard with water and a brush or the fibres of plants ; speak, talk a language. Fo, V. a. and n. to break a vessel ; destroy a town or 108 FO nation by war ; reduce to a state of confusion ; ache (as the head) ; be blind. — Ogun li o fo Igbo Egba ati ille Yoruba, "War destroyed the Yoruba and the Egba country." — Mo soro titi ori nfo mi, "I spoke so long that my head ached." Fofolloived hy Pettepette, v. a. to destroy. Raurau, v. a. to destroy entirely. — Nwon fo gbogbo re raurau, "They destroyed the whole entirely." RuRU, Tutu, v. a. to destroy utterly. Yany AN, -y. /^Ikoko, s. private corner, secret place. — •'Ikok9 aiye ya ju ikoko ti orun lo, "The corner in the world (of sense) is better than a corner of the world of spirits." Ikola (ko-ila), s, the act of tattooing ; circumcision. ^Ikolle ( — ille), s. head farmer. Ikollu ( — lu), s. assault, attack. Ikon, Ikun, s. squirrel. Ikon, Ikun, s. fullness, swelling, rising, addition. Ikondo (ikon-odo), s. swelling of a brook, flood. Ikon, Ikun, s. mucus. Ikoni, s. instruction. Ikonwosille (kon-wo-si-ille), s. overflow. Ikosille (ko-si-ille), s. rebellion, revolution. IK9SSE (ko-esse), s. the act of tripping ; stumbling-block ; hinderance. Ikosse-ba, Akosse-ba, s. chance, unexpected occurrence. Iku, s. death ; that which may cause death ; a worm which eats the kola nut. ""Iku, s. gable end. / Ikudu, s. a clay pit filled with water (also called 'Ogoddo). '^ Ikudu pa esin e' nyo o mb9wa ipa ommo enia, "(When your neighbour's) horse falls into a pit you should not rejoice at it, for (your own) child may fall into it too." Ikuku, s. fist, clenched hand. Ikun, s. belly, stomach, abdomen. — Ikun babba orisa, ^ "The belly is the chief of the gods;" because it claims the first attention. Ikun, s. See Ikon. 144 IKU Ikun, 5. See Ikon. Ikunle (kun-ille), s. the act of kneeling. Ikun-na, s. fineness, smoothness (used in describing fine flour). Ikunra, Ipara, s. ointment to rub with. Ikunra (kun-ara), Ikonra, s. weariness, sensation of fatigue. ^Ikusa, s. neighbourhood. — Ma te ni ikusa mi, " Do not come near me." Ikujare (iku-je-are, death is right or may be justified), s. the gathering of the locust fruit ; (so called because an exceedingly dangerous employment). See Igba. "Ila, s. state of salvation ; escape from danger ; the act of splitting ; fissure ; making one's way through a crowd ; opening ; rising of the sun ; riches. See Ola. Ila, s. tattoo, national mark ; circumcision. Ila, s. name of a vegetable ; (also called Okro). — Eko ila gba ara re lowo obbe Ila ti akokiki ko so, gboro ti akokiki ko fa, ommo ife mi ti mo gbekke le ko se bi mo ti ro, " The Ila, which was so celebrated, does not bear fruit; the pumpkin, which was so cele- brated, does not trail ; the beloved child, of whom I expected so much, does not answer my hopes." Ilasa, 5. the ila leaf. Ilasado, s. the name of a plant used for sauce. Ilasagun, s. a wild plant of the ilasa tribe. Ila, s. the act of licking up with the tongue. Ila-orun, s. dawn, sun-rising, day-spring. Iladi (la-idi), s. proof, explanation. Iladon (la-odon), s. first-fruits. Ilaiya ( — aiya), s. boldness, courage, fearlessness. j^'^Ilaja (la-ija), s. peace-making, reconciliation ; peace- maker, reconciler. — ^Ilaja ni igba 9gbe, " A peace- maker (often) receives wounds." ^Ila-kaka, s. forcible compression. 145 u / ^ILA Ilamoran (la-imo-oran), 5. a proposer, one who makes a suggestion. ^Ilanna ( — onna), s. a marking out of a path or road ; ordinance. Ilara, 5. envy. Ilari, s. king's messenger, herald. Ile, s. addition. Ileke (le-oke), s. that which is uppermost, top stone, upper garment. Ilera ( — ara), 5. health, strength. Ileri ( — eri), s. promise, agreement, boasting, assurance- Ille, s. house, room, home, abode. — Iwo ni ille ode, Ibara ni ille awodi ati ipe ille aganran, "Iwo is the abode of the parrot, Ibara is the land of the hawk ; but where is the territory of the green parrot ?" Ille-abere, s. needle-case. Ille-ase, Ille-idana, Ille-onje, s. kitchen, cooking- house. Ille-ato, s. bladder. Ille-ero, s. inn. Ille-idana, s. kitchen. Ille-ide, s. custody, place of security. Ille-Igbejo, s. court, judgment hall. Ille-iso, s. watch-house, watch-tower, tower. Ille-ikewu, Ille-iwe, s. school-house. Ille-iyawo, s. bride-chamber. Ille-emu, s. lock-up house, cell where persons ar- rested for debt, &c. are kept. Ille-iso, s. stall, stable, fold. Ille-ejo, s. court, court- room. Ille-e'iye, s. bird's nest, cage. Ille-enni, Ille-eyin, s. war-tent made of mats. Ille-oyin, s. beehive. Ille-orisa, s. house of the gods. Ille, s. a kind of bird snare, baited with a cricket. Illeru, s. iron furnace. 146 ILL Illeto, s. town, village. Ille, s. earth, land, ground, a town. Ille-babba, 5. fatherland. Illedudu, Illedu, 5. manure, black earth. Ille-ini, Ille-nini, s. inheritance, a possession. Ille-obba, s. a kingdom, territory. Illepa-oku, s. grave covered up, surface of a grave. Ille-oku, s. burial ground. Illese, s. beginning, commencement. Ille-su, defect, v. it is dark. Illewu, s. soft hair; soft down on a palm tree. Illeke, s. beads, Illeke-opolo, s. frogs' spawn. — Illeke opolo ko yin ole li oju, " Frogs' spawn (which resembles beads) does not attract the attention of the robber." Illekun (ille-ekun), s. door. Illu, s. nation, country, town, village, language, a people ; assembly of the elders, court. Illu-aigbede, s. one not understanding another's lan- guage, a barbarian. Illu-nla, Illu-obba, s. capital city. Illu-keje. s. hamlet, village. ^Ilo, 5. the act of using, usage; the act of bending, elasticity. Ilo, Iloro, s. porch at the entrance of a compound or square. — Iloro li awo ki ato wolle, " One must go through the porch before entering the square." Iloso (loso) s. a peculiar sitting posture. Ilo, Alo, s. departure. Ilo, s. the act of twisting or wresting, a deviation from the right path, y Ilo, s. warning ; public inquiry after a thing. — Bi ankilo fun'9, ki okilo fun 'ra re, " When you are warned, warn yourself." Iloloron, Iloloronpa (lo-ni-or9n-pa), s. the act of stran- gling. Ilora, s. sloth, tardiness. 147 ILO ■ Iloro, 6'. wealth, riches, 'luj, s. drum ; stroke, blow. Ilu, s. awl, gimlet, any instrument to bore with. Iluiia, Ilumo, s. being hidden ; concealment. "Imado, s. wild boar. — Akanse li ofFa imado j%an oro ki J ipa aso, " The arrows intended for the wild boar must be made to order ; a common poisoned arrow will not kill that savage (animal)." Imalle, 5. a Mahommedan. — Bi o ti wu' ni li ase imalle V^ enni o fi apa eledde je sari, " Any one may practise his Mahommedan worship as it is 'most convenient : he may make his breakfast off a pig's foot." Imaraduro (imu-ara-duro), .v. continence. Imatiko, s. an instrument to assist in drawing a bow with greater force. Imawo, s. the act of taking a form or likeness, incarnation. Imelle, s. idleness, indolence. Imeri, Imu-eri, s. removal of filth, purification. ^Imi, s. the act of shaking. Imille (mi-ille), Iselle (se-ille), s. a shaking of the earth, earthquake. 'Imi-p9, s. a shaking together, Imi, s. the act of breathing, respiration. Imisi, Amisi, s. the act of breathing into, inspiration. Immi, s. dung. See Igbe. Imojuo, Imogunjuo (mo-gun-ju-o), s. the fore-finger. I move, s. providence, foresight, perception. Lmo, 2>e7's. pron. I. Imo, s. the nose. Imo, Imu, s. the act of drinking ; the act of building. ^Imo, s. knowledge ; interpretation. — Tu imo oro na ki o le iye' ni, " Interpret the word to me that it may be intelligible." Imo-oson, s. a small-leaved plant found by the waterside and in mountain regions (used symbollically, to in- dicate that a miatter is well known). 148 IMO Imolle, s. mason, day-labourer. 'Imojum9 (mo-oju-mo), s. daylight, morning. IMOM9, Imumu, Omu, s. the root of a species of grass, a kind of ground nut. Imolle (mo-ille), s. light, brightness, brilliancy. ^ Imolle, s. secret bargain, conspiracy ; treaty, covenant. — Im9lle ko gboddo tan ara vvonje, imo ennikan ko yan, " Covenant makers should not deceive each other ; (for) one man's counsel is not sufficient." Imolle-osupa, s. moonliarht. Imopara (mo-pa-ara), s. excessive drink, drunkenness. ^Imoran, ^Imo ( — oran), s. knowledge, opinion ; sage, wise person. — Afinju ni ijiwo, imoran ni ije obi marimaje ni ije ahusa, " A man of fashion eats the iwo (a kind of bitter fruit) ; a man of wisdom eats the kola nut ; a man of vulgar taste eats the ahusa." Imota, defect, v. I have sold. Imotelle, s. foreknowledge. ^Imoju, s. drunkenness; superior knowledge. Imu, s. seizure, a taking hold of ; sharpness, ferocity ; severity (said of cold). Imu-kuro, s. a taking away, remission. Imunibino, (mu-enia-bi-ino), s. that which makes one angry, provocation. ,, Imunmuna (mu-mu-ina), s. glow-worm, fire-fly. — Imun- muna abi idi sembe sembe, imunmuna ko dana ri, ti • • • • • • ' ina ti ina ni mba ikiri, " Though the glow-worm never kindles a fire, yet it travels with glowing fire at its tail." ' Ina, s. flogging, punishment by whipping, lashing. Ina, s. fire ; flower ; the louse ; kind of black worm. — Ina njc) ogiri ko sa ama gba gere gere si omi, " Though the fire is burning, the walls do not shrink from it, and yet the fire is trying to consume the water :" said of those who aim at the greater, when they cannot accomplish the less. 149 INA Ina-eweko, s. blossom. Ina, s. expenditure of money ; barter, bargain, trade. Inabi, s. a kind of plant which produces blisters. Inaja, s. trade ; trader, merchant. — Oyibo babba inaja, aje babba teni teni, " The white man is the father of merchants, (want of) money is the father of disgrace." Inaki, Iro, s. the baboon, the Uran-utan. Inakuna (ina-ki-ina), s. wastefulness, profligacy. Inan, Iran, s sight, seeing ; vision. — Mo ri iran, " I saw a vision." Inaro ( — iro), s. standing posture. — Naro, " Stand up." Gbogbo won mbe ni inaro, " They are all standing." Inawo, Ina (na-owo), s. expenditure of money. — Oku inawo, " Thank you for your kindness." Inawo ( — 0W9), s. the act of stretching out the hand. Ini, s. possessions, goods. InIla (ni-ila), s. magnitude, size, vastness. Inira, Ilara ( — ara), s. freedom, liberty. Inira, s. difficulty, strait, perplexity ; need ; poverty. Iniran ( — Iran), s. reminiscence, remembrance. Ino, Inu, s. the inside, mind, thought, womb. Iso foUoived hi/ Baje, v.n. to be sorrowful. Inobibi, adj. irascible. Ino-buburu, s. a wicked heart. Ino-didon, s. gladness. Ino-dudu, s. a bad heart. Ino-funfun, s. a pure heart. Ino-nibini, s. persecution, unprovoked annoyance. Ino-nron, s. pain in the stomach. Ino -HERE, s. candour, benevolence, (lit. good heart). Ino-y6, Inuyo, liso followed bi/ Y6, v. n. to feel a melting of the bowels, yearn, feel compassionate, be tender- hearted. Ipa, s. track, way, path, footstep ; course. Ipa-Galla, s. the slot, or track of a deer. Ipa, s. the act of killing, murder ; the act of hatching or 150 IPA producing; peeling off the bark of a tree; slovenly execution. Ipa-Imolle, s. assassination. Ipa, s. kick ; rupture, strength, force, ability ; epilepsy, (called also Warapa). Ipa, s. name of a bird. Ipa-da, s. return. Ipade (pa-ade), s. a meeting, a coming together. Ipafefe (pe-afefe), s. the act of taking the air ; recreation. Ipaiiin, s. the act of sharpening the teeth. Ipallemo (pa-ille-mo), s. preparation. Ipakara, Ipaka (ipa-ika-ara), s. a spacious back yard enclosed with mud walls. Ipahinkeke (pa-ehin-keke), s. gnashing the teeth. Ipaiya (pa-aiya), s. panic, great fear. IpAKA(pa-okka), 5. cornfloor, barn. Ipako, s. the hollow between the back of the head and the neck. Ipapa, Papa, s. leaf of the plant Keke (used for pa- laver sauce) ; plain, grassfield. — Aki ifi 9ran ipapa lo eja, aki ifi oran odd ilo afe, " No one should ask the fish of what takes place in the plain ; nor should the rat be asked of what takes place in the water." Ipallemo-oko (pa-ille-mo), s. harvest, in-gathering. Ipa-mo, s. act of keeping a thing securely, act of hiding. Ipamora ( — mo-ara), s. forbearance. Ipani, Ipania (pa-enia), s. manslaughter, murder. Ipankoro Ommo, s. girl, lass ; a plant, called also Ko- ROPOMU. Ipanna (ipa-onna), s. place, room. — Iwo mbe ni ipanna mi, " You are in my room." Ipanpa, s. bargain ; arrangement by which the price of any article is fixed by all traders ; mutual agreement between traders. Ipapa, s. grassfield, pasture-ground. Ipa-po, s. the act of mingling. 151 I PA Ipara (pa-ara), s. suicide ; the act of anointing oneself; rust, corrosion. Iparamo (pa-ara-mo). 5. lowliness, submission. Ipari ( — ori)^ s. the act of completion, termination, end, point. Ipari, s. baldness. Iparubo ( — pa-ru-ebo), s. the act of killing for sacrifice. Ipa-run, s. destruction, annihilation. Ipasse (ipa-esse), s. track, footpath. Ipe, s. call; act of calling; the horn used for that purpose. Ipe, s. a state of being right, or perfect ; perfection. IpEji (pa-eji), s. an opening between the upper front teeth ; a flaw in cloth, produced by dropping the thread in weaving. Ipele (pa-ele), s. a distant relation. Ipele, s. addition, that which is put in the top of other things. Ipeje, s. invitation to a feast. Ipelejo (pe-ni-ejo), s. act of calling to judgment. Ipe-npe-ju, s. eyebrow, eyelash. Ipere, s. small snails. ^Ipese (pa-ese), s. provision, providence. Ipete (pa-ete), s. intention. "Ipe, s. supplication, entreaty. Ipe, s. sojourn, the act of staying ; ear of Indian corn ; a fish scale ; small flat stick on which raw cotton is wound. Ipepe, s. fish-scale ; scab. Ipefon (pa-efon), s. name of an officer in the capital ; a constable. Ipefongbese, 5. petty debts. Ipeka (pa-eka), s. shooting forth branches. Ipekun (pa-ekun), s. end, termination. Ipepekun (pepe-okun), s. small sea-shell ; shell. Ipere, s. younger members of a community ; young peo- ple, especially such as are unmarried. 152 IPE y Ipeta, s. name of a tree, the root of which is used for washing and bleaching cloth. — Ipeta li ose apon, " The ipeta is the bachelor's soap." ^Ipeti, s. kind of wild beast snare. Ipille, Ipillese (pa-ille), s. foundation. I PIN, s. the sand-leaf tree ; a good genius. 'IpiN, Ipinfuni, Iwari, s.the act of dividing, division, share, lot, distribution. Ipinhun (pin-ohun), s agreement, bargain. Ipinle (pin-ille), s. the boundary of a territory, a land- mark. Ipinnu (pin-ennu), s. end, conclusion, bargain, agree- ment, determination, purpose. 'Ipitai:^ (pa-itan), s. act of telling traditions ; oral tradition. Ipo, 5. place, room. Ipo-oku, s. place of departed spirits ; hades, hell. Ipo-Olla, s. place of honour, chief room. 'Ipojo (pa-ojo), s. cloak, cloth used as protection against rain. Ipo, s. abundance. ^Ipo, ^Ipon, s. irony. — Emf ni iwo ran ipon si? " Do you speak ironically ?" Ipon, s. thickness. — Awo yi ni ip9n, "This place is crowded." Ipon, s. wooden spoon. Iponju (pon-oju), s. difficulty, distress, necessity, afflic- tion, adversity. Ipori (ipo-ori), s. the great toe, (worshipped by the Yorubas). Iposi ( — si), s. contempt, scorn, worthlessness, meanness. — Okonri na yan mi ni iposi, " That man holds me in contempt." ^Ira, s. the name of a tree ; (called also Wusma). 'Ira, 5. the act of buying ; decay ; rottenness ; depression, discouragement. Ira, s. morass, bog, fen. 153 X IRA Ira, s. the name of a species of horse ; the act of rolling on the ground like the horse. — Esin mi nyi ira nino yanrin, "My horse rolled on the sand." ^Iraddo, s. tender emotion, lively compassion. Iralle, s. laths. Iralle, s. evening, afternoon. — Ojo di iralle dedde, "The day is near eventide." Iran, s. sight, spectacle, exhibition, vision ; generation, race, progeny. — Ati iran di iran babba wa ko bo iru orisa wonyi ri, " From one generation of our fathers to another we never worshipped such a God as this." Irandiran, s. generation after generation. Iranlowo, Iranw'o (ran-ni-owo), s. help, aid, assistance. ^Iranna, s. the act of purchasing a right of way ; pass- port. Iranu, s. loss of appetite. Iranse, s. messenger, servant, officer, constable ; the act of sending or despatching ; mission. Iranso, s, the act of sewing ; one who sews ; tailor. Iranti, s. remembrance. Iranwu ( — owu), s. spinner. See Aranwu. ''Ira-wo, s. star. — Irawo san san san alommo lehin bi osupa, " Twinkling, twinkling, twinkling stars, like so many chicken behind the moon." Iraw^o-titan, s. bright star. Ira-wo-ille, Iwaje, s. plant used as medicine for infants. Ire, Ore, s. goodness, favour, benefit, a blessing, well- wishing. — Ire ki li orisa se fun abuke ti obi omm9 ti o so li Orisagbemi, "What good have the gods done to the hunchback, to make him name his child Orisagbemi (The gods have blessed me)?" i.e. Why should I acknowledge kindness where I have only experienced evil ? Ire, s. curse, execration, imprecation ; the act of spring- ing or going off, as a snare or the lock of a gun. — Ibon mi re ire ojiji, " My gun w^ent off suddenly." 1*54 IRE Ire, s. play, amusement ; the act of running. Irede-oru, s. revelling. Iregun, s. a term of reproach applied to an ungrateful person. — ^^Oro ti emi nso ki ise iregiin ki ise ire, "The word I have spoken is neither a curse nor a reproach." Ireke, s. sugar cane. — Ireke ni iwa ju esu, adu iggi ki / ise omi si 'ni li ennu, " The sugar cane has a better quality than the bullrush : there are not many plants {lit. trees) which can supply the mouth with such saj)." Ire-koja, s. a passing over, pass over ; transgression, transition. Ireni (re-oni), s. four days hence. Ire-pa, s. trespass ; transgression. Ire-pe, s. fragments or remnants of cloth. Irera (re-ara), s. pride. Ireti ( — eti), s. hope, expectation ; a cleansing of the ear. 'Ire, s. a kind of cricket, which burrows under ground ; consolation, comfort ; fatigue, weariness : fall of the leaf; gloominess. — ^lyan mu ire yo, lyan ro ire rii, " When there is famine the cricket is fat ; when the famine is over the cricket is poor." This sentence is simply a play upon various sounds difhcult to pro- nounce in rapid succession. Cf. Apata, Kanakana. Ire, s. friendship, agreement, concord ; adhesion; the act of cutting with a knife ; carving. Ire, s. the name of a tree. Ire-je, s. cheat, deception, imposition. Irelle (re-ille), -s. the state of being low, submission, humility, humiliation. Irepo, s. concord, agreement, friendship. Iri, s. sight, vision. •^ ^Iri, s. dew, mist. — Oni li egbon olla, iri wowo ni ise egbon ojo, " To-day is the elder brother of to-morrow, and a copious dew is the elder brother of the rain." Iriju, 5. trustworthy servant, steward. 155 IRI ^Irin, 5. walk, life, conversation, conduct ; ticklinjsj. "Irtn-opa-ipo, s. rapid journey, expeditious travel. Irin, 5. iron, iron nail. Irin, s. a kind of rat trap ; fruit of a certain trailing plant (sometimes called Agbarin). Irinan, Ihiran (ri-iran), s. sight, spectacle. 'Irindo, s. nausea, sickness ; (lit. a tickling of the liver). Irinle, s. dampness, moisture. Irira, s. dislike, hatred. ^Iro, Irono, s. narration ; consideration ; agitation ; vexa- tion ; calculation ; cdunsel, advice. Iro, s. the act of dropping or dripping. Iro, Inaki, s. the Uran-utan. Iro, .9. sound, noise made by collision ; news, intelli- gence ; standing posture ; erection of a roof. Irobinoje (r9-ba-ino-je), s. remorse, pain, grief, anguish. Iroju (ro-oju), s. sorrow ; vexation ; perplexity ; inde- cision . Iroko, s. farm labour ; agriculturist. ^Iroko, .S-. a species of the Okro. Iroko, s. a running vegetable, whose leaf is used for sauce. Iroko, s. the name of a tree used in building. — Ni ke- kere li ati ipa ekan iroko, "The sprout of the iroko tree must be plucked when it is yet tender." Irokuro (ro-ki-iro), s. concupiscence, evil desire. 'Irona (ro-onna), 5. the act of meeting by appointment ; a spy who reconnoitres an enemy's position. Irono, s. consideration, or stirring up the mind, Ironopiwada, s. repentance. Irora, s. aches, pains, produced by wounds or bruises. ^Irogba, s. assembly of the elders, consultation of elders. Iro, s. equal, companion, fellow. ^Iro, s. a kind of cake ; comfort, ease. See Irora. — Ani ki aie iro ki oro 'ni o si nfon 'ni li oron, " The iro was presented to us as something which 1.56 IRO might be readily swallowed, but instead of that it chokes us." luo, s. untruth, falsehood (not so strong an expression as Eke). Iro, s. a rush (as of a multitude of people) ; web, tex- ture, warp ; removal ; interpretation of a dream. ^ Iroju (ro-oju), s. patience, perseverance. — Ir9Ju li ohun gbogbo, "Perseverance is every thing." Iro-kekke, s. to be tumultuous, make an uproar. Iron, s. hair. Iron-gaungaun, s. bristle. Iron, s. prayer. Irono (ro-ino), s. abstinence from food, power of long abstinence from food. Ironno (ron-ino), s. pain in the stomach. Irora (ro-ara), s. ease, comfort, improved condition. Irogbaka (ro-ogba-ka), s. the state of being encompassed. Irogboku ( — igb9ku), s. the act of reclining on a couch, repose. 'Iru, s. tail ; the pointed end of a knife or sword which is inserted into the handle; the act of carrying or bear- ing. — ^Iru esin ki ipe idi iru enia, bi esin ku afi iru si aiye, " The horse's tail soon becomes a man's tail : (for) when the horse dies he leaves his tail behind him." Iru, s. gadfly. / Iru, s. seed, race, kind, species ; the seeds of the locust fruit used as a seasoning; adj. such. — 'Opo iru ko ba. 9bbe je, " Plenty of iru does not spoil the stew." Iru, s. the act of stirring up ; germination ; putting forth of leaves ; water-spring. Iru, s. a boiling over as water ; ebullition of passion ; elevation. Irudi (ru-idi), s. bud, blossom. Irukerudo (ru-oke-ru-odo), s. uproar, tumult. ^Iruke (iru-ke), s. tassel on the ear of Indian corn ; cow tail carried about by the babbalawos. 1.57 IRU Irula (iru-ila), s. the okro or ila seed. Irullu (iru-illu), s. the act of stirring the town into an uproar; insurrection. Irummo, Iru-ommo (iru-ommo), s. seed, offspring. Iru-omi, s. wave. Iruno (ru-ino), s, indignation ; (lit. stirring of the mind). Irunle (run-ille), s. the act of undermining the ground in order to rob. Iru-pepe, s. vexation, displeasure ; healthy growth. Iruru, Iruuru, s. variety, different kinds. ^Iruya (ru-aiya), s. emetic. Irugbin (iru-igbin), s. seed (reserved for sowing). IsA, s. hole, rat's hole, burrow, grave ; name of a running plant. IsA, s. flight ; the act of drying ; a pointed stick used for digging earth. See Isa. IsABOTi (sa-boti), s. outer court. See Atellebosi. IsAKODO, IsAKO, s. name of a plant used for sauce. IsA, s. attempt made by a weak to attack a stronger per- son. — Mo ku isa si i, " I made an attempt at him." ''IsALLE, adv. down, below, beneath. IsAN, s. payment, retaliation. IsAN, .s. the act of splitting or making a fissure ; thun- dering. Isan, s. nine days' space ; name of a snake. ''IsAN, s. improved health, convalescence. IsANNi (isan-oni), s. nine days hence. IsANSA (sa-sa), s. fugitive, deserter. — Isansa ko yan egun, isansa ko ikawo obbe, "A fugitive never stops to pick the thorns from his foot, neither does he make choice of his sauce." IsA-OKU, s. grave, sepulchre, tomb. IsA-PA-MO, s. the act of hiding, concealment. Isi, s. a new thing invented or created ; a memorable time. ^IsE, s. inquiry of a stranger; distilling like dew. 158 ISE ^IsELLE (se-ille), s. earthquake. Isi-Mi, s. rest, pause. IsiMi, s. rest, cessation from work. 'IsiN, s. service, the act of serving another ; the act of tending cattle ; religion. IsiN, s. the act of burying or hiding. IsiNKU (sin-oku), s. burial, funeral, burying of the dead. Isi-si-Yi, adv. lately, now. Iso, s. the act of tying ; the state of being tied. Iso, 5. a breaking wind. IsoFiN (so-ofin), s. prohibition. IsoKO (so-okko), s. moorage, that by which ships are made fast. Iso-Yi-Gi, s. marriage. Iso, s. the act of throwing with the hand; a telling forth ; a shooting forth ; a joining together of divided parts, (as of a calabash or the wound of a person or tree). ^Is9, s. quarter, station, place allotted to a person or thing ; quarrel ; murmuring, grumbling. — Aki iwa alaso alia ni iso elepo, " A man in white linen is never looked for in the palm-oil market." Iso-AGBA, s. the resort or seat of the elders. — Kuro ni is9 agba, " Away from the place of the elders." IsoDOMMO (so-di-omm9), s. adoption. IsoKA, (so-oka), s. bird-snare set with guinea-corn. IsoKALLE (so-ka-ille), s. descent, a going down. IsoKtJN, IsoNKUN (son-ekuu), s. a mourner (a name ap- plied to female children, as they are the chief mourners on the death of a parent). — O bi is9kun, o bi iwalle, " He begat a mourner {L e. a daughter) and a grave-digger (i. e. a son)." IsoKuso (so-ki-iso), s. mischievous or evil word, idle tale, unmeaning talk. "IsoLLE (so-ille), s. foundation (whether of stone or mud). 1.59 ISO IsoYE, AsoYE (so-ye), s. explanation. IsoN, s. fountain, spring — ^Aki ire ni ison lo ida si ibu, i/ " No one should draw water from the spring to supply the abyss ;" /. e. No poor naan should deprive himself of his small property to make presents to the rich. ^IsoN, s. accusation. IsoNNU (so-ennu), s. the first meal of the Mahommedans in the evening of their fasting days. ^IsoTTE (se-otte), s. rebellious act, sedition. Isu, s. the act of puzzling, perplexity, wearisomeness ; scorbutic eruption ; retailing of liquor. ^IsuN, s. act of sleeping; (an euphemism for "death") ; accusation. Is A, IsA, s. a running plant used medicinally. 'IsA, Oru, s. a pitcher for conveying water ; the act of gathering things scattered by picking them up indi- vidually ; choice. IsAJO (se-ajo), s. anxiety, perplexity. IsAJu (se-iwaju), adj. the foremost. IsA-GERE, s. name of a plant. IsALOGBE (sa-ni-ogbe), s. a being wounded, wound. IsANA (sa-ina), s. flint and steel. ^IsAN-OMi, s. tide, current. IsA-OGBUGBu, s. name of a kind of plant. IsANu, (se-anu), s. manifestation of pity or compassion. IsANWO (san-owo), s. emptiness, the act of being empty- handed ; the motion of the hand in walking. IsAPA, s. the sorrel. Is APE (sa-ape), s. the act of clapping hands. I IsAsuN, s. a sauce-pot. — ^lya ni ti ommori isasun iya nje didon ommo nje oru, " The pot-lid is always badly off ; for the pot gets all the sweet, and the lid nothing but the steam." IsEKusE, IsEKisE (se-ki-isc), s. unlawful action, wicked deed. 160 ISE f IsE, s. character, action, custom, fashion, deed. — Onise ki ifi ise re sille re ebi, " Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him." IsEUN (se-ohun), s. kindness. Ise, s. work, labour, duty, business. V Ise, s. trouble, hardship ; victory. — Ise ko muokko laya ki o ma ran 9mmo, asise ki ili ara, " Poverty never visits a husband without visiting his children : a poor man has no relatives." ^IsE, s. offence, transgression. See 'Ese. IsE-AMMi, s. sign. IsE-ASE, 5. miracle. • • • • ^ IsE-iPA, s. hard labour, toil. IsE-iPA, s. rough work. IsE-iRiJu (ri-oju), s. stewardship. IsE-IsiN, s. duty assigned to one who serves. Ise-Iyannu, s. wonder. IsEGUN (se-ogun), s. victory, conquest. IsEJu, s. twinkling of an eye, moment. — Ni igba iseju kan, " In the twinkling of an eye." IsEKisE (ise-ki-ise), s. wicked work ; any kind of work. IsE-KEKE, s. casting of lots. IsENo (se-ino), s. abortion. *» IsEPE (se-pe), s. withered twigs, or branches. IsE-po, s. a double, repetition, twin. IsEPOLOHUN, 5. name of a tree ; a kind of grass. Ise-Ogero, s. easy work. Ise-Olorun, 5. God's work. Iseti (se-eti), s. hem. Isi, 5. kind of fruit tree. Isi-AGBUGBo, s. a spccics of Isi. Isi, 5. the act of opening, removal, change of place. ^Isi, s. paleness, discoloration. IsiGUN, s. aromatic root of a trailing plant found in forests. IsiKKO (si-okko), 5. the state of being under weigh. 161 * ' Y ISI IsiKo (isi-oko), s. See Isiagbugbo. IsiKUN (si-kun), s. remainder, remnant. IsiN, s. a kind of running plant ; a kind of pump- kin. ^IsiNNA (si-pnna), s. error, missing of the road. ^IsiNNu (si-ennu), s. appetite. ^ Isiro,^Iro (se-iro), s. account, reckoning. IsiSE (si-se), 5. wrong action. IsiYEMEJi (se-iye-meji), s. doubtfulness, scruple. Iso, 5. iron nail. IsoNO (so-ino), s. passion, peevishness. 'Isowo (se-owo), s. trading, the act of trading ; trader. — Isowo mbe li orun nawonawo mbe ni iboji, " The la- bourer is always in the sun, the landowner is always in the shade ;" i. e. one toils, the other reaps the fruit. IsoRo (se-oro), 5. difficulty. IsoRO, s. severity ; provocation. Iso, s. watch, guard ; governance, superintendence ; ward. IsoKAN (se-okan) (se-okan), s. concord, union, agree- ment. ^IsoNNA (s9-onna), s. the act of doing any mechanical work. 'IsoNNA-AWO (se-onna), 5. tanner ; leather- worker, one who works in leather. ^IsoNNA-ASO, 5. tailor. IsoRA (s9-ara), s. caution, watchfulness. "IsoRAN (se-9ran), s. a faulty person, one who has com- mitted himself. — 'Isoran ni ise ajo, " He who commits himself is always anxious." 'isoTTE (se-9tte), s. sedition, the act of making a divi- sion. ^ Isu, s. ball, or lump of any thing round ; loaf. Isu, s. yam ; soft part of a fruit, pulp. Isu, s. emission, evacuation. 162 ISU Isu, s. the state of being dark (as a condensed rainy cloud) ; darkness. IsuRA (su-ara), s. treasure; the act of entrusting to one's care. IsuBu (se-ibu), s. fall of a heavy thing. Isu-ODDE, s. a wild yam, eaten by hunters. Isu-OPE, s. palm-cabbage. ^ Ita, s. act of selling, sale ; a kind of yellow ant, called also Otta, or^lTTA, a formidable foe to the white ant. ,' Ita, s. street, an open place in the front of a building ; the open air. — Itta metta ko konno ebo, " The junc- tion of the roads does not dread sacrifices." Sacri- fices intended to avert calamity are always exposed in a place where several ways meet, whereby the impending evil is supposed to be altogether dissi- pated. Ita, s. name of tree much used for firewood. Ita, s. woof, the thread that crosses the warp ; warmth ; heat (of the sun) ; pungency (as of pepper) ; the hang- ing up of clothes or curtains ; the act of hoisting a sail ; fulness. Ita, Itani, s. sting, pain. Itadogun (etta-di-ogun), s. a space of seventeen days. — Itadogun li ajo Egba, " A round of seventeen days is the meeting of the Egbas." There are many savings' clubs among the Egbas : the members meet to deposit their contributions (called Esu) at a cer- tain fixed interval of time, usually every fifth market- day : each member in turn takes the whole of the sum contributed on a single day, until the rotation is com- pleted. Those who come first on the list secure in this way a larger capital to dispose of than they would have been able to command from their own unassisted resources ; and the members whose turn comes late, by contributing to the common stock, have saved the 163 ITA sums which they would otherwise have expended on trifles by little and little. The markets occur every fifth day, reckoning inclusively ; from one market- day to the fourth succeeding, the first and the last both inclusive, the interval is seventeen days : hence the proverb. The day on which the payment is made is reckoned a second time as the commence- ment of a new series. See Dawo-esu. Itagbokun (ta-igbokun), s. sailing, the state of setting sail, being under canvass. ^Itaje (ta-ejje), s. bloodshed. Italle (ta-ille), s. a kind of worm or grub bred on a mud floor, which attacks any who lie down there. Itallema, Itallemo (ta-ille-ma), s. the ancients; ances- tors, forefathers. Ita-ma-ha, 5. (Haiissa), hope, expectation. Itametta (ita-mo-etta), 5. a place where three ways meet. — Pere mo ja itametta, '' On a sudden I came to the junction of the three ways." Itamora, Ihamora (ta-mo-ara), s. war-equipment, ar- mour. Itan, 5. the act of lighting fire, shining, spreading abroad (so as to lay open what is hidden) ; narration of old traditions; recording past events. — IW9 ko le ipa mi ni itan nkan wonni, " You are not able to in- struct me in those ancient things." Itan, s. thigh, lap. Itan, 5. completion. Itanna (tan-ina), s. the act of lighting a lamp ; flowers, (so called from their brilliant colour). Itanje (tan-je), s. deceit, guile. Itara (ta-ara), s. hastiness ; anxiety for another's safety ; zeal. — Itara mi po ju, " My anxiety is great." ' Iti, s. timber, any large piece of wood ; the act of sup- 1/ porting or propping. — Bi iti ko w6 9W0 ki iba isepe, 164 ITl " Unless the tree falls, one will never get at the branches." Ixi, s. a small bundle of grass, a handful of grass bound together. Iti, s. the act of breaking a portion of any thing brittle. Itiju (ti-oju), s. disgrace, shame ; bashfulness, modesty. Bi o ba tiju o ti i fu ra re, " If you are modest, you are modest to your own advantage." Itilehin ( — 'ni-ehin), s. support, help, assistance^ counte- nance. Itisse (te-esse), s. footstool, Ito, s. a running plant like the Eggusi. Itori, s. reason, account, cause. Itoye (to-iye), s. a sufficient value, merit, worth. Ite, s. bed, cradle, place to rest on ; throne ; a nest ; flatness or insipidity ; disgrace, humiliation, defeat. ^ Ite, s. the act of treading on, pressing down, gelding. Itedo, s. encampment. Itehin, s. pad or saddle-cloth. Iteddo (te-eddo), 5. patience, leisure. — Fi iteddo sille se e, " Do it patiently." ^Itelle (te-ille), s. the leg (of an animal). Itelle (te-ille), s. foundation, that which is underneath. Itelledi ( — idi), 5. cloth for common use, under-cloth. Itelesse ( — ni-esse), s. private intimation (as a nod, wink, or tread on the foot) ; sign, token, beckoning. Itemolle (te-m9-ille), s. a pressing down, a trampling down. Iteniloron ( — enni-ni-oron), s. satisfaction. Itenumo (te-ennu-m9), s. the act of urging the same sub- ject by constant repetition of it. Iteriba (ori-ba), 5. bending of the head, bow, submission. ^Itesse (te-esse), 5. part of a loom, treadle ; any thing to place the foot on ; a private informant. /S^^^Otesse. Itewo, Itewogba (te-9wo-gba), s. acceptance, reception. Itori, 5. cause, reason. 165 ITO Itori, s. share. Itoju (t9-oju), s. superintendence, overlooking. Itokun (to-okun), 5. the act of being a guide. Ito, s. spittle, small creek ; straightness ; act of bring- ing up ; endurance ; old age. ^Ito, s. urine ; the act of following ; approach, arrival. Itokko (to-okko), s. rudder. Itonriran, Itonrinan (ton-ri-iran), s. recovery of sight. Itore (ta-ore), s. present, gift. Itowo (to-wo), s. the act of tasting, foretaste ; first-fruit, earnest, anticipation. ^Itu, s. ease, comfort, cessation from acute pain. Itu, s. the act of loosening, (as a knot tied) ; budding or bursting of a flower ; appearance of the ear from the stalk ; eruption (on the body) ; adjournment of an assembly. Itu, s. eradication, overthrow of a plan. Itura (tu-ara), s. comfort, ease ; the refreshment of a cool breeze. Itu-eddo, s. consolation. See Ituno. Itu-ka, s. dispersion. Ituno (tu-ino), s. comfort, consolation, (lit. the act of making easy in the mind). ^IwA, s. conduct, behaviour, disposition, character. — ^^Iwa ni ijo oniwa loju, " Every man's character is good in his own eyes." ^IwA, s. creation, a state of being, existence ; the act of ^digging. IwA, Awa', s. the act of coming. — Ayun awa re di eri- metta, " He made four journeys backward and for- ward." IwA, s. trembling. IwABUBURu, s. wickedness. IwAui (wa-idi), s. investigation, examination., IwAJE ( — ^je), s. the act of seeking something to eat ; gain, profit. 166 IWA IwAJu ( — oju), s. presence, front. IwAKUWA, s. caprice, unsteadiness. ^IwALLE ( — ille), s. a digger, one who digs, (applied to a male child). See Isokun. IwALLE ( — ille), s. the act of searching the house. ^IwA-Mi-MO, s. holiness, sanctity. IwARA, s, hastiness, rashness, impatience. IwA-Ri, s. homage, worship (rendered to a king). IwA-wi, AwAW^i, s. excuse. IwA-YA-iJA, s. struggle, close combat, agony. IwAsu, s. preaching, address. IwA-SE, s. the finest grain ; very fine powder ; the menses. IwE, s. book, paper ; a comparison ; the act of passing one thing round another. IwE, Ollo-ino, s. the kidneys. IwERE, s. foolishness, silliness. IwERi (we-ori), s. headband. IwiN, s. ghost, spirit, spectre. ^IwE, s. the act of washing the body. IwE, s. a species of frog ; fineness (applied both to grain and cotton); the act of bruising or crushing (as of grain, or any hard substance). IwEFFA (iwe-efFa), s. eunuch, chamberlain. "IWE-N9, IWE-N9-M0, s. purification, washing. 'Iwo, s. look, appearance ; carnivorous bird, raven : (a flock of these birds is supposed to be an intimation of a recent or impending war in the neighbourhood). — -'I wo ologbon ko J9 ti asiwere, " The appearance of the wise differs from that of the fool." Iw6, Owo, s. a disease in the mouth of infants, which prevents them from sucking the breast. Iwo, Owo, s. a horn. Iwo, Orogbo, s. a tree, the fruit of which is called the bitter kola. ' Iwo, s. the act of falling (as a house or tree). 167 ^IWO IwoLULLE (wo-lu-iile), s. the act of felling trees or destroying a house. "IwoRo, s. a worshipper of the gods. ^IwoRo-oRisA, s. an eater of sacrifices ; one who has taken idols to worship. IwoYE (wo-oye), s. a look out : foresight, providence, forethought. Iwo-Yi, s. the present time or season, Iwo, s. poison which may be administered in food ; a tree, the sap of which produces blisters. Iwo, Idodo, s. navel ; crookedness ; the act of dragging along on the ground, or from one place to another. "Iwo, s. suitableness, fitness ; entrance ; fishhook. \vfOy pers.pron. thou. IwoFFA (wo-9fFa), s. one in pawn ; an insolvent debtor who becomes for a certain period the property of his creditor. ^IwoN, s. measure, measurement ; a certain quantity ; adj. so many. IwoN, s. act of weaving ; act of descending on as a curse. IwoN, s. scarcity, dearth ; the narrow neck of a calabash, called IwoN-iGBA ; the act of catching any thing thrown before it falls to the ground. IwoNDO (won-odo), s. measurement of water, the act of sounding. Iwo-NA, pers. pron. thyself. IwoN-woN, s. dry twig, small branch of a tree, broom- stick. IwoRA (w9-ara), s. greediness, ravening. Iwosi, s. contempt, wrong, injury. IW9S0, Okuku (wo-asp), s. heap of cotton drawn towards the weaver whilst at his work. Iwo-TiKARAWO, IW9-TIKARA-RE, reflec. pvon. thou thyself, thou. ^Iwu, s. choice, love, desire, pleasure. Iwu, s. act of swelling ; act of defilement (said of water). 168 IWU IwuKARA (wu-akara), s. leaven. ^IvA, s. calamity, loss; innocent suffering of evil; the act of giving way, turning aside. — Tse ko don iya ko fobun ki amo enniti iya ndon li ara, '' Calamity has no voice ; suffering cannot speak to tell who is really in distress, (and who is complaining without cause)." Iya, s. madam, mother, mistress ; pot, basin, calabash, covered vessel ; haste, quickness. Iyagba (iya-agba), s. matron, elderly woman. Iya-la, 5. grandmother. Iyalle (iya-ille), s. mistress, wife ; the first or elder wife. The other wives are called Iyawo. Iyalle-ero, s. hostess, landlady. Iyalode ( — ni-ode), s. title given to wise women. Iya- wo, s. newly-married woman, bride. Iya, s. a tree, the leaf of which is used in wrapping up Agidi. Iyalleta ( — ille-ta), s. the early part of the morning, about eight or nine o'clock. Iyan, s. pounded yams. ^Iyan, s. act of neighing like a horse, act of gaping. Iyan-rindide, s. quicksand. Iyan, s. fear, anxiety; denial, negation, contradiction. — Ma diyan, " Fear not." ^Iyan, s. famine, dearth, scarcity of food ; choice, the act of choosing. Iyanju (iyan-oju), s. encouragement, exhortation, perse- verance. Iyannu (ya-ennu), s. wonder, amazement. ^Iyangbo, s. chafT. Iyangbe, adj. dry, void of moisture. Iya-pa, 5. division, separation. Iyara, s. activity, liveliness. Iyari, s. vivacity, activity ; manifestation of pleasure. ^Iyatto (ya-otto), s. difference. 169 z lYE Iye, s. number, value, price, cost. Iye, s. mind, faculty, understanding, memory. Iye, s. reed on which cotton is wound. ^Iye, s. the act of living, life. Iyebiye (iye-bi-iye), adj. valuable, of great price, pre- cious. Iyekanbiri (iye-kan-obiri), s. female relative on the mo- ther's side. Iyekankonri ( — okonri), s. male relative on the mother's side. Iyekuru (eyi-ekuru), s. the very dust ; adj. of the dust. Iyemeji (iye-meji), s. doubt, uncertainty, suspense. Iyeni, Awi-\;e (ye-enni), s. interpretation ; understand- ing- Iyere, s. a kind of spice. Iyere, .s. the locust-seed in its raw state. Iyeye, s. a kind of sour plum. Iye, s. fitness, comeliness, meetness. Iye, s. booty, forage. ^Iye, 5. dust of worm-eaten trees. Iye, s. feathers, quill, pen, dow^n ; the act of making much of. — Awodi lo ire iye nwon li eiye si lo, " The hawks go away for the moulting season, and (the ignorant) suppose that these birds are gone for ever." Iyefun, s, flour prepared from yams parboiled and dried ; flour in general. ^Iye-wo, s. investigation, examination, visit. Iyin, s. esteem, praise, honour. Iyi-pada, s. turning, conversion. Iyiso (yi-aso), s. the pin inserted through a hole in the weaver's beam in order that he may turn it round with ease. Iyoju (yo-oju), s. appearance, a showing the face. Iyoku, s. (Eng.) yoke. IvoKiJN (eyi-ti-okun), s. the rest, remainder. 170 iyO IvoN, 5. coral. IvoNo (yo-ino), s. yearning of the bowels, tender com- passion. Iyonu (yo-ennu), s. difficulty, trouble. Iyo, s. salt. Ivo-oviBo, s. refined sugar (lit. white man's salt). I^oKONRi (eyi-9konri), s. the very man, the same man. J. J A, V. a. to break (a rope) ; drop (from aloft) ; v. n. to break (as a rope) ; separate by violence ; come to the road ; find out ; snatch. Ja followed hy Lekanna (ni-ekanna), to pinch with the nails of the fingers. — ja mi le- kanna, " He pinched me." Lennu-Ommo (ni-ennu), v. a. to wean from the breast. J A, V. n. to fight, war, quarrel, dispute. JAfolloived hy LoLE (ni-ole), v. a. rob, plunder. NiKORo, V. a. contradict, gainsay, op- pose. J A, adv. through. Jade (ja-ode), i\ n. to walk, go out. Jagan, adv. roughly, cuttingly, vexatiously, harshly. Jagudapali, adv. on any account, any how. Jagudujagan, Jagidijagan, s. evil-doer. Jafara (ja-ifa-ara), v. n. to be negligent. Jagun (ja-ogun), v. n. to fight a battle. Jagun, s. title of a warrior. Jahin-jahin, a(/y. throughout, from one extreme point to another. Jaka, s. cup, mug. Ja-koro, v. a. to contradict, oppose by answer. J ALE (ja-ole), V. a. to steal, rob. Jalle, v. n. to go through. Ja-lu, v. a. to attack unawares. 171 JAM Jama (je-aniona), s. soldiers, marauders. See Amonna. Jamba (ja-ba), 5. damage, mischief. Janjan, adv. intensely (applied to the heat of the sun). — 'Orun mu janjan, " The sun is intensely hot." Janduku, s. a wicked person. Jankavvo, s. soot. JannajA.nna, s. name of a disease. Janu (ja ennu), v. n. to boast, brag. Jangboro, s. knee-cap. Jaoke (ja-si-oke), s. name of a shrub. See Aka. Jare (je-are), v. n. to be in the right, be just, please. Ja-si, v. a. to lead to, drop into. Jagba (ja-ogba), v. n. to perform the task assigned one who is in pawn. See Iwoffa. Jagbajagba, adv. in great confusion, confusedly. Jata, d. n. to be negligent, unconcerned about. Jegbejegbe, adv. childishly, unmeaningly. Jenia-jenia, Ajenia, s. cannibal. Jere (je-ere), v. a. to deserve, gain. Jerejere, adv. sparklingly, dazzlingly. — Ide na ndan jerejere, " The brass is very brilliant." Je, v. n. to answer ; be ; comply with, be willing. jE/olloived bi/MA,atix. v. must, ought.— Emi ko je ma se ise na, " I ought not to refuse doing the work." Je, v. a. to permit, let. — Je ki nlo, " Let me go." Je, v. a. to eat, dine ; owe ; deserve, gain. Je, Jeje, adv. quietly, easily, softly, gently. — Se jeje, " Deal gently," Jeballe (je-obba-ille), v. a. and n. to receive the title of governor; govern. Jebbi (je-ebbi), v. n. to be guilty. — O jebbi oran won, " lie was guilty in the matter and then sat in a corner." Je-die-die, s. a bird so called from its cry. Jeguduragudu, s. worthless, good-for-nothing person. JiIje, adv. See Je. J e jeje, adc. verv gently, very softly. ■ 172 JE-K Je-ki, defect, v. mper.mood; let, permit. Jepe, defect, v. (always preceded by Iba), had. — Iba jepe emi ni, " Had it been I." — Iba jepe 6 lo, " Had he gone." Jeri, v. a. to bear witness to. Jeiiun, Jeun (je-ohun), v. a. eat, eat food. Jewo, (je-owo), V. a. to acknowledge, confess ; affirm. See Tenumo. Ji, V. a, and n. to steal, pilfer ; awake, rouse, enliven. Ji, JiN, V. n. to fall into a hole or pit ; be far or deep. — Onna illu won ji, " Their country is far." Ji followed hy Lesse (ni-esse), v. n. to strike the heel, as one walks in front of another. Lese ( — ese), v. a. to strike with the fist. Jigbese (je-igbese), v. n. to owe a debt. Ji, JiN, prep. to. — Mo fi oran na ji o, " I forgive {lit. the matter to) you." JiHiN (je-ihin), v. n. to deliver a message, give account. JijA, adj. shining, lustrous, bright ; s. fight ; that which is to be fought JiJADu, V. 71. to scramble. JijE, adj. eatable, s. that which is to be eaten. JiJiN, s. depth ; distance. Jijo, s. resemblance, likeness. JiMiJiMi, adc, richly, wealthily, gorgeously, splendidly. JiMARATA, Ijimarata, s. a term of abuse. JiN, adj. far. See Ji. Jin A (ji-ina) v. n. to heal up ; be well cooked or roasted. JiNDE (ji-nde), v. n. to rise from the dead. JiNNA (ji-onna), adj. far distant. JisE (je-ise), v. n. to deliver a message. JiYA (je-iya), v. n. to suffer innocently. JiYAN (ja-iyan), v. a. to deny, contradict. JiGBiNi, adv. abundantly (applied to fruits). — Iggi yi so eso jigbini, "This tree bears abundantly." Jo, V. n. to dance ; whirl ; burn as fire. 173 JO Jo, V. n. to leak out, drop from an opening or crack, suck out. JoGUN (je-ogun), v. a. to inherit the property of the de- ceased ; take possession of. JoKo, V. n. to sit, abide, stay, dwell. JoNA (jo-ina), v. n. to burn at the fire. — Ohun ti atejumo ki ijona, " If you attend to what is roasting it will not be burnt." JowERE (ja-6were), v. u. to try hard, struggle, endeavour. Jowu (ja-owu), V. n. to be jealous. Jo, V. n. to be alike, be similar, resemble. JoBBA (je-obba), v. n. to reign, be king over, govern. Jojo, adv, very, much, exceedingly (always after a verb of abundance). — Enia po jojo, "The people are very numerous." JoLLA (je-olla), V. n. to enjoy the honour due to another. JoLLo, 5. a kind of long-necked calabash. Jowo (je-owo), V. a. to let, permit. — J0W9 mi I9W0, " Let me (go)." Ju, V. a. to throw, cast, fling, be more than ; differ. Ju, sign of the comparative, more. The superlative is formed by the addition of Lo, — Julo, most. — IW9 ju mi lo, " You are more than I." See Buru. Ju, V. n. to be worm eaten. JuBA (je-iba), v.a. to have a grateful remembrance of, respect, regard, think of JuDi-juDi, adj. not having a clear head, confused. JuFU, s. armlet or bracelet of silver or white met?^ (worn by the royal family). Juju, adj. confused, chaotic. JuMO (J9-imo) adv. together, in company. Jure, v. a. to point out, direct, show. Juwo, (j 11-9 wo), V. n. to beckon with the hand. 174 KA K. Ka, v. a, to count, reckon ; read ; sit upon, set upon. — Ka ille, " Sit on the ground." Ka, v. a.to reap, pluck fruits from the tree, roll, fold; fail. K'a, aclr. round, around, in a circle. Kabakaba, adv. irregularly, roughly, unevenly. Kabiyesi, defect, v. (a respectful expression used on the approach of a king or great personage) ; Let us be all attention. Kadun, v. n. to be about the space of a year. Kafo, s. a kind of tiglit trousers with long legs. Kahoro, s. the name of a shrub. Kainkainka, 5. husk of the guinea cornleft after threshing. Kaka, adv. instead of — Kaka ki okuku wipe, " Instead of his saying." Kaka, adv. forwardly, officiously, presumptuously (gene- rally qualifying V. La). — I wo la kaka lo li oddo agba, " Did you push presumptuously in to the rank of elders ?" Kakanfo, s. war-captain, title of a war-chief. Kakara, s. piece of shell, shell. Kaka, adj. strong, violent, forcible ; stiff, unyielding, stubborn. — Agbara kaka li afi mu u, " We took it with great violence." Kakansenla, s. plant called the monkey-kola (named also Obiaya). Kako, v. a. to curl, twist. Kalle (ka-ille), v. n. to set down, sit on the ground, deposit. Kalle, adv. around, abroad ; spreading abroad ; noto- riously. Kalo (ki-ama-lo), defect, v. let us go ; may we go? Kan, adj. (contraction <9/*0kan), one, a certain one, one out of many. Kan, adj. sour, acid, morose, rough, violent, cross, peevish, sore, painful, v. n. to ache. 175 KAN Kan, adj. last, ultimate (applied to words of action). — Ase kan re li eyi, " This is your last action." Kan, v. n. to drop as rain, drip ; pluck, nip off. Kan, v. a. to reach, touch at ; nail, drive in with a hammer, knock at the door. Kanna (okan-na), adj. the same. Kanakana, s. a sling. — Enyi ni ki ama taffii, ki ni ki afi '^ le ogun, Kanakana li ofi le Boko, " You say that we should not shoot arrows : with what, then, shall we repel the enemy? 'Twas with a sling that one of old repelled the Boko people." Kanakana, s. a kind of crow with a white streak on the neck. — Kanakana eyi ti nre Ibara ni, efufii ta a ni idi pa, oni ise kuku ya, " The crow was going to Ibara ; a breeze sprang w\) behind : ' That will help me on famously,' (says the crow)." — Kanakana ba kana- kana ja,kanakana da kanakana. — Odi-eni ! " The crow J fought with the crow, the crow conquered the crow. — 'Once !" It is a favourite Yorubagame to repeat as many times as possible, without taking breath, sen- tences such as the foregoing, containing a recur- rence of similar sounds. The number of the repetitions is announced as each is completed. See Apatta. Kanga, s. a well. Kangara, s. a kind of billhook with a perforated iron handle. — Enia kan ni iro kangara bo ni li 9W0, " One man makes billhooks to put into the hands of others :" i. e. every man has his particular trade. Kangi, v. n. to come to a hard point, be difficult. Kangun, v. n. to be at the end, be last. Kanju, v. n. to be hasty, or in a hurry. Kanju-Jaiye, s. one who makes haste to be rich ; a covetous man. Kanmukanmu, adv. sweetly, with a sweet flavour. Kankan, adv. hastily, quickly, fast. 176 y KAN Kaniiun, 5. rock-salt. — Kanhun li ommo Haiissa, asara li ommo Oyibo, gombo li ommo Onire, " Rock salt is the produce of Haussa ; tobacco is the produce of the men beyond the sea ; the spoon (with which the mixture of rock-salt and tobacco is retailed) is the produce of the Chief of Ire." Kanhunkanhun, adj. sweet-scented. Kankan, Kanikan, s. fibres beaten soft, and used for the purpose of ablution in the room of sponge. Kanki, s. a kind of tight trowsers used by rich farmers. Kankun, v. n. to knock at the door. Kanno, v. n. to be morose, severe, peevish. Kanra, v. n. to be ill tempered, peevish ; fret. Kanri, v. a. to strike or touch the head with the victim for sacrifice ; nail the skull to a tree. Kanrin, Kanrinkanrin, adv. very far off, beyond the reach of sight, clean gone. — O lo kanrinkanrin, " He is gone quite out of sight." Kansoso, adj. alone, only, singly. — On ni kansoso li o lo, " He went alone." Kantikanti, s. the gnat, small flies which swarm about liquor, (supposed to make it sour.) — Kantikanti ko li oran akeregbe li pron, " The gnats have no quarrel with the calabash ;" i. e. they swarm about it only for the sake of the sweet liquor which it may contain. Kanu, v. n. to be sorry, feel grief for wrongs done. Kara, s. a thorny plant of the acacia tribe ; gland. Kara, adv. (usually qualifying the v. la, " to split "), on a sudden, precipitately ; loudly, dashingly. Karo, s. a bird, so named from its cry. Karo, defect, v. may we speak ? 'KAs,n. about a place, on the side of. NiiiiN, NiiiiNYi (ni-ihin-eyi), adv. hence, here. NiiiiNYiBAYi (bi-eyi), adv. here in this place. NiJETTA (ni-ijo-etta), s. the day before yesterday. NiJOKANLOGBON ( — okan-le-9gbon), adv. seldom. NiJOKETTA (kon-etta), s. the third day. Nijo-GBOGRO, adv. daily, every day. Ni-KAN, adj. alone, single. 202 NIK NiKAN-soso, adv. solely, singly. NiKEiiiN (ni-iko-ehin), adv. afterward, finally. NiKo, Nko, adv. (used at ike end of a question), then, how then. — lya re nko, " How is your mother then ?" — Eyi ha nko, " How is this then ?" NiKOKo (ni-ikoko), adv. in secret, secretly. Ni-LAi-LAi, adv. of old, in time past. Ni-LOLO, adv. lately, of late. NiLA, adj. large, big. — Illugi nila, " This town is large." Nina (ni-ina), v. n. to have length, to be long. Ni-ni, s. owner ; property. NiNi, adv. very, exceedingly {qiiaUfying v. tutu, to be cold). — O mi tutu nini, '' This water is very cold." NiNi, s. hailstone. NiN6,j9?'ep. among, from, inside, from within. NiNo-NiNo, adj. inmost. NiPA, NiPASsE, prep, by, through, in, according. NipEKUN, V. n. to have an end, terminate. Nipo (ni-ipo), prep, instead, in the room of. NiPON, V. n. to be thick at the edge (as a plank). NiRAN (ni-iran), v. n. to remember, call to mind, have a recollection of. NiRiN, s. a kind of rat. NisALLE (ni-isalle), prep, underneath, beneath, below. Nisi, V. n. to care, be concerned about a thing — Emi ko nisi, " I have no care about it." Ni-si-si-Yi, adv. soon, now, just now, directly. NiSAJu (ni-isa-ju), adc. before, formerly. NiTi, adv. in that, because that. NiTORi, NiTORiNA, Ntori, Latori (ui-itori), conj. be- cause, on account of, wherefore, for the sake of. — Nitori mi li o se wa, " He came on account of me." — Nitori ki ni ? " On account of what ?" NiTosi, s. neighbourhood. Nitoto (ni-ti-oti-to), adv. in truth, truly. 203 NIW NiWA, V.71. to have a good disposition, be affable, be kind ; have a good quality. See Ireke. y NiWAJu (ni-iwa-oju), pre}), (iised before a place or per- son'^ forward ; before, beyond, in, from. — Nwon koja niwaju ille wa, " They passed before our house." — Niwaju li ati ijogun ehin li ati ise agba, " A man may be born to a (large) inheritance ; but wisdom only comes with length of days." Niw^oYi (ni-iwo-eyi), adv. now, about this time, NnvoNBi, adv. inasmuch as. NiYENiNO (ni-iye-ni-ino), v. n. to have a good memory, be understanding. NiyIn ( — iyin), adj. grand, famous, (lit. having fame). Njebi, Nje, adv. if then, if so, therefore. Nkan, (contracted from Oiiun Okan), s. a certain thing, a thing, something ; goods. Nkan-ki-nkan, 'pron. any thing, whatsoever, whatever. Nko (on-ko), adv. not, (lit. it is not that). Nla, adj. great, large. Nla-nla, adj. very great, very large. Nn, adv. not, (frequently used in exclamations) No ! No! '^0 followed by No, v. a. to wipe off, erase. No, v.n. to be lost. — Ommo ki ino bi eranko, " A child cannot be lost like a beast." No, adv. off, away. — Gbe e ju no, " Cast it away." — -Ko o da no, " Gather them and throw them away." Nso, NsoKALO, V. n. {imp. mood) proceed, go on, let us go. NwoN, AwoNG, pers. pron. they. 'NYiN,|;e?*5. jjron. (contr. of lEtNYi^), you. O, j^ron. 2d yers. sing, (used frequently instead of Iwo be- fore long vowels i, e, o), thou — O ri mi, /or, Iwo rimi, 204 o " Thou seest me." — O se won mo, " Thou shuttest them up." — O ro won ka, " Thou surroundest them." (By euphonic attraction before the short vowels a^ e, o, O is changed into 'O — a contraction of Iwo — e. g. 'O ko mi ni \^e,for, Iwokomi ni ise, " Thou taughtest me a work." When used as the subject of the verb it precedes it as above, but when as an object it follows ; e. g. Emi ti wi fun 'O telle, " I have told you beforehand.") O, On, jyron. 3d pers. sing, (usually preceding verbs con-" taining the vowels i,e, and o,) he, she, it. — 6 de, " It is shut." — O le mi, '' He drove me." — On ko won, *^ He gathered them." O, U, pron. 3d pers. sing. ohj. case (generally governed by a verb containing the vowel o\ him, her, it. — Mo ko 6, " I gathered it." — Iw9 ko 6, " You met him." O, aux V. {contracted from Yio, used in composition as a sign of the future), shall, will ; defect, v. must. — Babba ode li oUa, " My father will come to-morrow." — Emi olo li oni, " I will go to-day." — IW9 ojade " You must go out." (Before words commencing with the short vowels «, e, 0, the long by euphonic attrac- tion becomes 0. — Iwo 9Jade,/or, IW9 ojade. — On 9ke mi, /or. On oke mi, "He will indulge me." — Awa 9ka a, " We will count it.") O, aua\ V. /nay, {when preceded hy Ki). — Ki emi ki le il9, " That I may be able to go." — Wi fun u ki ole iduro, " Tell him that he may stay, or simply to stay." O, adv. (of assent), yes ; very well. Obi, s. the female of cattle. Obi, 5. the kola nut, otherwise called the gura nut. See KoKORo. Obi-Aya, s. the monkey-kola nut. Obi , s. parent. Obiri, or Obinri, s. woman, wife, female. Obo, s. womb. (Ino shoidd always he used in translations.) 205 OBO Obo, 5. hint, private information. Obo, s. nurse, foster-parent. Obo, s. an instrument used for cleansing cotton seed. Obotuje (bo-tu-ejje) Olobotuje, s. the fignut plant. Obu, adj. having no principle of life, unsavoury, insipid, J flat. s. a stale egg ; a kind of saltish rock. — Obu ko to iyo, " Obu is not to be compared to real salt." Ode, s. out-of-doors, street. (/ Ode s. a kind of small bat. — Bi ako ri adan afi ode sebo, " Ifyou cannot obtain a large bat for sacrifice, a small one will do instead;" ^.e. one must takethewill for the deed, t/ Odi, s. malice.— Bi ino ko li odi, odi ani ino, " If a man (lit. the mind) is not malicious, some one will be malicious against him." Odi, s. a walled fortification round the town, fort; a dumb person, one who has lost the power of speech. ^Odi, s. contrariety, perverseness. Odidi, 5. bunch, cluster, the whole of any thing. Odidi-Ogedde, s. cluster of banana-fruit. Odino, 5. a passionate person. 1/ ODd,s. brook, river. — Odo, gbe ma gbe oruko, "The stream may dry up, but the water-course retains its name."— Enniti o W9 odo li onno nko aiya ko fo odo, " He who enters a river may fear, but the river itself fears not." Odo, 5. district, party, a division. / Odo, s. a mortar. — lya odo on ommo re ko ni ija, agbe li o dija sille fun won ; ommo odo ki ina iya re lassan, " The pestle and the mortar had no quarrel between them ; it was the farmer that caused the quarrel (by supplying the yam for pounding) ; the pestle (lit the child of the mortar) does not beat its mother for nothing." — Bi iwo oku iwo a la odo ya'na ? " If you are about to die, need you split up the (wooden) mortar for fire-wood (instead of leaving it for the use of the survivors) ? " 206 ODO Ododo, s. scarlet. Ododo, s. truth, fact, justice, equality ; right, righteous- ness. Odoui, Odorodi, adv. never, not in the least. "Odu, s. boiler, caldron. Odu, s. companion of Ifa, the god of palm nuts. Odu, s. name of an herb. — Odu ki ise aimo oloko, " Odu is not unknown to a farmer." 'Odua, Odudua, s. a goddess from Ife, said to be the su- preme goddess in the world. Heaven and earth are also called Odudua. — Odudua igba nla meji ade isi, " Heaven and earth are two large calabashes, which being shut can never be opened ;" referring to the apparent concavity cf the sky, which seems to touch the earth at the horizon. Ofe, 5. parrot ; clever person. — Agbede bi ofe, amo ara ire bi odide. Adeb9 fun ofe, ofe ko ru aganran gbe ebo o rubo, asinwa asinb9 ofe di ara Oyo aganran di ara oko; nwon se bi ofe ko gbon, "Sacrifice being pre- *^ scribed to the parrot, he refused to offer it ; but the green parrot took the sacrifice and offered it ; after all the parrot is a citizen of the capital, and the green parrot an inhabitant of the province : (and yet people) thought that the parrot was not wise." The green parrot is counted a clean bird and offered in sacrifice, while the parrot is unclean, and never molested. Ofere, Ofe, s. Venus, as the morning star ; the hour of cockcrowing, before the rising of the sun. Ofi, s. the loom ; that which swings. 'Ofiji, s. that which is forgiven, forgiveness. Ofin, s. law, prohibition, commandment. Ofo, s. emptiness. ""Ofo, s. loss, calamity, damage. Ofofo, 5. busybody, talebearer, traitor. — Ase ofofo ko gba egba ni ibi ope li o mo ; ofofo li egbon ororo li 207 OFO aburo, "A talebearer receives no payment (Jit. not 2000 cowries) ; thanks are all his reward. Talebear- ing is the elder brother, bitterness the younger." 'Oforo, s. squirrel. — Ennu oforo ni ipa oforo, oforo bi omm9 meji 6 ko W9n wa eti onna oni, Ommo mi ye korokoro, korokoro, korokoro, "It was the squirrel's own mouth that betrayed her ; for when she had brought forth two young ones, she carried them to the road-side and said, ' My children are very sound, very sound, very sound :' " (the word ^ korokoro ' resembles the cry of the squirrel). Ofua, s. a kind of kola nut ; name of a tree used medi- cinally for ablution. 1/ Ofurufu, 5. emptiness ; the firmament. — Ofurufu ko se ifiehin ti, " One cannot lean upon emptiness." ^Ogbigbi, s. a species of owl. Ogbo, 5. old age ; a kind of sword with two edges. — / Ogbo ko li ogun, " There is no medicine against old age." Ogbo, s. a small animal of the cat kind, remarkable for its sharp teeth, which are said to be able to cut iron. Ogbodo, s. new yams. See Elubo. Ogbogbo, s. name of a tree, whose leaf is very useful . Ogbogbo, Olugbogbo, 5. club, mallet. Ogboju (gbo-oju), s. bold daring person, Ogbologbo (gbo-ni-ogbo), rt^'. very old, of longstanding. y Ogbova, s. a beast about the size of a cat. — Bi ogboya ba fi iru na ille li erimnetta ni illu, illu na atii, " When the Ogboya strikes its tail thrice on the ground in any town, that town will be deserted," (a super- stition). Ogbugbu, s. wild duck; kind of grass; cotton dyed be- fore spinning. Oge, s. coxcomb, fop. Ogede, adv. only. \y/ Ogedegbe, Ogedemgbe, adv. headlong, precipitately. — 208 ^OGI Ogedemgbe iro ki ida ni si lyewu gbangba ni ida ni si, " The headlong fall of a liar is not concealed, but is exposed to view." " Ogi, s. starch of Indian corn. 1/Ogi, s. an old dog, mastiff; an old bachelor. — -Apon di ogi o saro, " When a man has become an old bachelor he makes his own fireplace ; i. e. has to cook his own food." Ogidigbo, s. a kind of drum. — Ogidigbo pari ilu gbo- gbo. Bi owe bi owe li alii ogidigbo, enniti o ye ni ijo o. Gbc5, Ajagbo, gbo, obba gbo, ki emi ki osi \/ gbo, " The ogidigbo is the best of all drums ; the ogidigbo has a meaning in its sound ; he who un- derstands the sound can dance to it — ^ May you be old, King Ajagbo, may you be old, may the king be old, may I also be old.' " Ogiri, s wall (of mud, stone, or brick). Ogiri, s. gallop, simultaneous rush. — Esin dogiri, " The horse galloped." ^Ogiri,5. preparation made from Yonmoti seed to flavour stews. 1/ Ogo, s. glory, praise ; wonder ; a valiant man. — Ileri ille ko mo ajagun, kufekufe ko mo ija, ijo ti ari ogun li amo ogo, ^' Boasting at home is not valour ; parade is not battle : when war is seen the valiant will be known." ^Ogo, c^Ogero, adj. easy gentle, soft. — Ise 9gero li ole iwa ise ko je mu ise agbara, "A lazy man seeks for an easy employment: he would never choose a laborious one." ^Ogevi, s. cold, damp, gloomy weather. Oggo, s. a short knotted stick or club for self-defence ; believed to be used by the devil, who is therefore called Agongo oggo, " The man of the knotted club." ^Oggo-Ivo, s. a package of salt. ^ OgoddO, s. pit full of dirty water, OG9FFA, adj. one hundred and twenty. Ogorin (ogun-erin), adj. eighty. Ogorun, Orun ( — orun), adj. one hundred. Ogorun-Odun, s, one hundred years, a century. Ogotta ( — etta), adj. sixty, the sixtieth. ^Ohan, adv. yes. ^Ohe, adv. stupid, dull, ignorant person. j3hun, ado. yonder, beyond. 1/0ja, s. market, trade; goods, merchandise — Bi iwo ko ran 'ni si oja, oja ki iran 'ni si ille, " If you send no one to the market, the market will send no one to you." Oja, s. band, girdle, sash. Oja-gari, s. girth. Oja-Ikoko, s. species of pine-apple used for healing sores. Oja-Ovibo, s. European goods, goods from beyond sea. — Oyibo ta oja ta oruko, 'Egan ta aso ta edidi, " The European trader sells his goods (to the Popo) with the label (Jit. name) attached to them ; the Popo (or ^Egun) sells them again just as he received them (lit. with the string round them) :" i. e. neither of them seeks to make gain by petty retail. Ojehun, s. eater, glutton. — Ipin ojehun ki ije ina ki o ku, " The good genius of every man (lit. eater) does not permit fire (with which food is cooked) to depart from the earth :" a superstition. 231 OJE OjERE, s. plant, whose leaf is used in preparing a beve- rage for children. Ojo, s. sun, day, date ; weather. Ojo-Alle, s. evening, afternoon. Ojo, s. place, settlement, lodging. — O so mi li ojo, " He appointed me a settlement, or lodged me." Ojo-Ibi, s. birth-day. Ojo-Ijo, s. day of assembly, day in which some grand festival takes place, memorable day. , Ojo-'Iwa, s. the day of creation, the beginning of creation. — Li ojo alaiye ti de aiye ni iwa ti se, " From the time that the owner of the world appeared in the world, the world began." Ojo-Isi, s. notable day, on which any great event took place. Ojo-Jakuta, 5. the day on which the Jakuta market was formerly held. Ojo-Ejo, s. com't day. Ojo JO, adv. day by day, daily. Ojo-jojo, 5. many days ; ancient time ; a long period of time past or future. Ojo-lailai, s. ancient time, old time. Oka, s. Guinea corn ; food made from the flour of pre- pared yams. Ok AN, adj. one, single. Okandilogun (okan-di-ni-ogun), adj. nineteen. /^ Okanjua ( — oju-wa), 5. avaricious person ; avarice, cove- tousness, insatiableness. — Okanjua babba aron, " Co- vetousness is the father of disease." — Iggi okanjua so eso pipo, kaka ki ama ka a, o yo ake ti i ike lulle, " A tree belonging to an avaricious man bore abundantly, but instead of gathering the fruit (by little at a time), he took an axe and cut it down (that he might get all at once.)" Oka'nkan, adv. straightforward, openly. — Okankan li ase ibi, \koko li ase imolle, bi atoiu imolle tan, ki atoju 232 OKA ibi pellu, bi aba ku ara enni ni isin 'ni, "A man must openly practise the duties of relationship, though he may privately belong to a secret club : when he has attended to the secret club, he must attend to the duties of relationship also, because when he dies, it is his relatives who must bury him." Okankan, j9re/). against, opposite, in front. Okanla (okan-le-ewa), adj. eleven. Okanla-Odun, s. the eleventh month, November. Okan-soso, adv. singly, adj. alone, undivided. ^Okka, s. a child's disease ; name of a plant used to cure the same disease. Okka-Iku, s. last struggle between life and death. — O npe okka iku, " He is struggling between life and death." Okkan, s. name of a running plant used medicinally. Okkan, s. soul, spirit, conscience, heart. Okkan-tutu, s. calm soul, meekness. Okkin, s. name of a bird, whose white feathers are much valued. — Okkin 9bba eiye, okkin elewa alia, " The 9kkin is a king of birds, and the owner of the beautiful white feathers." Okkinrin, s. name of a bird that lives on crickets. Okke, s. large straw bag. Okkere, s. the squirrel. — Okke re gori iggi iroko oju da sasa, ^' When the (hunted) squirrel gets on the top of the iroko tree, there is an end (of the chase)." Okko, s. a shuttle, canoe, boat, ship. ^Okko, s. spear, dart, harpoon. See Esin. Oko, 5. hoe. Oko, Okko, s. husband. — Okp kiku m9 li osi obiri, " The death of a husband is the widow's anguish." Oko-Assa, s. stirrup. Oko-Ejika, s. shoulder-blade. Okokan, adv. one by one. pron. each. Oko-Iyawo, s. bridegroom. 233 2 H OKO « • Okoloriri, Okolaya (ok9-ni-obiri), s. a married man. Okonri, Okonrtn, s. man, male. Okose (ko-ise) s. one who refuses to bear an errand, or to work. ^Okun, s. name of a harmless reptile with many feet, supposed to be blind. — Okun mo onna telle ki oju re ki o to fo, " The okun must have known the way before it was blind." — Enniti bii hu ipa ko hii ipa, y] enniti iba hu ele ko hu ele, okun ti oni igba owo ti o ni igba esse nhu iwa pelle, " The person who might have used his strength, did not use his strength ; the person who might have used force, did not use force ; the okun, which has 200 hands and 200 feet, acts gently." ^Okun-Enia, s. stupid, dull, harmless person. Ola, s. wealth, riches. Olara, s. envious person ; freeman. ^Olaja, s. peace-maker. See Ilaja. ^Olelle, s. a kind of cake. Olla, s. the morrow, to-morrow. OllX, s. honour, respect, dignity, authority. Ollanla, s. majesty, great honour, dignity. Olle, s. embryo. /^ Qlle, s. idleness, indolence ; an indolent person. — Olle kon are I0W9, iyanjii li agba ijo gbogbo ni ifi ire ni, " Laziness lends a helping hand to fatigue : one must persevere, because fatigue must be felt every day." Ollo, s. a large nether millstone, millstone. Ologanran, s. the screaming cricket. Ologba ( — 9gba), s. owner of a garden ; a gardener. Ologbon ( — 9gb9n), s. prudent person. Oloja, s. person of rank ; executioner. Olokko (oni-9kk9), s. owner or master of a ship ; spear- man. Ololla, s. nobleman, person in authority. Olommu-Eko, 5. a young woman just approaching puberty. 234 OLO Olonna, s. artisan, mechanic. Olopa (ni-opa), s. a bearer of the king's staff, constable, policeman. Olopaga-Obba, s. bearer of the staff of royalty. Olore (ni-ore), s. giver, donor. Olorun (ni-orun), s. God, the Supreme Being. — Olorun tobi li obba, " God is the great King." Oloro ( — or9), s. possessing heaven ; a man of wealth ; name of a plant. Olosa ( — osa), s. robber, one who serves his chief by robbery. Olotan, s. distant relative. Olotte (enni-otte), s. a seditious man, a revolutionist. Olotti (ni-otti), s. maker or seller of beer or any liquor. Olotto, s. a respectable and rich person. Oloyumbere, s. small streaked lizard. ^Omm9, s. broad leaved tree of the banyan kind. ^^>--Gmm9, s. child, offspring, servant ; kernel. — Bi oju ommp ko to oran ato awigbo, " If a child is not old enough to be an eye-witness of ancient matters, he must be content with hearsay." Ommo-Adire, s. chicken. — Angba ommo adire lowo / iku o li ako je ki on ki o re atan lo ije, " A chicken, having been delivered from the hawk (lit. death, by being shut up), complained that it was not per- mitted to feed openly on the dunghill." Ommo-Agadagodo, s. key. Ommo-Agbo, Ommo-Owo, s. infant. Ommo-^Agutan, s. lamb. Ommo-Alade, 5. prince, princess. Ommo- Alle, s. bastard, child born out of wedlock, child of a concubine. Ommo-Binrin, Ommobiri, s. girl, daughter. Ommodan, s. young woman. Ommode, j)l. Majesi, s. child ; state of childhood. Ommodin, s. little finger, little toe. 235 OMM Ommodo, s. brook, rivulet. Ommo-Ewure, s. kid. Ommo-Eiiin, s. younger, inferior, follower. Ommo-Esin, s. colt. Ommogun, (pmmo-ogun), s. a soldier, war-man. Ommo-Kewu, s. scholar, learner. Ommo-Kinniu, 5. lion's whelp. Ommo-konri, s. son, boy, youth, lad, young man, mighty man of valour. OMM9-LALA, s. great grandchild. Ommole (ommon-ille), s. salamander. Ommoloju ( — ni-oju), s, grandchild. O^niOLOjuBiNRi ( — obinri), s. granddaughter. Ommolojukonri ( — okonri), s. grandson. Ommo-Malu, s. calf. Ommo-Oju, s. pupil of the eye. OMM9-OKU, s. orphan. Ommo-Ologinni, s. kitten. Ommo-Obba, s. prince, princess, child of a king. Ommo-Ommo, s. grandchild. OMM9-OMM9BINR1, s. granddaughter. Ommo-Ommokonri, s. grandson. Ommo-Owu, s. blacksmith's hammer. 0>ni9Ri ( — ori), s. cover, lid, any small part of a ves- sel needed to complete it. — Ti ommori ti iye, "A vessel with its cover." OMM9RIKA (omm9-ori-ika), s. top or tip of the finger. Omm9ri-Od6, s. pestle. OMM9R1-OLL9, s. smaller or upper millstone. OMM9SSE ( — esse), s. toe. Ommo-te, v. n. to travail, to labour in child-birth. • • • ' Ommo-Waiiari, 5. the child of a female slave taken for a wife. Ommu, Ommo, s. breast, udder, milk ; instrument used in weaving to divide the woof. Omotti, Omottiyo (m9-9tti-yo), s. drunkard. ' ' 236 * " u OMO Omodun, s. the young and tender leaves of a tree. Omodun-Ope, s. palm-cabbage. Omokoko (mo-ikoko), s. smoker of a pipe ; potter. Oni, s. crocodile. Onna, s. art, workmanship. ^Onna, s. road, street, way, path. 'Onna-gb6ro, 5. narrow road, street, path, or lane, 'Onnagboro, s. wide road, wide street. 'Onna-Iweffa, s. the chief eunuch. 'Onna-Igboro, s. wide street, street. 'Onna-tere, s. narrow street, lane. ^Onna-Ode, s, gate leading immediately to the street. 'Onna-sokun (onna-isokun), 5. the king's patron ; a title given to the chief of a council of two-and-twenty elders called Isokun. Opa, s. stick, staff, pole. Opa-Aso, yard measure, three feet. Opagun (opa-ogun), s. flag-staff, ensign, banner. Opa- Ipo, s. rod, travelling-staff. Opako, s. large bamboo pole used to propel canoes. Opalaba, s. square bottle with a narrow bottom. Opalai, s. dispute, reasoning, quarrelling. Ope, s. thanks. — Mo da ope, " I give thanks." — Ope 11 ope ejika ti ko je ewu kl 6 bo, " Thanks are due to the shoulders which keep the shirt from slipping off." Ope, s. palm tree. 'Opelle, s. messenger of Ifa. Opere, 5. small boat, or canoe. Ope RE, Idoko, 5. pepper bird. 'Opo, s. plenty, abundance, multitude, flock. Opollo, s. frog. 'Opolopo, adv. plentifully, commonly, manifold. Opon, s. bowl. Opon-Oyibo, s. pine apple. OpoTTo-KiTi, s. kind of flor tree. 'Opowom, s. innumerable swarm. 237 ORA Ora, s fat, tallow, lard. See Aparo. Oua-Egungun, s. marrow, 'Ora, s. purchase ; purchaser. 'Oran, s. matter, case. 'Ore, s. friend. ^y^ORE,s. gift, present. — Ore ije 9re, oraije ora, aki idupe motopo, " A gift is a gift, and a purchase is a pur- chase ; but no one will thank you for ^ I have sold it very cheap.' " Ore-Anu, s, alms, charitable gift. Orekese, s. a very small straw bag in which cowries are kept. 'Orere, 5. slisfht fits. Ore, s. small whip, whip. Oredan (ore-odan), s. the name of a tree (also called Ore-Odan) : the bark of this tree pounded and washed in water, being viscous, is used as leaven for ferment- ing Akara. Orere, s. salt. Orin, adj. eighty, 'Orin, 5. dysentery. ^Oro, s. word, conversation; clay for building; evil spirit, ghost, fairy. 'Oro-Ijinle, 5. profound speech, profundity, mystery. Oro, s. riches, wealth. Oro-Ille, s. inheritance, possession in lands. Oro, s. equivocation, unfairness, deceit. Oro, s. the cactus or euphorbia, whose various species are named Oro-Agogo, Oro-Ennukopiye, Oro-Sapo or Satipo. Orun, s. bow. Orun, Qron, 5. neck. Orun, adj. one hundred. Orun, s. heaven, sky, cloud. Orun-Apadi (lit. the invisible world of potsherds), s. place of punishment, hell. 238 ORU Orunla, s. dried okro. OsA, s, flight, discomfiture. 'OsA, s. space of time, time intervening between one period and another. — Duro li osa agogo kan, " Wait for the space of an hour." 'OsA, s. act of robbing, robbery. OsAN, s. name of a tree and its fruit. OsANHAN, adj. straightforward. . OsANniN, s. the god of physic ; medicine. 'OsiN, s. a water-bird. — ^"Osin mo iwe ino mbi eiye oko, ^ " Because the osin knows how to swim, the other birds are envious." OsEGGE, s. cloth of great width. Oso, s. much speaking, exaggeration. OsoN, OsuN, s. species of herb. Ososo (son-ino), s. liberal, hospitable person. Ososo, s. a kind of worm found in brooks and rivers. 'OssA, s. name of the lagoon near Badagry. OssAN, s, daytime. OssAN-GANGAN, s. midday, noon. OssE, s. holy day, period intervening from one holy time to another ; space of a week. U^ OsAN, s. bowstring made of raw hide. — Ale koko bi osan 9gbe jina ohun ma jina, " (A cutting word is as) tough as a bowstring; a cutting word cannot be healed, though a wound may." Osan-Enia, s. thin, slender person. OsE, 5. soap. OsE, s. crane. , /Osin, s. one who makes a mistake. — Osin ki isin ennu, // • • ^ ••••7 "Though a man may miss other things, he never misses his mouth." Oso, s. elegance, finery, neatness, furniture. ^Oso, s. thorns used in pitfalls ; pickaxe. Osoro-Adire, s. chicken. 'OsoRO, s. cascade, cataract ; droppings from the eaves. * 239 oso • • • OsoNSON, OsuNsuN, s. rat-trap ; a bard wood often used for staffs. Otan, adv. indeed, very well. Otta, s. gunshot, bullet, ball. Otta, s. enemy, opponent. Otti-Oloja, s. executioner. Otti, s. rum, beer, ale, any spirituous liquor. Otti-Kikan, 5. sour liquor, vinegar. Otti-npa, v. n. to be intoxicated (lit. liquor is killing). Otti-Oda, s. old fermented liquor. Otti-Ojo, s. new sweet liquor. Otte, s. revolt, revolution, rebellion. Ottesse, s. private informer. 'Otto, adj. difrerent, alone, separate. Otton, adj. right, dexter. Otton, Omi-otton, s. holy water used in libations. Ottonla, s. the day after to-morrow. Otton-' IwEFFA, s. the second chief eunuch. Otton-Iyalode, s. a title next to Iyalode. Otton-gabaz, s. the north with the face to the west. 'Ottoto, s. the whole of any thing. Owa, s. branch of palm tree. 'OwARA, s. shower of rain ; any thing thrown or scattered. OwARiRi, s. trembling. ^OwE, s. club or company, summoned to assist in labour. Owo, 5. flock of birds, beasts, or cattle ; multitude, class; company of travellers, caravan ; herd, assortment. — Owo enia gbatii, "A multitude of people followed him." Owo, s. hand; branch; spray. Owo-^OsiN, 6'. the left hand. Owo-Otton, s. the vm\\i hand. OwoDiNDiN, 6". a bird so called from its cry. Owo-Ina, s. flame of fire. Ow(), s. broom, besom. 'Owo, *. honour, respect. '240 owo • • OwoDowo (9W9-de-owo), adv. (from) hand to hand. OvvoLLE ( — ille) s. time, opportunity. — Bu mi li owolle^ "Give me time." OwoN, 5. vengeance, retaliation, recompense, blame. OwoN, s. black snake, which emits spittle upon its op- ponents. OwoN, s. scarcity, dearth, a wicked person. Owowo, s. a bird which generally lodges in holes. Oya, s. hire, wages ; hedgehog. Ova, 5. the wife of thunder, a goddess to whom the river Niger is dedicated, which therefore is called Odo Oya — The river of Oya. OviVN, s. the name of a small stream running into the "Ogun. Oye, s. the harmattan-wind. Ovo-GOHO-GOHO, s. bird, so called from its motion. OvoMisi, s. an expression of respect to the elders of Oyo, e.g. Gbogbo agba mo beru nyin, illu mo beru nyin, Oyo misi mo beru nyin, " I present my respects {lit. fear) to the elders in general, I present my respects to the whole town, I present my respects to all the leading elders of Oyo." P. Pa, v. a. {primary idea, to make to feel or suffer ; exten- sively used in composition), to kill, murder, put out of existence, ruin, slay ; betray ; quench fire, extinguish; bruise ; rub ; scrub ; cut (yam seeds) ; cut calabashes into halves ; break any hard nut ; peel the bark of a tree ; beat at play ; hatch ; tell fables ; cultivate a new grassfield ; be drunken. Pa yb//ow(?t? ^^^Abemo (tent, shed), v.n. to make a tent or tabernacle. Adano (loss), V. n. to suffer loss in trade or merchandise. Agbo (a circle), v. n. to make a circle. . 241 2i PA V\ followed hi/ Alo (riddle)j v. n. to puzzle with riddles. Alo (flame), v. n. to cease burning in a flame. Ase (law), V. n. to give law, command, make proclamation. Da (turn), v. a. to alter, change, convert. — Emi ko le ipa ipo mi da, " I cannot change my situation." De (close), V. a. to shut, close up. — Pa iwe re de, " Close up your book." Ete (intention), v. n. to be about to do, intend to do. ^Imo (counsel), v. a. to consult, suggest, hint (lit. to hatch a counsel). Iye, v. n. to go through the farms in search of provision in time of war ; forage. Lara (ni-ara, body), v. a. to hurt, bruise. Lerin ( — erin, laughter), u «. to excite to laughter. Mo (adhesive), v. a. to keep, reserve, pre- serve. Mora (mo-ara, close to the body), v. a. to bear patiently. NivE (ni-iye, in memory), y. <«. to confuse, confound. Niveda ( — da, turn), v. a. to persuade, Osu-JE (month), v. n. to miss the month. Osusu (a grove), v. n. to stand in a grove, form a grove. Ojo-je, v. n. to miss a day or days. Po ( — plenty), v. a. to join, mingle to- gether. Run (to destroy) v. a. to destroy, annilii- late, erase. Pa, adv. at once, in an instant. — O gbe e pa, " He took it . up at once." v. n. to be bald, void of hair, barren. 242 PA Pa, inte'ij. a word of exclamation. Pa-da, v. n. to return, come back, change, alter. Padaseiiin ( — si-ehin), v. n. to return back, relapse. Pade (pa-ide), v. a. to meet with, come together. Padegun (pade-ogun), v. n. to meet in battle. Pafa, s. butcher's table, board. Pafo (pa-afo) v, a. to wallow in the mire. Paiiin (pa-ehin), v. n. to sharpen the teeth. Pahin-keke, v. n. to chatter with the teeth as when one shivers. Pajo, Pejo (pe-ijo), v. n. to assemble together. Pakaja, v. a. to pass a country cloth from under the arm to the shoulder. Pako, s. bamboo. Pako, s. board. Pakunrete, s. kind of dove (also called Orofo). Pakuta, s. small stewpan. Pala, adv. with much effort, with difficulty. Palai, adv. not at all, not near, far from. Palaka, s. the division of the fingers ; bough of a tree. Palapala, s. rough, rugged crevices of rocks. Palo, v. n. to puzzle with enigmas. Pa:m6, v. n. to hide ; be out of sight, concealed. Pamolle (pa-mo-ille), s. viper. — Pamolle ko oran afojudi, " The viper allows no insolence." Panhun, adv. at once, in a stroke. Pania (pa-enia), v. n. to commit murder. Panipani, s. murderer.. Pansa, dry calabash uncut, with the seeds in it. Pansa-Ille, 5. grave, tomb. Pansaga, s. harlot, prostitute ; adultery, fornication. Pansuku, s. large calabash with a cover (used for carry- ing food, wearing apparel, and other articles when travelling). Panti, PANxiRi, s. a trailing plant. Papa, s. grass-field, plain newly burnt ; pasture land. 243 PAP Papa, adv. violently {qualifying v. Wa, to tremble). — On- wa papa bi enniti ina jo, " You quiver like one who has been burnt." Papagori, s. a small bird, superstitiously regarded by the worshippers of Sango, who pretend to understand the meaning of its cry. Papala, adv. flatly, drily {jiaalifying v. Gbe, to parch).* — O gbe papala, " It is shrivelled up flat." Pape (pa-ape), v. n. to clap hands. Pa-po, v. n. to unite, mingle. Para, adv. with sudden noise. Para (pa-ara), s. the upper part of the plate which rests on the posts supporting the piazza. Vara folloived hy M9, v. a. to keep oneself close, take heed. — Para re mo, '' Keep your- self close." Da, v. a. to disguise, change, turn oneself. Parada, v. n. to disguise, change. Pari (pa-ori) v.n.anda. to come to an end, finish, be over, be superior. Pari, v. n. to be bald. Par"], s. jaw-bone. Paro (pa-aro) v. a. to exchange, barter. — Awa fi ohun paro ohun, " We exchange words for words." Pa-run, v. n. to extirpate, destroy. Pasi, s. a kind of coarse grass for thatching. Pasan, s. oyster-shells (also called Papasan). Pasan, 5. whip. Pasi-paro, s. exchange, barter. Pase (pa-ase), v. a. to issue a prohibitive law. Pataki, adj. chief, principal, head. Patako, s. wooden shoe, clog ; hoof. Patapata, adv. with the whole, altogether. Pati, afZ/. forcible, violent. Patipati, a<^?y. with force, with violence, forcibly, violently. 244 PAT Patire, whip, switch. Pato, Patoto, v. n. to make a noise. Pe, adj. correct, as regards to number ; perfect. Pe, v. a. to call, invite. Vkfolloived by Afefe, v. n. to take exercise in the air, enjoy the breeze. Lejo (ni-ejo), v. a. to call to judg- ment . Pada, v. a. to recall. Pe, cotij. that ; in order that ; to ; saying that. Pena (pe-ena), Pejo (pe-jo), v,a. to call an assembly; call a congregation, assemble together. Pepele, s. bank of earth raised for a sleeping place. Pere, adv. only. — Awa meji pere ni nlo 1 " Are we two only going ?" Peregun, s. kind of cotton tree. Peri, v. n. to mean, allude to, say. Pero, s. drill, parade, soldiers' exercise. Pese (pa-ese), v. a. to prepare, make provision ready. Pesan, s. the shell of palm nuts. Petan, v. n. to be perfect, correct, accomplished. Pete (pa-ete), v. a. to intend, be about to do. Pete, ado. openly, barefacedly. Pe, v. n. to be long, stay, tarry, endure, last. Pejapeja (pa-eja), s. fisherman. Pellebe, Pelebe, adj. flat and thin. Pelle, adv. gently, easily, soberly. Pellepe, s. w'olf (superstitiously believed to have been once a human being). Pelle-pelle, adv. very gently. Pellu, Pellupellu, adv. besides, also, moreover. Pepe, s. shelf; altar ; slip of wood or bamboo. Pepe, s. bird snare ; adv. gently. — Olu mi pepe, " He stroked me gently." Pepekun, s. sea-shell. Pepeiye, s. duck. 245 J PER Pe re, advi. quietly, without bustle. Pesse, adv. gently, easily. Perepere, adx). raggedly, [quaUfy'mg v. Ya, to tear). — O fa aso ya perepere, " He tears the cloth into rags." Perepere, adv. very {qualifying v. Du, to be black). — As9 yi du perepere, " This cloth is very black." Petelle, s. level ground, plain. Petepere, adv. comfortably. Petepete, s. mud, mire. — Petepete liesa o ta si 'ni lara ma won, " If the mud in the ^Ijesa country adheres to one, it will not be (easily) washed off." Petupetu (pa-etu), 5. fowler, guinea-fowl catcher. Pi, adv. entirely, wholly, without exception. PiDAN (pa-idan), v. n. to perform sleight of hand. PiLLESE, PiLLE (pa-ille-se), v. a. to commence, begin ; (used with reference to mechanical work). Pin, v. a. to share, divide. PiN-FUNi, V. a. to divide, distribute. Pin, v. a. to end, terminate. PiNLE (pin-ille), v. a. to terminate. PiNPiN, adv. fast, tight. PiPA, verbal adj. slain, killed, not dying of itself. Pipe, avj. long, tedious ; old, ancient. PiTAN (pa-itan), v. n. to argue or dispute about one's age by adducing old facts. PiWADA (pa-ivva-da), v. n. to change one's behaviour and conduct, to repent. Pi VEDA (pa-iye-da), v, n. to change the mind. PiYE ( — iye), V. a. to plunder. PoiiuNRERE (pe-ohun-rere), v. n. to cry aloud, to lament, bewail, cry out dolefully. PopoRo, s. stem of Indian or Guinea corn. Polo, s. snare for beasts. PoNSE, .s. name of a tree, the shell of whose fruit is used for making snufT-boxes. 246 POP PopoLA, s. name of a tree bearing rich scarlet flowers, the fruit of which is esculent. PopoNDo, s. a kind of bean. PoRi, PoRiRi, V. a. to turn round, whirl. PoRiN (po-irin), v. n. to smelt iron ore. PoROPORo, adv. talkatively. Posi, s. coffin. PoTUTU (pa-otutu), v.n. to endure cold. Po, V. n. and adj. to be plentiful, many, cheap, common ; great, mighty ; wealthy ; able, powerful ; increasing. Po, v.a. to emit, to throw back. Po-ju, adv. much, more than. PojuLo, adv. most, above all. PoKO, s. a kind of calabash. PoN, V. a. to sharpen an iron instrument ; flatter, make much of. V. n. to ripen ; get yellow ; be red. PoN folloived hy Loju (ni-oju), v. a. to afflict, trouble, torment, PoN, V. a. to carry on the back. PoNGA, s. pieces of stick placed crosswise over the body in the grave to prevent the earth from touching it. PoNGA, adv. entirely, clean. PoN-Rusu-Rusu, adj. brown, brownish. PoNTi (pon-otti), V. n. to make or brew beer (as from Indian or Guinea corn). PoNso ( — aso), V. n. to ripen (as Indian corn). PosiLLE-PosoDE, adj. busy in and out. PoTOPOTO, s. mud, bog, mire. Pu, adv. precipitately. — O tu pu, " He runs precipitately." Pupa, adj. red, scarlet, yellow. PuPA-EviN, s. yelk, yolk of an egg. Pupo, Pipo, adj. many, much, numerous. Pupo-pupo, Pipo-pipo, adv. abundantly, numerously. PuRO (pa-iro), v,n. to tell a lie (Jit. to hatch a lie). PuTU, adv. well {qual[f(/ing v. Ho, to lather). — Ose nho putu, " The soap lathers well." 247 RA R. Ra, v. a. to buy, purchase ; tie ; furnish with laths. Ra followed by Di, v. n. to repay, recompense, retaliate. . / 'Eddo, V. w. to feel compassion, or yearn- ing of the bowels. Ra, v. n. to perish, be lost, go to nothing ; ache slightly, (as the head). 'Rk followed by Niye (ni-iye, in memory),!?, n. to make one forgetful, stupefy. Ra, v. n. to rot, putrefy ; hover as a bird. Ra, v. n. to struggle ; creep, crawl ; rub upon. — Okonri na nra pala, " The man struggles with great effort" Rabita, AlarT, s. a piece of AlarT. Radobo (ra-eddo-bo), v. a. to shelter, defend; gather as a hen does her brood. Raganbi (ron-agan-bi), .s-. a child born after a long season of barrenness. Raiiun (ra-ohun), v. n. to murmur, complain, speak un- advisedly from much grief Rajo (re-ajo), v. n. to go on a journey, sojourn. Rako (ra-ako), v. n. to creep, crawl. Ram-ram, adv. very {qualifying v. ke, to cry, roar).— Kenniu k6 ramram, " The lion roared very loudly." Ran, v. a. to send, despatch ; to command, charge ; sew. 'y. n. to be slow in growing, be hide-bound. RLn followed by Leti, v. a. to remind. Ran, v. a. to communicate (as fire) ; be infectious (as disease) ; cut or wound (as an instrument) ; help, aid in business. — Ore mi ran mi lowo, " My friend helped me." Ran, v. a. to spin, twist cord or line. Ra'n- Ipo, v. n. to speak ironically. Ranhun-raniiun, v. n. to be perplexed. Ranju (ran-oju), v. n. to look sternly or fiercely. 248 RAN Ranti (ran-eti), v. n. to remember, call to mind. Ranse (ran-onise), v. n. to send a message. Rara, adv. loudly, vociferously {qualifying v. ke, to cry out). — Nigbati mo soro na fun u, o ke rara, "When I told him the word he cried out." Ra'ra, s. and adj. none, nothing, none at all. Rare, v. n. to linger, suffer a long and tedious sickness without care and attention, struggle between life and death. Rau-rau, adv. entirely, totally. Re, v. n. to change feathers as birds, moult, fall off as hair or leaves. Re, v. n. to go, depart (same sic/nijlcation as ho). Re, v. n. to go off", spring as a trap or snare. Rebi (re-ebi), v. n. to go on a journey, sojourn. Rede-rede, adv. foolishly. Red! (re-idi), v. n. to move the tail upward, as a bird when it sits upon a tree; wag the tail. — Eiye ba o redi, "The bird sits (upon the tree) and moves its tail upward." Refix, Rufin (ru-ofin), v. n. to break or transgress the law. Reke, adv. to an eminent degree. Re-ko-ja, adv. beyond measure, v. a. to pass over ; omit ; cross, traverse, go alone. — Mo rekoja afara, " I crossed the bridge." Reku (re-iku), v. a. to kill, despatch, kill (as a snare or trap). Rera ( — ara), v. n. to be proud. Rere, adv. well. adj. good, devout. Rere, adj. at a great distance. Reri (re-ori), v. n. to be past harvest time, verbal adj. having no more fruit on. Reru, adv. entirely out of sight, no more to be seen. Reti (re-eti), v. a. to hope, expect, wait for ; clean the ear with a feather or an ear-pick. Re, v. a. to shear, cut short, cut, smear. 249 2 K / J RE Ke followed hy Je, v. a. to cheat {l.\t. to cut and eat). IVIeyanmeyan, v. a. to crush to atoms. Re, v. v. to agree, be friendly, stick to. — Egiin ko ba esse re, " Thorns do not agree with the foot." Re, pers. pron. reflect, thyself. Re, v. a. io dye, steep in water, tinge. Re, jiers. jjron. his, himself. Re, v. n. to feel fatigued, be tired, weary ; cast leaves (as trees in autumn); hush, comfort; fade, wither; in- crease, multiply ; be deeply red. Regge (re-egge), v. n. to set a snare for ; watch for, wait for an opportunity ; find fault. Relle (re-ille), v. a. to go down, humble oneself, make oneself low. Rerin (rin-erin), v. n. to laugh. Rerin-wesi, v. n. to smile. Rere, adv. very [qualify'mg verbs of pursuing or motion towards). — Nw9n le mi rere, "They are pursuing me. Rere-Oju, s. eye-servant, eye-service. — Rere oju, oju li afeni suti lehin, " An eye-servant promises friend- ship ; but he despises you behind your back." Reyin (re-oyin), v. n. to take honey from a hive. Ri, v. a. and n. to sink, drown, immerse ; prepare the woof for the loom by insertion in the sley. Ri, V. a. to see, find, discover, v. n. to be, seem, appear; be defiled, Ri, adv. never, at no time. — Nwon mu esin na wa, irii eyi ti ako ri ri, " They brought the horse ; the like was never seen." Wi followed hy Sa, v. a. to shun, avoid, run from. RiDi (ri-idi), v. a. to ascertain, see the end. Ri-GB^ V. a. to receive, obtain. RiKisl, 5. conspiracy, plot. — Nw9n di rikisi si mi, "They plotted against me." RiN, V. n. to laugh. 250 RIN RiN, V. n. to be damp, or soaked ; press down to the ground. RiN, V. a. and n. to tickle ; sail ; walk, go, move, pro- gress. — Bi ati rin li ako 'ni, " As one is walking so he is met." RiND9 (rin-eddo), v.n. to have a sensitive stomach sub- ject to nausea. RiNRiN, adv. very (quaJifying v. Wuwo, to be heavy). — Okuta na wuwo rinrin, " The stone is very heavy." RiRAN (ri-iran), t\ n. to see, see a wonderful sight. RiRi, adv. exceedingly {ciualifying v. Wa, to tremble). — Nigbati mo gbo orp na, mo vva riri, " When I heard the word I trembled greatly." RiRi, adv. somewhat tremulously {qualifying v. WX, to shake). — Otutu mu ommode na o nwa riri, " The child is cold, he shivers a little." RiRi, s. the act of seeing. — Ni ti riri mo ti ri i, " Seeing, I have seen it." RiRO, Iro, s. the act of rushing. RiRO, Iro, s. the act of manufacturing iron. RiRU, Iru, s. the act of issuing forth from a dry spring ; issue of smoke from the fire kindled ; sprout of a vegetable. Riru-Omi, s. swell of the waves. — Riru omi ndide fuke- fuke, " The waves are rising very high." Rd, V. a. to tell, relate ; conceive, imagine, meditate, think deeply ; stir up ; plague, trouble. Ro, V. a. to sound ; place in an erect position ; excite, render stimulant. Ro, V. a. to cultivate, till ; v. n. to drip. * Ro, r. a. to cause acute pain (as a sore or wound), to give constant pain. RoGUN, V. n. to drain into a pond or pit, collect by dis- tillation. RoHiN, (ro-ihin), v. n. to tell news Ro and Loju, v. a, to appear difficult. 251 ROJ Roju (ro-oju), V. n. to look sad, or displeased. RoKi-ROKi, adv. biilliantly {qualifying verbal adj. Pon, red). — Aso na pon rokiroki, " The cloth is beauti- fully red." RoLLE (ro-ille), v. n. to succeed to the deceased head of a family; to inherit property (especially houses). RoNA (ro-onna), v. a. to stop or block up the road ; clear the road. RoNo (ro-ino), v. n. to stir the mind, think, meditate ; be sorrv. RoNo-RONO, s. a thinker. RoN9-pi:\VADA, V. n. to change one's conduct, opinion, or behaviour, after consideration, repent. RoRo, adj. austere, severe, harsh, fierce. RoRO, adv. beautifully {qualifying verhal adj Pon, red). RoRo, adv. very beautifully {qualifying Pon). RoRE, s. pustule, pimple appearing on the face. Ro, -y. w. to gush, give way. v. a. push, push forcibly, break or bend at the edge, pervert, turn aside ; to collect a confused mass of things ; translate, explain. Ro, V. n. to wither (as the hand or a limb), be scorched or blighted (as green leaves), v. a. weaken, slacken, cool the ardour. Ro, V. a. to urge, constrain, press upon; v.n. to ease, give time, hang upon, suspend ; feel easy, be com- fortable, be soft ; rain. RpBi, (ro-ibi), v. n. to travail, be in the pains of child-birth. Ro-BERE, V. a. to expound by a lengthened narrative. RoGUN, V. a. to lay wait for, set a watch for ; produce seed (as yams). Rojo, V. n. to rain, pour down rain. Rojo, V. n. to wither (as a green herb). Roju, v.n. to persevere, be patient. Roju, adj. tame, mild, soft. RoKiN, V. n. to relate traditions, tell old stories, RoKON, V. n. to rebel. 252 ROL R9LLE, V. n. to be quiet, cease, be still, be tranquil. RoMo, V. n. to hang or lean upon. Ron, v. n. to be ill. Ron, v. a. to dip the sop in sauce, touch. Ron, Run, v. a. to masticate, chew. RoNDONRONDON, adj. pale. RoNGAN, i;. ??. to be barren (commonly considered the result of disease). RoNGBON, s. beard, whiskers. RoNo (ro-ino), v. n. to be abstemious. Ropo (r9-ipo), v. n. to take the room of another, supply the place of an absent person. RoRA ( — ara), v. n. to take care of, deal gently. RoRo, 5. ram's mane. RoGBAKA ( — ogba-ka), v. a. to surround, encircle, encom- pass. RoGBOKu, V. n. to lean with the elbow, recline. Ru, V. a. to bear, carry, sustain, support ; be poor or meagre, lose flesh, grow lean. Ru, V. n. to spring (as a fountain), sprout (as a vegeta- ble) ; flourish ; stir up, mingle. Ru, V. n. to rise, swell, boil over ; break out, be exposed ; be moved with grief. RuBUTu (Haussa), s. w-riting, RuBO (ru-ebo), v.n. to make sacrifice. Run, v. 71. to break in pieces, or chips ; masticate. — O run wommom, "It breaks in pieces." Run, v. a. to consume, extirpate, destroy, annihilate. Run, v. n. to be straight, or direct. Run, v. a. to chew a stick, v. n. to send forth a savour, stink. Runle (run-ille), v. a. to break into a house by under- mining the ground. RuDu-RUDU, adj. disordered, in great confusion. RuFiN (ru-ofin), v. n. to transgress, break the law. RuGupu, adj. small, short. RuKE-RUDo, .9. tumult, uproar, confusion. 253 RUL RuLLu-uuLLU, s. seditious person, one who disturbs the town. RuRU, adv. confusedly. RuwE (ru-ewe), v. n. to shoot forth leaves. S. Sa, s. time. Sa, v. a. to expose in the sun to dry. Sa, v. n. to flee, run. ^A followed bj/ Di, v.n. to seek protection. Sa, adv. (a particle prefixed to verbs to call immediate attention), now, see now. — Sa gbo bi mo ti wi, " Now hear what I say." Sa, coitj. for. — Yio sa se, " For it shall come to pass." Sa, v. a. to make, aim at, point, apply medicine. Sa, adv. awhile, for a time. Sa foUoived bj/ Lami (ni-ami), v. a. to make a mark or make a sign upon. LojA, V. a. to slip from memory ; forget. Pamo, v. n. to hide, conceal oneself. Sabba (siin-abba), v. n. to incubate, set on eggs ; hide away. Sa-di, v. n. to take refuge under the protection of another. Sagadagba (so-agada-gba), v. n. to become a pitched battle. Sagati ( — 'aga-ti), v. a. to encamp against. Sagun (sa-ogun), v. n. to make charms or greegrees. Sakani, s. neighbourhood. Sakasaka, s. hay, groundnut leaves dried, provender. Sakusa, s. black, long-tailed bird, said to be one of the morning songsters. Sa-kuro, v. a. to abandon, forsake, run away from. Salo, v. 11. to run away. Salaiia, Salala, y. a kind of napkin used by men. See Ibante. SAL Salubatta, s. sandals. Samisi, v. a. to put a mark on, distinguish. San, v. a. to gird, tie round ; split, crack, v. n. thunder. San, adv. aloud, straightforward, directly, vividly. — Ma- namana ko san, " It lightens vividly." San, adj. better. /^AN, V. a. to pay, reward, benefit. — Olori li ori isan ki ^ isan akan loke ode, " (The good genius of the) head prospers the owner of the head, and not the crab on the bank of the river." A fortunate spirit is sup- posed to reside in each man's brain : — The crab is used to represent one who has no connection with or claim on another. The proverb therefore signi- fies that each man has an exclusive right to the pro- ducts of his own forethought and industry. San followed hy Telle, v. n. to advance money, pay beforehand. Sandie, Sanju, adj. a little better. Sanra (san-ara), v. a. to be healthy or well looking. Sansan, adv. in small slips {quaUfying v. Be, to split). Sanyan, s. raw silk, coarse woven silk, silk cloth. Sa-pa-mo, v. n. to hide, abscond. SapaUa, Sapadi, v. n. to be barren (applied only to land). Sapere, v. n. to make a sign, give direction, token, or mark, make a figure. Saraha, s. alms, charitable gift. (As used by the Ma- hommedans these gifts are very much akin to actual ^' sacrifice. Ore-anu, meaning unequivocally "alms," has been therefore employed in translation). — Saraha babba ebo, " Saraha is the father of sacrifice." Sare, Sure (sa-ire), v.n. to run. Sare, s. square inclosed by buildings. Sarepegbe, s. the messenger of a company. Sari, s. the early meal of the Mahommedans before day- break during their fast-days. — Babba dide ki o mii s^ri je, " Father, rise, that you may eat sari." 255" SAT Sata, Kusata, s. lioiisehold, group of buildings under the inspection of a headman. ^Sase (se-ase), v. n. to make a feast. Sawo-o, int. behold ! lo ! Sagbaraka, v. a. to fortify with a wooden fence. Se, v. n. to be shut, close, be barren ; miss a mark or one's aim. ^E followed hy Mo, v. a, to enclose, block up. Se, v. a. to cook, dress and prepare victuals, to dye cloth or leather. Sebo (se-ibo), v. a. to wax gross, to overpower with fat. Segiri (se-egiri), -y. n. to be chilly. Sepon, v. n. to be barren or unfruitful. Sese, s. a kind of bean. Si, 'G. n. to be, exist. — lya ko si mo, babba ko si mo ta ni yio se itoju mi, " (My) mother is no more ; (my) father is no more ; who shall take care of me ?" Si, prep, against, to, at, into, used always with a verb of motion towards. — Emi nlo si ille wa, " I am going to our house." — Ogun taiTa si wa, ^' The enemy shot arrows against us." Si, Sin, co}ij. and, also, likewise. Sii, adv. awhile, for some time. — O pe sii, " He stopt awhile." SiAN, Stox, Suwa, adj. good, fair, pleasant, well. SiBE (si-ibe), adv. still, yet. SiHA, prep, toward, on the side of Sille (si-ille), ad>'. down to the ground. SiKsiK, s. hiccough. Si MI, V. n. to rest, pause ; hush, interj. hush ! Srx, adv. before, first in point of time. — O tete de sin mi, " He came before me." Six, V. a. to string, fill on a string as beads or cowries. V. n. to sneeze. SiN, V. a. to accompany, lead on the way ; demand debt due ; lord over, domineer ; serve a superior, worship, 256 SIN adore ; cease, prevent from doing ; keep domestic animals, raise cattle. Sin followed hy Je, x>. a. to imitate, mock. SiNHU, SiNwiN, V. 71. to be silly, be deranged. SiNiKA, s. a white metal sold on the coast. SiNisiNi (sin-enia), s. tyrant, lord. SiNO,p'ej?. into, among. SiN-siN, adv. closely {([ualifi/ing v. pamo, to hide, conceal.) SiPA (si-ipa), 2)rep. in the track of. SisiN, s. that which is to be served, worshipped, or taken care of. Siso, s. that which is to be thrown, cast away; word to be spoken. SiWAJu (si-iwaju), adv. more, forward. — Siwa sehin, "Forwards and backwards." So, V. a. to tie, hang, suspend, v. n. to bear fruit. Sofollovjed hy Mo, v. a. to tie or hang upon. So, V. n. to break wind. SoBiA, s. the guinea worm, which causes a painful swell- ing. SoFiN (so-ofin), V. a. to prohibit. Soke (si-oke), adv. to the top, on top. SoPANFA (so-ipanpa), s. to agree mutually in valuing goods for the market. So-Ro, V. 71. to hang so as to swing, suspend. Se, v. a. to strain ; deny, negative. Se, (adv. denoting earnestness in putting one's resolution to practice), now, at any rate, at any hazard, surely, now, indeed, truly. Se, v. 71. to drop like dew ; put a question to a stranger, make inquiry ; quake as the earth. So, V. n. to speak, talk, tell, pronounce ; shoot out of the stem, join, mend, patch. So follotved by Asodon, v. a. to exaggerate. AwiYE, V. a. to prove, make certain. Di, V. a. to turn to, reduce to. 257 2 L so So followed hy Daiioro (di-ahoro), v. a. to desolate, turn to ruins. Dassan ( — assan), v. a. to annihilate. Di-RANiiuN-RANiiuN, V. a. to pcrplex. No, V. a. to lose, throw away. LiLi orDm'i, t;. 7^. toplay a game. LoFiN (ni-ofin), v. a. to charge, com- mand, prohibit. Lojo (ni-ojo) V. a. to lodge, assign to a place. Telle (te-ille),v. a. to foretell, prognos- ticate. So, V. n. to descend ; put a load down from the head. » /So, v.a, to heave, throw, cast at, turn, make to come. — Ohun ti aso siwaju li aba, ohun ti asi gbln, li awa ; nigbati ako so siwaju, ti ako gbin sille ki li abba, " A thing thrown forward will surely be overtaken, a thing planted in the ground will be there to be dug up ; but if nothing has been thrown forward, what shall be overtaken ? and if nothing has been planted, what shall be dug up ?" So, V. n. to quarrel, scold, complain. SoDi (so-idi), V. a. to explain, prove, declare. S9FFA, V. n. to pawn, pledge. SoLLE (so-ille), v.a. to place or lay the foundation. SoMiDOLOTTO, s. the solitary yellow monkey (also called Oloyo). Son, v.a. to broil by placing immediately on the fire. Son, v. a. to shove, move. SoNMO, V. n. to move close to. Son, v. a. to accuse, sue ; aim at. SoNAsr, SuNAsi (s9n-ina-si), s. irritation, excitement. — Nwon nse sonasi si mi, ^' They are rousing an excite- ment against me," S9NIDI (so-enia-di), v. n. to make or constitute. SoNo, V. n. to lose, be lost. 258 SON SoNKi, SuNKi, v.a.to shrink, contract, shrivel, shun. SoKALLE, V. n. to descend, come down, go down, disem- y bark. Y SoKUN, SoNKUN, V. 71. to cry, weep, bewail. — Elekun sonkun o ba ti re lo arokan iba sokun ko dake, " A weeper (who comes to condole with her friend) weeps and goes her way ; but one who dwells on painful recollections weeps and never ceases." SoRO, V. n. to hold conversation, talk, speak. S9R0-JEJE (so-oro), V. 71. to whisper. S9ROLEHIN (so-oro-ni-ehin), v. a. to backbite, calumniate in one's absence. SoRo-WEREWERE, V. «. to chatter, talk without much mean- ing. SoTELLE (so-te-ille), v. a. to tell beforehand, foretell, prophesy. Su, V. a. to sow, retail oil or liquor ; take a thing out of the socket, stand, or handle ; tire, weary ; walk lame from pain of the foot; sow, gild. — Nwon fi omi wura su u, " It is gilded, {lit. washed with gold water)." Su, v.n. to break forth (as any eruption on the skin), to appear in numbers on the surface. Su, V. n. to fail of making an impression from the blunt edge of the instrument ; fail in cutting or wound- ing. Sua, adj. universal, extensive, comprehending a very wide range. SuB9, V. a. to gild ; overlay with a thin coat of gold or silver. SuFE (su-ofe), V. a. to whistle. Sun, v. n. to sleep ; congeal as oil. Sun, Son, v. a. to sue, accuse, complain of. Sun, adv. strangely, with surprise {qualifying v. Wo, to v look at). — Aditi wo 'ni li ennu sun, " The deaf look with surprise at the mouth (of the speaker)." 259 SUN SuNMO, SoNMO, V. a. to approach, draw near. — Nigbati mo sonm9 ille sa, awa pade, " When we drew near to the house we met (one another)." SuNYE, V. n. to doze, take a short nap. Sure, Sare (sa-ire), v. n. to run, make haste. Sure (so-ire), v. a. to wish a blessing upon. SuRU, Suuru, s. patience, perseverance under vexation. SuwoN, SuwA (san-iwa), adj. good, well, nice. SuTi, s. a contemptuous pouting of the lips. s. Sa, v. a. to cut, wound, snap (a gun). Sa, v. n. to fade (as the colour of cloth). Sa, v. a. to pick up one by one, choose. Sa, adv. in any wise, at any rate, only, merely, but. — Babba ni ki ase e sa bi o ti wu ki ori, " My father said we must do it at any rate." Saffa-pupa, s. the red wattle tree ; the colour yellow. Saffa, s. iron ring worn on the wrist by hunters. — Saffa ni ike ode, " The saffa is a hunter's ring." Safin or Saba, s. chain worn on the wrist by hunters. Safojudi, v. n. to be saucy, insolent, impudent. Safowora (se-fi-owo-ra), v.a.io steal, pilfer. Sagalamasa ( — agala-mo-asa), v. n. to play tricks, be guilty of double dealing. Sagbe, (se-agbe), v. a. to beg, borrow. Sagbe-sagbe, s. a beggar, borrower. Saho ( — aho), V. n. to despise, contemn. Sajo ( — ajo), v. n. to be anxious. Saju ( — iwaju), v.a. to go before, precede. Sa-jo, ^AfoUoived hy Jo, v. a. to gather together. Sai ! interj. (a word of defiance). Saka, Sasa, adv. clearly, entirely, thoroughly. — Ara mi da saka, "I am clear (of any harm or blame)." Saka, s. name of a kind of trousers. V Sakata, s. fen, bog, morass, miry ground. — Sakata ni ida 260 SAK « won won ni Bese, " The morass is an obstruction to the people of the town of Bese." Saki, v. n. to miss fire, fail, fail in cutting or wounding. Sakisaki, adv. roughly, unevenly, in a confused manner, badly. — Nwon sa a li ogbe sakisaki, " They wounded him very badly." Sakoko, v.n.to chance,happen seasonably,or in good time. Sakoso (se-ako-so), v. n. to have a hold of, have the reins, govern. Salabapade (se-enni-ba-pade), v.n. to chance, as above. Saluga, s. title of Aje, the god of money. San, v. a. to eat without sauce; daub, plaster; strike violently against any thing hard, cut down bushes. San, v. n. to flow or run (as a brook or river) ; be loose, not tight, compact or consistent. San, adv. glisteringly, twinklingly {qualifymg v. tan). — Iraw9 ntan san loju orun, " The stars twinkle in the sky." Sana (sa-ina), v. n. to produce fire by striking flint and steel. San-san-san, adv. twinkling twinkling. San or Sansan, adv. uprightly. — lUe na naro san, " The house stands upright." — Omu ara re duro sansan, "He stands straight upright." Sanfani (se-anfani), v. n. to be advantageous, be pro- fitable. Sango, s. the god of thunder and lightning. Saniyan (se-aniyan), v. n. to be anxious for others. Sanku (san-iku), v. n. to die in the prime of life or pre- maturely. Sankuta (san-okuta), v. n. to dash against a stone. Sanle (san-ille), v. a. to dash on the ground. Sanse, v. n. to strike one foot against another in walkino-. Sanu (se-anu), v. a. to pity, be sorry for ; be liberal. Sanwo (san-owo), v. n. to go empty-handed, swing the hand much in walking. 261 SAN Sangbo ( — igbo), V. n. to cut a forest for cultivation. Sanpanna, 5. cow-pox, small-pox. Sapo, s. name of a tree used for making quivers. Sape (sa-ape) v. a. to clap hands. Sapere (se-apere), v. a. to give direction, token, or sign. Sapa-sapa, adv. not decently or neatly, roughly, abruptly. Sapejure (se-p^-jure), v. n. to give a direction. Saran (se-aran), v. n. to speak unconnectedly (as an aged person from weakness of memory or loss of mental powers). Saroye (se-ro-ye), v. n. to dispute, quarrel, talk much, complain, argue, reason. Sare (se-are), v. n. to be older than. Sata, Sata, 5. mud, mire, morass. Satipo (se-atipo), v. n. to remove from one country to another, sojourn. Sawada (— awada), v. n. to jest. Sawo ( — awo), V. n. to.make a secret bargain, conspire, plot. Saworo, s. small brass bells with narrow openings. Sawotan (se-wo-tan), v. a. to heal, cure. Sasa, s. scars made by the small-pox. — Sasa se mi li oju, " I am pitted on the face with the small pox." SXsA, adv. only a few, here and there, scantily. Sasa, s. worn-out palm-broom, broom. Sasabaku, s. coffee plant. Se, v. a. to do, act, cause, make, execute, manage. Se, v.n. to give way. — Se fun mi, " Give me way." Se, v. n. to be, answer to. — Temi ni ise, " It is mine." ^E followed by Iregun, v. n. to reprove an ungrateful person by reminding him of kindness done to him. Afojudi, v. a. to insult, affront, be saucy to. Lalejo, v. a. to entertain strangers. Lewa (ni-ewa), v. a. to adorn, beautify, decorate. 262 SE ^Y. followed by Loso (ni-oso), v. a, to adorn, furnish. NiBUBURU, v.a.io injure, hurt, evil en- treat. RuBUTU, v.n. to write. SuNASi, V. n. to provoke, urge to provo- cation, excite to anger. Tamahan, V, n. to think, consider. Sebaibai, v.n. to grow dim, be dim. Sebe, s. a black snake which emits saliva. Sebi, v. n. to suppose. Sefefe, v. n. to brag, boast. Se-gafara, v. a. to excuse, have respect for. Segbe (se-egbe), v.n. to be lost, perish, Segbedegbeyo ( — gbo-ede-gbo-eyo), v. n. to act the part of an interpreter, interpret. Se-Irona, v. n. to go in search of. Seke (se-eke), v. n. to tell a lie. Sent ( — enia), v. n. to trouble or annoy. Seni ( — eni), v. n. to give something over the purchase- money. Senewo (se-na-owo), s. name of a bird (also called Kakawo). Seriju ( — ri-oju), v. n. to serve as steward or trust- worthy servant. Se-pansaga, v. a. to prostitute. Se-pasi-paro, v. n. to barter, make exchange. Sepe (se-epe), v. n. to swear, take oath. Sepe, aux. V. had it been. — Iba sepe behe li o ri, " Had it been so." Sesin (se-esin), v. n. to ridicule, mock. Se-tan, v. n. to be ready, be completed. Setan, adv. after all. Seun (se-ohun), v. n. to be kind, be benevolent. Se, v. n. to be fulfilled, come to pass ; happen. Se, v. a. to break a stick; break, conquer, subdue. ^'k followed hy Keke, v, a. to reckon, number. 263 SE ^E followed bi/ Loju, Lekanna, v. a. to wink at by way of hint, hint, beckon. NiFON, V. a. to suit, rub, scratch the body of another to indulge him in pleasure. NisE, r. a. to punish. Se, v. a. to commence, begin ; sin, ofTend, commit a trespass, transgress. Se, adv. greatly, very much {qualifying v. Yo, to rejoice). — Gbogbo wa nyo se, " We all greatly rejoice." Sebo, Sebbo (se-ebo), v. a. to sacrifice, propitiate. Sedda, s. silk. Sedda- YoRiYORi, s. white silk. Sedda-Elefin (ni-efin), s. purple-shaded silk. Seffe (se-eire), v. n. to jest, joke. Segge, s. high grass bending over the road towards the . dry season. — Segge ko mo enni obba, ojo ko mo enni owo, " As the grass segge does not regard the king's messenger, so the rain does not respect great men." Segun (se-ogun), v. a. (lit. to break war), to overcome, have the victory. Seive (se-eiye), v. n. to rebel against, revolt from. Seju (se-oju), V. n. to wink the eye. Se-keke, v. a. to give account, reckon by tickets ; cast lots. Seke-seke, s. fetters. Sekere, s. calabash covered with cowries plaited in net- work, and used as a drum. Sekete, s. beer made from Indian corn. Sembe, adv. (characterising a blaze of light). See Imun- MUNA. Seno, v. n. to miscarry. Senifinran, Etutupuye, s. a thorny shrub. Seri (se-ori), v. n. to divert the course, take another direction. 264 SE • • Se-Orun, s. the setting of the sun when it appears as a globe. Sepolohun (se-pa-oni-ohun), s. name of a prickly shrub or tree. Sete ( — otte), V. n. to subdue, conquer. SI, V. a. to miss, mistake, fail. S\ followed by Fisi, v. a. to misplace. No, v. a. to rinse, cleanse. Si, Sin, v. a. to open, expose to sight ; remove, change place ; be guilty ; borrow, lend ; run with precipi- tation. ^i followed by l^xiYKy v. n. to discover the mind; alienate. Laje, v. a. to condemn. NivE, V. a. to remind. Se, v. a. to do wrong, misbehave. SlBI 5. spoon. SiBO, s. the pawpaw tree and fruit. SiGBo, SiGBON, SuGBON, conj. but, yet. SiGiDi, adj. moderately short and bulky. SiGiDi, SuGUDU, s. earthenware image. SiGUN (si-ogun), V. n. to set out for war. SiGUN, s. the fig-nut plant. Siji ( — iji), V. a. to shade, cast a shade, screen. SiJiBO ( — iji-bo), V. a. to overshadow. Siju ( — oju), V. n. to open the eye ; be daring. Siju-w^o, V. a. to look upon, behold. Si-KUN, V. n. to remain. SiKKo ( — okkp), V. n. to get under weigh. Sillekun ( — illekun), v. n. to open a door, grant admit- tance. SiMORAN (se-mo-9ran), v. a. to consider ; counsel. SFn, adv. very firmly, piercingly. — Egun gun mi li esse sin, " The thorn pierced my foot very deeply." Sin, Sinsin, adv. upright, firmly, steadily, fast, stead- fastly. 265 2 m SIN SiNiKA, s. pewter ; composition of silver. SiNsiN-OBBE, s. sweetmeat ; palaver sauce. SixA, V. n. to err, miss the road, stray. Sio ! intoj. (a word expressing contempt). SiPAVA, v.n. to lay open, expose to view SiPE (se-"ipe), v. n. to beg pardon for. Sire( — ire) v.n. to play. SiREGUN ( — iregun), v. n. to rebuke or remind an un- grateful person of kindness done. SiRO ( — iro), V. a. to reckon, calculate. SiRO, s. name of a bird. SiRi, -s. a single stock of guinea corn or rice with the grain in the ear. SissE (si-esse), v. n. to move the foot ; make haste, or speed. SisE, v.n. to mistake ; act wrongly; do amiss. SisE (se-ise), v. n. to work, labour. SisESiSE, s. workman, labourer. SiSEPA, V. n. to labour, do hard work. SisE (se-ise), v. w. to suffer trouble, labour under some difficulty. SisiNiGUN, s. a bird. SisoRO, adj. difficult. Sisu, s. the act of being darkened. SiwERE (se-were), v.n. to be silly, be a fool. Si wo ! intcrj. (an expression of defiance). SiYEMEJi (si-iye-meji), v. n. to doubt, hesitate ; (lit to make two minds). — O nsiyemeji, " You are doubting." So, V. a. to be rough, passionate, peevish, sour. So, V. a. to be slackened, or loosened. So, adv. just a touch, a mere touch {qualifying verbs of touching, or dipping). — O fi bo o so, " He just dipped it." So, V. n. to look stern, surly, or harsh, SoFO (se-ofo), V. n. to suffer loss of property. SoFOFO ( — fo), V. n. to reveal secrets, tell tales. 266 SOG SoGO (se-ogo), V. n. to perform worthy actions ; glory. SojoRO, V. n. to cheat in play. SojuKOKORo ( — oju-kokoro), v. n. to covet, be covetous. SoKOTo, s. trousers. S6koto,K6to,«^'. very narrow, confined space or room, as a room. — Ille sokoto, or Ille koto kiki ekan,"A small confined room, consisting of (almost) nothing but pins ;" (a riddle, meaning the mouth with its many teeth). Solo, s. small brook or spring. SoLORi (se-olori), v. a. to command, head. SoNO (so-ino), V. n. to be froward, surly, cross, passionate, peevish. SoNso, s, a point ; the highest point or tip of any thing. Sore (se-ore), v. n. to do good, act kindly. SoRO, verbal adj. hard, difficult. SoRO ( — oro), v. n. to be furious, be severe, act from indignation or irritation. Soso, adj. only, single, — On nikan soso li o mbe ni ille, " He is the only one in the house." Sowo ( — owo;, V. n. to trade. So, V. a. to guard, watch. SoFFO ( — ofr9), V. n. to mourn for the dead. SoFFON-DiN, s. name of an herb used for sauce. SoHOMBiA, SoROMBiA, s. pair of boots. SoKAN ( — okan), v. n. to be one, unite, agree. Son, v. a. to take by small quantities, little at a time. Son, adv. precipitately, with a plunge {qualifying v. Wo, to enter). — O wo ino re son, " It plunged into it alto- gether." Son, adv. coolly, calmly. — O wo mi son, " He looks upon me calmly." S9RE ( — ore), V. n. to associate, be friends. Soso ( — oso), V. n. to adorn oneself. SoTTE ( — 9tte), V. n. to rebel, revolt. Sowo, V. a. to hand over ; send over. SowoN, V. n. to be rare, scarce, dear. *267 su Su, V. n. to make into balls, knead. Su, V. n. to gather together in a great multitude (as locusts or grasshoppers). Su, V. n. to gather blackness as rainy clouds, darken. Su, V. a. to speak, hold a speech ; intrust. Su, v.n. to evacuate, throw out. Svfol/oivedbi/ Lohun (ni-ohun), v. a. to censure severely, vituperate. Si, D. rt. to answer ; be concerned about, notice. Su-Bo, V. a. to come upon in a crowd. SuBu (se-ibu), v. n. to fall down. SuGBON, co})j. but, yet. SuGUDU, SiGiDi, s. image for worship made of clay. Su-jo, V. n. to come together in a dense crowd. SuKU, s. a kind of basket. SuKURA, s. a name of the partridge. {See Aparo.) Su-MO, V. a. to come upon in a crowd. SuNo (su-ino), v.a. to be suffering from diarrhoea. Supo ( — ipo), V. n. to marry a widow. SuRi^, adj. small (applied to heaps). — Ebe suru, " A small hillock." Sltru, adj. large (applied to the tail of a peacock, cock, turkey, or a bunch of any thing). Susu, adv. to a great degree, greatly, utterly, {qualifying V. Run, to destroy), — Ino ru mi susu, " My passion was greatly excited." — Nwon run illu nasusu, "They utterly destroyed the town." T. T \, inter. jpr on. W hot — Ta ni nse behe ? "Who is doing so?" Ta, v. a. to kick ; burn smartly (as pepper) ; shoot at ; sting ; open a boil ; spill, shed ; shine upon. T x followed by Ire, v. a. to imprecate evil upon. Laiya (ni-aiya), v. a. to strike the breast, oppose, be contrary to. — Afefe ta okko 268 TA laiya, " The wind was contrary to the ship." li A followed hy Ore, v. a. to give a present. Ta, v. n. to produce (as yams or any vegetable from the root) ; sound aloud (as a cry) ; shoot out length- wise; pass from one place to another. — Ta atare atayo, " He is always roving here and there," — Igbe ta, " A cry was raised." Ta, v. a. to sell, expose for sale ; fine. Tabba, s. tobacco. Tabbi, conj, neitlier, nor, or, whether. — Tabbi iwo ko ngb9 ? " Do you not hear ?" (an expression used in conversation to call attention.) TabbI ! i7iterj. what else ? what more ? indeed ! Tabili, s. {Eng.) table. Tafa (ta-ofFa), v. a. to shoot arrows. Tafa-tafa, 5. archer, bowman. Tagbokun (ta-igba-okun), v. n. to spread or make sail. Tagbongbon, v. n. to stagger. Taitai, Tai, «Ji;. indifferently, insolently, with no earnest- ness. Taje (ta-ejje), v.n. to shed blood. Ta-ji, v. n. to awake, start on a sudden from sleep; awake suddenly (as from dozing). Taju ( — oju), V. n. to be in haste, be too anxious, be in a hurry. Takarada, s. {Hanssd) book, paper. Ta-kete, v. n. to stand aloof or at a distance from. Ta-k6ko, v. a. to knot. Takun ( — okun), v. n. to suspend a rope. Takotabo (ti-ak9-ti-abo), s. a pair of animals, male and female. Talaka, s. a poor indigent person. Talla (to-alla), s. white muslin, bleached calico. Talubo, s. young unripe fruit (especially of theShea tree). Tampa, s. the side bone next the rib. 269 TAN Tan, v. a. and n. to light a lamp or torch, shine ; entice, deceive, decoy ; spread, scatter. Tan, v. n. to be done, cease, be at an end. Tan, v. n. to be related to. — Emi ko ba iwo tan, emi ko ba iwo re, " I am neither related to, nor in friend- ship with you." Tangala, s. name of a bird. Tangiri, Tagiri, s. a running plant, whose fruit is used in tanning hides.' Tani ? m^^r.p'ow. who ? whom? Tan-je, v. a. to deceive, entice. Tanju (tan-oju), v. a. to look sternly at. Tantan, adv. violently {qiiaUfying v. Na, to stretch). — Emi na esse mi tantan, '^ I stretched my legs to their full extent." Tantasi, s. yam not pulled up, but left to grow and bear in the same hole, Tapa (ta-ipa), v. a. to kick. Tape ( — ipe), v. n. to appear (as the ear of Indian corn on the stalk). Tara ( — ara), v. n. to be hasty, be too anxiously con- cerned. Tar A, s. gravel clay, used in giving solidity to mud floors. "^1 ARA, adv. straightforward. Tari (ta-ori), v. a. to push violently or headlong. Tase ( — ase), v. n. to fail, miss the mark, miss one ano- ther. Tase ( — ase), v. n. to imprecate evil upon, curse. Taso ( — aso), V. a. to arrange (the woof on pins from the reels). Tassa, s. pan, pewter plate. Tasse ( — esse), v. a. to kick, kick with the foot. Tayo, Taw^o ( — ayo), v. n. to play the game called the warry. Te, adv. on the very top {qualifying verbs signifying to 270 i^ TE put or rest upon). — Eiye ba le ori iggi t^, "The bird sits right on the top of the tree." Te, v. a. to worship, adore ; rear ; indulge, fondle, re- spect. — -'Orisa ti akeke ti ko gb'ike, orisa ti atete ti ko gbite, oju popo ni igbe, " The god who would not be pleased, when they tried to please it, the god who would not be propitiated, when they tried to propitiate it, must take up his abode in the high- way." Teatre, s. (Gi'.) theatre. Tede, s. a kind of parrot very destructive to Indian corn. . Tefe-tefe, adv. the whole, entirely. Teju, Toju (to-oju), V. a. to take care of, mind, have the oversight of. Temi (ti-emi), ^;?•o>^. of me, mine. Tete, adv. soon, quickly, first, in the first place. — Ise temi ni ki atete kose, " My w"ork is to be done first." Tete, adv. fast, with a quick pace. — Ommode nsure tete li oju opopo, " The child is running fast on the high- way." Tete, 5, leg (of a goat or other inferior animal) ; kick from such an animal : (that of a man or a horse is called Ipa). — Ewure yan mi ni tete, "A goat kicked me. Te, adj. and v. n. to come to disgrace ; be level, be flat ; be tasteless, be insipid. Te, v. a. to beat, outdo ; lay, place gently on. Te followed hy L0R9N (ni-oron), v. a. to make level ; be satisfied with, satisfy. Te v. a. to trample, tread ; bend ; castrate. Te followed hi/ Balle (ba-ille), v. a. to bend down. Id6, Tedo, v. n. to encamp ; form an establishment. Lesse (esse), v. a. to inform privately, give a hint. 271 TE T\folloived hi) Molle (mo-iile), t>. a. to trample under foot, tread upon. Na, adv. already. — Iwo te de na, " Are you come already ?" Ri, V. a. to suppress, put under, hide. Tebere, \\ a. to make level, make low. Tegun, -y.w. to set in battle array, lay wait. TEI11NB9RUN, s. name of a tree. Teiiinghesa, s. crust. Teju (te-oju), n. a. to be flat, level. Tejumo ( — mo), V. a. to fasten the eye upon, look ear- nestly, attend to. Tele, v. a. to follow. — Mase saju, sugbon tele won, " Do not go before, but follow them." Telle (te-ille), v.n. to tread on the ground ; adv. before- hand, previously. — Awa ti mo telle, pe behe ni yio ri, " We knew beforehand that so it would be." Tennumo (te-ennu-mo), v. a. to affirm. Tentere, s. name of a carnivorous bird. Tenyin (ti-enyin), poss. pron. yours. Teriba (te-ori-ba), v. n. to stoop, bow the head to the ground. Teruteru (ta-eru), s. slave-dealer, seller of slaves. Tete, s. game of chance. Tete, s. herb. Tete-Egun, s. a species of cane (used as cough-medicine). Tetere, adv. carelessly. — Aki imu ibon tetere, " A gun is not to be held carelessly." Tetu, s. executioner. TEW9GBA (te-9wo-gba), adj. acceptable, approved, re- ceived. V. a. to take in hand. Ti, V. a. to thump, strike with a heavy substance ; fade, lose colour. Ti, r el, pron. who, whom, which, the one which. — Okon- ri ti mo wi ti pada de, " The man whom I men- tioned has returned." 272 TI Ti, conj. yet. — Emi ko ti ib, " I do not go yet." Ti, V. a. to prop, support, cast, push, shine ; fasten, lock, — Ti illekiin ki o to jade, " Lock the door before you go out." — Ma se ti ommode subu, " Do not push the child down (lit. to fall)." Ti followed by Saju, v. a. to put forward, place be- fore. Ti, 'prej). against, at, to, with, by, near. — Ma se duro ti mi, " Do not stand by me." Ti, adv. not ; (denoting failure, inability). — Babba k9 ille ti, " My father is not able to finish the house, or fails in building." Ti, adv. heavily, vehemently, with great force. — Orun na bi lu mi i\, "The smell overpowers me." Ti, aux. v. have, have been. v. n. to gnaw. — Awa ti lo, " We have gone." — Eyi ti pari, " This has been ac- complished." Ti, prep, sign of the possessive case, of, belonging to. — Ille ti 'wa wo, " Our house fell." — Iwe ti emi ko 'yi, " This is not my book." T\,prep. from. — Bi iwo ti ti ibe de m, "You have just come from the place." Ti, adv. how ?— Eyi ti ri? " How is this ?" TiA, TiRA, s. Mahommedan charm ; book, letter. TiAN, TiANTiAN, adj. distant, long. — Oniye ni iranti ojo tian tian, " Long as the time is, it is within the com- pass of memory (Jit. has number in remembrance)." TiAN-TiAN, adv. abundantly, profusely, plentifully {qualifying v. fo, to fly). — Eiye fo soke tiantian, "The bird flew up to a very great height." Tiantian, s. bird so called from its cry. TiBAYi, dem. pron. the one yonder. Tiju (ti-oju), V. n. to blush, be ashamed. TiKARARE (ti-ika-ara-re), reflect, pron. thyself, belonging to thyself TiKARARE, reflect, p'on. himself, belonging to himself. 273 2 N TIK TiKO, adv. heavily, unwillingly, reluctantly. TiLLE, couj. even, though, although. — Bi awa ko tille lo ki ni yio se wa, " Though we should not go, what could he do to us?" TiM0-TiM9, adv. closely, adhesively. TiMTiM, s. pillow, cushion. TiNABo (te-ina-bo), v. a. to kindle, set on fire. Ting, Tinotino (ti-ino), adv. with the heart, from the heart, heartily, p-ep. within. Tiui, V. n. to stoop, to look downwards. Ti HI-SI, ^ro'.kkkk< >T>.>5y;'.»: ir;^>rif»r»r»' ^'•t'