Nitherian Lexicon

Total entries: 172

A

C

E

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

V

W

Y

Z

achinoun

Old Nitherian hastyis, diminutive of has “eye”

(possessed stem achish-)

1. eye

s’achishiadverb

literally “by my eye”

1. it seems to me

aonoun

Old Nitherian agosl

(possessed stem aosl-)

1. man

2. (possessed) husband

ashonoun

Old Nitherian gwaslyo

1. boat, ship

chanoverb

Old Nitherian tlyano “to be soft”

(2s chnta)

1. to be soft, tender

2. to be pliable, obedient

chn-pyaverb with directional

1. to cook (especially fish)

2. to train (a soldier)

chachnpyanoun

1. cadet, military recruit

chienoun

Old Nitherian tliges

(possessed stem chiesh-)

1. tongue

chithochonoun

Old Maritime dʒydúkʂot, literally “shard of night”, from dʒydúk “shard, fragment” + ʂot, genitive of ʂo “night”.

1. obsidian

chnchinoun

Old Nitherian kyn-tyis, diminutive of kyn “woman”

(possessed stem chnchish-)

1. woman

2. (possessed) wife

choverb

Old Nitherian tsio

(irregular, stem ch- (before vowels)/tsm- (before consonants), lenites to -z-/-zm-)

1. to sit

2. (with locative, of generic solid things) to be at

sozmslonoun

literally “they aren’t (sitting) here”

1. zero

chonoun

Old Maritime tʃuk “elected leader”

1. the Chuk, the elected leader of a Maritime State

chomoverb

Old Nitherian tsyomo “to fall”

(2s chmta)

1. to be moved, to move outside of one’s control

chm-ashonoverb with directional

(2s chm-ashnta)

1. to pass time, to waste time

chorinoun

Old Nitherian kyori “cassava”

1. root vegetable

2. cassava

enosoverb

Old Nitherian enoso

(2s enota)

1. to be dark-coloured

esenopyaslanoun

literally “water-darkener”, referring to its ink-squirting

1. (live) squid

evonoun

Old Nitherian hebo

1. forest canopy

2. overcast sky, cloud cover

ezhinoun

Old Nitherian edlis “belly”

(possessed stem ezhish-)

1. stomach

2. centre, core

iasoverb

Old Nitherian igao “to puncture”

(2s iatha)

1. to sew

ia-yawaverb with directional

literally “to sew here and there”

1. to assemble shoddily

2. to make by patchwork

ironoun

Old Nitherian yiro “change”

1. arrival

2. return

3. end, finish

   1. evening

s’iroadverb

1. (in atelic clause) anew, again

Note

The similar-looking adverb v’iro is compositional; it just means “in the evening” or “upon arrival”.

isoverb

Old Nitherian yiso

(2s ita)

1. to make

ithnnoun

Old Nitherian yisdn “piece of cloth”

1. skirt

ithn-ithnnoun

1. clothing

izlmnoun

Old Nitherian isldm “gift”

1. stroke of luck

2. opportunity

kaparticle

Old Nitherian ka “seed, corn kernel”

1. strongly negates a verb

kiraverb

Old Nitherian kirao

(a-pattern)

1. to run

kirinoun

Old Nitherian kiri “step”

1. departure

2. first step, beginning

   1. dawn, morning

kminoun

Old Nitherian kmyi

1. north

komalenoun

Old Maritime komál, genitive of Komól, the name of the island where the first deposit was discovered

1. cinnabar

kwenoun

Old Nitherian koe

1. child, youth

lanoun

Old Nitherian lwa

(pair-reduplicated (lala))

1. foot, leg

lainoun

Old Maritime laɥ, accusative plural of la “string”

1. string of 36 cowry shells

lanesentence-initial particle

Old Nitherian lwasne “against”

1. but, however

2. on the other hand, in contrast

lechen /leˈtɕen/ /ˈle.tɕen/noun

Old Maritime ɭetʃøn, accusative of ɭetʃa “silver”

1. a silver coin used by Maritimers

limesoverb

Old Nitherian limeo “to slide along”

(2s limetha)

1. to slice, to cut (something soft)

lnnoun

Old Nitherian ln

1. time, instance

va lnadverb

1. (in telic clause) again

loverb

Old Nitherian lyoo “to bend over”

(irregular)

1. to be sad, to weep

2. to hunch over, to stoop

3. (with locative, of bent, broken, or ruined things) to be at

4. (of the sky) to rain

lozhwenoun

Old Maritime ɭudʒwø, plural of ɭudʒu “squid”

1. squid meat

-mErinoun>noun suffix

Old Nitherian -mari, from mari “seedling”

1. new

methalenoun

Old Maritime medáɻe, accusative of medáɹ “gold”

1. a gold coin used by Maritimers

2. gold (as a store of value)

3. money, wealth

misosoverb

Old Nitherian misoo “to rise”

(prefixed stem -meso)

1. to choose

2. to point out

miso-ashonoverb

literally “choose around”

1. to choose as a group, to elect

mopreposition

Old Nitherian homo “to be at”

(3rd person only, 3p mslo)

1. at (a place)

monoun

Old Nitherian mo

1. cloud

mthaslonumeral

Old Nitherian mimdaslo

1. seven

mvnslonumeral

Old Nitherian mimbynslo, related to byn “three”

1. eight

mwalenoun

Old Maritime mawáɭe, accusative of mawál “wind”

1. (nautical) wind used to power a ship

2. sea breeze

3. motivation, drive

mwalevo /mwaˈle.vo/ /ˈmwa.le.vo/noun

literally “true wind”, from mwale + -po “correct, true”

1. fair wind

2. (nautical, business) good fortune

mwesoverb

Old Nitherian hmweso

(2s mwetha)

1. to be cold

mwonoun

Old Nitherian gmwo

1. mango

2. (possessed) woman’s breast

oslaslo va mwonoun

1. mango juice

2. breastmilk

myonoun

Old Nitherian myo

1. something, someone

2. (in questions) what, who

myonnoun

Old Nitherian myohn

1. everything, everyone

myoverb

Old Nitherian mio

(stem mi-, 1s mi, 2s mitha, 2p mwa)

1. to go, to move

mi-lyoverb with directional

1. to go (away), to leave

my-asoverb with directional

1. to come

-nnoun>noun suffix

Old Nitherian -hn

(-an after another syllabic nasal)

1. forms collective nouns

Note

This suffix consists of a single syllabic /n̩/ phoneme. Usually this is simply pronounced as a coda /n/, resulting in the stress shifting to the last phonetic syllable. Nouns with this suffix take plural agreements.

nithenoun

Old Nitherian nide

1. person

nolenoun

Old Maritime ŋule, locative of ŋu, literally “nose”

1. bow (of a ship)

noyesoverb (ineffective type)

Old Nitherian noyeso “to reach”

(2s noyetha, prefixed -naye-)

1. (of plants) to grow

2. to try, to attempt

3. to improve (at a skill)

noyekesoverb with intensive

1. to try one’s best

2. to struggle, to strive

3. to compete

nwenoun

Old Nitherian gnwes

(possessed stem nwes-, incorporated -inwe)

1. nose

-nyEnyEnoun>noun suffix

Old Nitherian -nyonyo, from hnyo “dye”

(-nini after an I-stem)

1. colourful

2. decorative

nyesoverb

Old Nitherian nyeso “to entangle”

(2s nyetha)

1. to like romantically

2. to court, to woo

nyoshinoun

Old Nitherian hnyosi, diminutive of hnyo “dye”

1. dye, pigment

2. colour

-okenoun>noun suffix

from -o-kwe, from kwe “child”

1. (of a person) young

opanoun

Old Nitherian opwa

1. banana

oslanoun

Old Nitherian oslas

(possessed stem oslasl-, incorporated -sla)

1. water

2. (possessed by a fruit) juice

owenoverb

Old Nitherian woweno “to grasp”

(2s ownta)

1. to pick up, to take

own-lyoverb with directional

1. to take away, to steal

2. to pick (fruit)

own-levoyovasoverb with directional, incorporated noun, and applicative

literally “pick fruit from”

1. to take advantage of (a situation)

oyanumeral

Old Nitherian hwoyao, literally “it is complete”, referring to the fully-counted hand

1. five

ozlesloverb

Old Nitherian hwodleo

1. to blow, to propel by blowing

pamopreposition

Old Nitherian pamo “to give”

(2s pmta)

1. to, for, for the benefit of

2. in exchange for

pinnoun

Old Maritime bin, literally “tree”

1. mast

pinoverb

Old Nitherian pino

(2s pnta)

1. to stand

2. (with locative, of tall, upright things) to be at

pn-pasoverb with applicative

(2s pn-pata)

1. to be with (someone), to meet (someone)

-ponoun>noun suffix

Old Nitherian -pyo, from pyono “to aim”

1. true, correct, straight

2. favourable, fortunate

-poslonoun>noun suffix

Old Nitherian -poslo, from pwaslro “to be rotten”

1. rotten, spoiled

2. bad-tasting

3. bland, lacking enough spice

4. (of a person) spineless, meek

rimoverb

Old Nitherian rimo

(2s rmta)

1. to lie

2. (with locative, of flat things) to be at

saparticle

Old Nitherian so

(contracts to s’ if the following word starts with a vowel or glide)

1. forms manner adverbials

2. characterized by, having

-saladerivation II verb affix

Old Nitherian -salwa, from -san-lwa, literally “with the feet”; the implication is that the person is so good at a delicate task that they could even do it with their feet.

1. well, skilfully

sanyoverb

Old Nitherian swaneo

(irregular, stem sa-, intensive sake-)

1. to hang

2. (with locative, of hanging and floating things) to be at

sechasoverb (give type)

Old Nitherian swekyawo “to haggle”, from swegeo “to shout” + -yawo “here and there”

1. (intransitive) to buy

2. (transitive) to sell

   • Mosechashi yo opa

     = I bought bananas; he/she sold me bananas

sesechanoun

1. merchant, trader

seyoverb (ineffective type)

Old Nitherian swegeo “to shout”

(stem see-, irregular)

1. to say

2. to claim, to assert

see-lyoverb with directional

literally “say away”

1. to reject (a claim, idea, or object)

2. to dismiss (a concern)

shenoun

Old Nitherian sye

1. stone

shinoverb

Old Nitherian slino

(2s slnta)

1. to walk

shinyenoun

Old Nitherian sinye

1. wedding, marriage

shonoun

Old Nitherian syo “moment”

1. time, instance

2. when

shonoun

Old Nitherian syo

1. wind

Note

Wind as propulsion for a ship is mwale. At sea, sho refers to the wind as experienced by people on the deck.

slezlenumeral

Old Nitherian yisledlai, literally “I jump to the (other) hand”

1. six

sonnoun

Old Nitherian son

1. meat, flesh

thithisoverb

Old Nitherian dwidwio “to glitter”

(2s thithitha)

1. to be shiny

2. to be bright, to shine

thithyonoun

Old Nitherian dwidwio “it glitters”

1. gold

thmchinoun

Old Nitherian dmtyis, diminutive of dm “boy”

(possessed stem thmchish-)

1. boy

thonumeral

Old Nitherian dosl

1. two

thoslenoun

Old Nitherian dosles

(possessed stem thoslesl-)

1. deity

thoynnoun

Old Nitherian doyn

(incorporated -thayn)

1. lake, pond

Thoynposloproper noun

literally “bad-tasting lake”, referring to its saltiness

1. Poslo Sea, the large inland sea north of Nitheria

thwerwinumeral

Old Nitherian doeroi “a large number”

1. 216 (six cubed)

thwesasonumeral

Old Nitherian doesaso “a huge number”

1. 1,296 (six to the fourth power)

2. an unfathomably large amount

thwinumeral

Old Nitherian doi “more”

1. thirty-six

tlaranumeral

Old Nitherian tlarasl, abstracted from dosltlarasl, originally “twelve” but later “twenty-four”

1. twelve

tlenoun

Old Nitherian tlesl

(possessed stem tlesl-)

1. knife, blade

tlonoun

Old Nitherian tlo

(pair-reduplicated (tlotlo))

1. hand, arm

thotlonumeral

literally “two hands”

1. ten

thotlwethmnumeral

literally “ten-one”

1. eleven

tlwanoun

Old Nitherian tloas

(possessed stem tlwasl-)

1. pineapple

tnnoun

Old Nitherian tn

1. coconut fruit

ezhishotnnoun

1. coconut seed

tsanoun

Old Nitherian tsa

1. bone

tsesoverb

Old Nitherian tseso

1. to eat

tsovonoun

Old Nitherian tsobo

1. honey

wi-sntsovosoverb with applicative and incorporated noun

literally “to speak honey”

1. to reassure, to comfort

tyalathyon /tja.laˈðjon/ /ˈtja.la.ðjon/noun

Old Maritime tjaladjon, literally “centipede”, from tjal “thirty-six” + dja “leg”.

1. galley (ship propelled by oars)

vaparticle

Old Nitherian ba

(contracts to v’ if the following word starts with a vowel or glide)

1. from, derived from

2. belonging to (alienably)

3. at a specific time

vaverb

Old Nitherian bwa “to hang”

(a-pattern)

1. to be from (a place, often incorporated)

vanoun

Old Nitherian bwaa

1. fire

vanonoun

Old Nitherian bwanosl

(possessed stem vanosl-)

1. (non-edible) root

veraslonumeral

Old Nitherian gosberaslo

1. nine

vezhishoverb

Old Nitherian bedio “to make camp”

(2s vezhitha)

1. (with locative) to live in (a territory)

vimoverb

Old Nitherian bwimo

(2s vmta)

1. to be hot

vionoun

Old Nitherian bislhyo

1. finger

2. toe

3. number, count

vnnumeral

Old Nitherian byn

1. three

vonoun

Old Nitherian bos

1. tree branch

voslosloverb

Old Nitherian bwoslsoso “to float”

(2s voslotha)

1. to sail, to go by boat

vovoslonoun

1. sailor

voslo-lyoverb with directional

1. to escape

voslo-leslanoverb with directional and applicative

1. to elope with

volso-melavaslalosloverb with directional, applicative, and incorporated noun

literally “dock in a body”, with the image of an eternal soul sailing into an infant’s body and docking there

1. to be born

shivoshomelavashalonoun

1. birth

2. birth ceremony

voyonoun

Old Nitherian byoyo “bundle”

1. fruit

2. ear of corn

wenoun

Old Nitherian wai

1. sun

wethmnumeral

Old Nitherian wedm

1. one

wewalin /we.waˈlin/ /weˈwa.lin/noun

Old Maritime wehwáɭøɥn, dative plural of wehwáɭø “witness”

1. written contract, written agreement

2. written instructions

   1. recipe

wiparticle

Old Nitherian copular particle wi

1. used to separate a fronted noun phrase from the verb

wisoverb (give-type)

Old Nitherian wiso

(2s wita, perfective miso)

1. (intransitive) to hear, to find out

2. (transitive) to tell, to speak to

wnyonumeral

Old Nitherian wnweo, literally “it is missing”, referring to the thumb, the last finger to count on

1. four

wolonoun

Old Nitherian wolo

(incorporated -walo)

1. (person’s) body

yarnnoun

Old Nitherian hwoyarn, literally “completion”

1. day

v’yarnadverb

1. today

s’yarnadverb

1. tomorrow

yathmnoun

Old Nitherian yadm

1. chili pepper

wi-sanyathmoverb with applicative and incorporated noun

literally “to speak chilis”

1. to berate, to scold

2. to be angry at

yen-pyaverb with directional

Old Nitherian yenpeao, inchoative of yeono “to be sodden”

1. to dye, to paint

ymvoverb

Old Nitherian ymboo

1. to sit cross-legged

2. (especially with intensive) to be idle

3. (with locative, of ropes and rope-like things) to be at

ynynnoun

Old Nitherian ynyn, reduplication of yn “lip”

1. mouth

yopreposition

Old Nitherian hyo, originally “to use”

1. with, using

2. along with, and

yonoun

Old Nitherian eo

1. blood

yonoverb

Old Nitherian yeono “to be sodden”

(2s ynta)

1. to swim

yoshanoun

Old Nitherian yosya

1. flower

wi-sanyoshashoverb with applicative and incorporated noun

literally “to speak flowers”

1. to flatter, to praise

yoslatlnnoun

Old Nitherian yoslasl-tn, with the usual yoslasl- prefix to form the name of the tree from the name of the fruit

1. coconut palm

yosloverb (give-type)

Old Nitherian yoslo “to hold”

(irregular)

1. to give

2. to introduce

yolesanoadjective

literally “that is being given away”

1. (of a number) negative

vio yolesanonoun

(plural vio yolesnslo)

1. negative number

yo-melasanoverb with directional and applicative

1. to give up, to sacrifice

yo-melaslyoverb with directional and applicative

1. to buy

Note

This is most commonly used with a price (as an instrumental). Without a price, this construction suggests the purchase was overly expensive.

yovonoun

Old Nitherian yobo “thing, stuff”

1. (in negative clauses) anything

zheranoun

Old Nitherian gyera

1. soil

2. land

zherashoslanoun

literally “water-land”

1. small island

zhinoun

Old Nitherian dis

(possessed stem zhish-)

1. sky

zhimishoverb

Old Nitherian dislmio

(2s zhimitha)

1. to be white

2. to be faded

nizhimishonoun

literally “white one”, referring to hair colour

1. elderly person

2. village elder

nizhimishonplural noun

1. council of elders