A Combined

Kiribati-English Dictionary

Hiram Bingham, D.D.
and
Father Ernest Sabatier, M.S.C.
(translated by Sr. M. Oliva)

with additional scientific material from Luomala, Goo & Banner.

B -Bingham, Hiram. 1908, 1953. A Gilbertese-English Dictionary. vii, 179 pp (8vo). American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Boston. O -Sabatier, Ernest. 1954. Dictionnaire Gilbertin-Français. xii, 984pp, duplicated. Mission Catholique, GI, Abaiang, Tabwiroa. 1971. Gilbertese-English Dictionary. translated by Sr. M. Oliva. x, 426pp, Sacred Heart Mission, Tarawa. South Pacific Commission Publications Bureau, Sydney. G -Goo, Fannie C.C. & Albert H. Banner. 1963. A Preliminary Compilation of Gilbertese Animal and Plant Names. 2, 2, 55, 10, 26cm. prepared under contract SA-43-ph-3741, National Institute of Neurological Diseas. UH - Haw. Marine Lab., Honolulu. L -Luomala, Katharine. 1953. Ethnobotany of the Gilbert Islands. Bishop Museum Bulletin 213, v, 129pp, map, bibl 122-4, index, 26cm. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.

compiled by
Stephen Trussel and Gordon W. Groves,
University of Hawaii, 1978

o

o B  o. vi. stretch.  vi. paddle.  vi. fly as an arrow, whiz.  n. fence.  n. gill of a fish.  n. certain disease.  intj. used in response to a call.  O  o. intj. call, reply, surprise, lassitude, etc. (diff. tone but always placed at the end).  ex. Maria O! Karaki O! I a mate O! Ai kabotura O!  o1. n. gill of fish.  ex. marai n o: white of gills.  ex. oni bua, buro ni bua: tonsils.  o2. n. enclosure, cloister, fence, enclosed property, stable, cage.  ex. te o n aoraki: hospital.  te o ni beki: pigsty.  te o ni kitiba: cage for kitiba, ou, om, ona, etc.  vt. oa: to enclose, to shut in, to partition off, to put in cage, stable, etc. ...  v. fig. to catch, to be caught in the very act, to catch up with, to be found out.  ex. a oia boreitiman: the police caught him.  o3. v. to make one or more muscular efforts, to strain muscles for effort.  a. strong, vigorous, having nerve.  ex. omaka: making strong effort.  e o birina: he has great rapidity in running.  e bai o: he has a strong arm.  e oo: it stiffens, makes efforts: (baby in bed).  o rake: make efforts to go east (paddle towards ...).  o rio: make efforts to go west.  o mai: to approach, to come.  o nako: to move away.  vt. to make effort to ...  orakea, orakea te wa: to paddle the canoe towards the land, to make advance by paddle or oar.

oa B  óa. vt. overtake.

oakina O  oakina. vt. to make advance, to push with pole or paddle.

obaba B  óbaba. va. coming up onto the land as a very high tide.  O  obaba. na. very high tide, submerging (ae rababa: taorababa).  vc. ka-obaba: to wait for, to let come ...

obaea B  ob'áea. vt. capture by surrounding.  O  obaea. vt. to capture by surrounding, to close the circle around ...  ex. obaeaki.

obaki B  obaáki. n. rough binding of coconut fronds for torches, the torch itself.

obakia B  obaákia. vt. bind roughly a coconut frond for a torch.

obo B  óbo. va. broken off as the head of a fish or as a coconut leaf.  va. broken in strength, decrepit.  n. place near the beach never shoal at low water.  O  obo. a. broken but not detached (as palm leaf hanging), faded, withered, drooping, bent, bent over (as old person).  vc. ka-oboa: to break and leave hanging, to make wither, ... droop.  ex. kaoboa te ika: to break the back of the fish, to screw its head (without detaching it).  kaoboa te waro: to close the blade of a penknife.  sup. obotata: to break in many places.

obora B  óbora. vt. destroy, desolate, devastate, damage.  n. one of the forms of kaiwa.  O  obora. n. devastation, destruction, ruin.  vt. obora: to devastate, to ruin, to plunder, to pillage, to make havoc, to make desolate, to empty.  see ka-bora.  n. a form of divinization (kaiwa).

obotata B  óbotata. va. broken off as several branches of a tree.  fallen out as the front teeth.  prostrate as a fence.  O  obotata. sup. superlative of obo (for plants only).  na. leaves, palm branches broken in large number.  vc. ka-obotata ...

obuki O  obuki. v. to hit, to attack from behind.  vt. obukia: to close on, to follow, to hem in from behind, to press hard, to be at the heels, to pursue.  ex. e na obuki kaina: his chastisement will follow promptly.  e obukira te ang: we have a following wind.  a obukia aia makuri: their works follow them.  e obukiko te taeka: you will be spoken about immediately after.  vc. ka-obukia: to make ...

oetiti B  oeétiti. n. oasis (ENG).

oi B  ói. n. the very thing itself, the very person himself, one's self.  torch.  vi. perform an incantation before fishing on the flats.  vi. be of no account.  intj. response to words of praise.  O  oi. n. (the real thing).  a. genuine, substantial, proper.  n. substance, essence, base, body.  ex. oi ni bai: a valuable thing.  oi n te bai: the essence of the thing.  bon oin nanom? is it really your own will?  i oin te ni: at the base of the tree. <trunk (of a tree)>.  oi1. int. (1) ironical of pleasure after praise.  ex. oi! oi! oi!  n. (2) a torch of dried palm leaves used for night fishing.  ex. te oi ni kibe, ... n tatae.  n. an incantation for this kind of fishing.  nan te oi (N.) fire spirit.  syn. Nei Bainae, Batuare (S.).  oi2. int. ti oi! ti oingkoe! ti oi ngkami!  also. kioi! .  ex. tioinaki! oinaki am bai: be blowed! bother! confound it! hang it!

oi n tatae O  oi n tatae. n. torch for form of fishing called tatae ($onauti~).

oi ni kibe O  oi ni kibe. n. torch of palm leaves for fishing called te kibe.

oiaki B  óiaki. n. new moon.  a. being in the season of the new moon.  O  oiaki. n. cycle of one moon. lunar month:.  ex. te oiakina, ua-oiaki, ten oiaki, etc.  vc. ka-oiaka: to wait till the new moon.

oimatoa B  oimaátoa. n. babai well matured.  oimæ/toa. a. well matured.  O  oimatoa. a. with solid base <trunk>, well founded, well planted (a fairly large taro, young coconut tree with trunk already amply developed).

oimoa B  oimóa. vi. arrive first.  O  oimoa. v. to precede, to arrive first.

oimwi B  óimwi. vi. come too late for.  O  oimwi. v. to arrive after.  a. too late, last.

oioi B  óioi. a. large circumference as a coconut tree, or the bulb root of the babai.  O  oioi. syn. a. oimatoa.

oitangere B  oitángere. a. slim as the lower part of the trunk of a tree in contrast with a section above it.  n. tree the diameter of whose trunk varies suddenly.

oitangore O  oitangore. from. oi and ngore.  na. a fragile base <trunk>, thin, too weak in comparison with size of tree.

oitoro B  óitoro. a. unusually large round.  n. tree or person of unusual circumference.  O  oitoro. a. with strong base <trunk>, well established, well formed, promising (persons and plants).

oka B  óka. n. rafter of a house.  ókaa. vt. cut off pandanus fruit with a blade fastened to a long stick.  O  oka. n. joist, beam, rafter of house going from tatanga to taubuki.  oka1. v. oka-tou, oka-mai, okababaia: to cut off fruit of pandanus, bread-fruit, papaw with long rod furnished with blade at end.  vt. oka: to detach, to cut off fruit so, to gather so.  red. okaoka.

oka nako O  oka nako. vt. to hurl against, to jostle; to hurl oneself against, to throw oneself against, to run into.  see eka.  ex. e oka nako te ni: he ran into a coconut tree.

okai B  ókai. n. house for storing ripe coconuts.  O  okai. n. a hut or shed for storing ripe coconuts.  vt. okaia: to store in ...

okaia B  okáia. vt. store ripe coconuts in a house.

okaoka B  okáoka. n. fish.  vt. fish for the okaoka <fishing>.  a. abounding in okaoka.  O  okaoka. n. a reef fish, scavenger fish.  ex. oka tana: species of okaoka.  v. okaoka: to fish for ...  ex. okaoka: abundance of ...  G  okáoka. sn. Lethrinus rhodopterus (y,ll).  n. young scavengerfish (ll).

okatou O  oka-tou. v. to cut down pandanus fruit with long rod and blade.  see oka.

oke B  óke. n. oak tree (ENG).

oki B  óki. n. chisel.  vi. return.  O  oki. n. return.  v. to return, go back, to come back.  ex. oki-rikaki: to come backwards.  okioki: to come often.  oku, okin, okina, etc.  rai okioki, raraiokioki: to go backwards and forwards, ... to and fro.  okikaua: to come back twice.  oki-ten: to come back three times.  I nako n oki: I go away to come back again soon.  ai oku! at my return.  vc. ka-oki: to make come back, to make return, to send back, to give back, to restitute, to put back in place.  v. ka-okioki, kakaokioki: to keep bringing back, to keep repeating, dinning.  vc. ka-okioka: kakaokioka. idem.  vt. okira, okiokira: to come back towards ..., to go back to ..., to do again, to recommence, to say again, etc.  ex. tai okiria!: Don't do it again!

okioki B  ókioki. vi. frequentative of oki.  n. frequent returning.

okiokira B  ókiokíra. vt. frequentative of okira.

okira B  okíra. vt. return to.

okitaba B  ókitaba. vi. return repeatedly.  n. repeated returning of a person.  O  okitaba. v. to hurt again.  okitaba1. vt. to thwart, to oppose, to contradict, to annoy, to strike left and right.  vc. ka-oki-taba: to urge ..., to ...  n. te okitaba.

okitebo B  o:kitébo. n. octavo (ENG).

okitoba B  o:kitóba. n. October (ENG).  O  Okitoba. n. October (ENG).

oko B  óko. n. staff, cane, walking stick.  óko:. n. very young of the m'anai.  a. having its young with it as the m'anai, adolescent.  O  oko. n. walking stick.  oko1. n. idiom. okon te makauro, e teboka okona te makauro.

okoro B  ókoro. a. apart, separate, unlike, different.  O  okoro. and kaokoro.  kakaokoro:  a. different, distinct, special, particular, abnormal, singular.  n. difference, distinction, particularity.  vn. okoro ma ... kaokoro ma ...: distinct from, to be different, to be distinguished.  ex. akea okorona ma ...: it is no different from ...  ai kaokoro ra! how different! what a difference!  adv. n okoro: apart, separately.  vc. ka-okoroa, kaka-okoroa: to put aside, to separate, to distinguish, to differentiate, to make a difference, to do differently.

oma B  'óma. n. homer [Heb meas] (ENG).  óma. vi. bend as a stick when one sits on it, or as a plank when one walks on it while it is supported at each end.  O  oma. n. flexibility, supple, pliable.  ex. omaoma: very flexible.  vc. ka-oma, ka-omaoma, kakaomaoma: to make become flexible, supple, pliable, to inflect, to bend.

omaka B  om'aáka. vi. grow up rapidly.  n. rapid growth.  O  omaka. a. growing quickly.  rapid growth.  v. to throw with force, to go quickly.  vc. ka-o maka: to cause to go quickly, to grow rapidly, to throw with force.

omaoma B  omáoma. va. frequentative of oma.  easily bending, not stiff.

omara O  omara. a. of feeble momentum, slow growth.  v. to throw with little force.  ant. omaka.  vc. ka-omara: to reduce, to diminish the speed, the force.

omarikaki O  omarikaki. ex. e omarikaki to nao ma ni beku: the wave bends, turns and falls heavily.

omatata B  ómatata. vi. flash repeadly as lightning.  O  omatata. n. a flash, lightning flashes.  ex. e ititi ao e omatata: there are repeated flashes of lightning.  omatata1. na. strong evidence, very obvious, striking.  ex. matata only is more used.  vc. ka-omatata: to make become ...

omeka B  ómeka. n. omega (ENG).

omera B  ómera. n. omer [Heb dry meas] (ENG).

on B  on. n. turtle.  a. full.  O  on. n. te on or to on: a turtle.  n. tuabon: fat with shell of turtle.  on1. a. full, filled.  n. fullness.  ex. onrake: full to the top.  a. ontiti: full to overflowing.  vc. ka-ona, kakaona, kaonrakea: to fill, to fill up.  G  on. sn. Chelonian mydas.  n. greenback turtle (hh).

ona O  ona. from. o and oa.  vt. to paddle (a canoe, bark).  ex. ona Matang: paddle towards Matang.  ona1. pref. to certain names of fish: onaeara, ona bubura, onauti.

onabiti O  onabiti. n. species of sea urchin resembling violet slate pencil.

onae B  onáe. n. small marine growth or animal like the reka.  n. musket with a certain lock.  O  onae. n. an edible worm found on rocks.  sn. Zoophyte.

onaeara O  onaeara. n. a fish.

onako O  onako. v. to depart by paddling.  va. fig. to go away upset, blamed, scolded, confused.  ex. ti onako n am taeka: your words drive us away.  ko onakoira: you turn against us.  see kao nakoa: to involve in blame.

onamare B  ónam'are. n. fish.  oónam'are. va. abounding in onam'are.

onanibwere O  onanibwere. vt. onanibwerea: to make a notch or cut the end to join on another piece.

onaniwere B  onæ/niwére. n. mode of spliceing the ends of two sticks.  O  onaniwere. v. to repair a keel (kabi) of canoe.  vt. onaniwerea.

onaniwerea B  onæ/niwérea. vt. splice sticks by cutting out a half of each for the sake of evenness.

onaona B  onáona. a. unevenn as land, or as a person's disposition.  O  onaona. n. te aba n onaona: a distant land, hilly, of unknown customs visited by Nautongo.  onaona1. a. (e oneaki arona) of changeable character. sometimes reasonable, at other times unreasonable, to be untrustworthy, unbalanced, whimsical.  vc. kaonaona: to disturb, to upset, to confuse, to treat as ...

onatabu B  ónatabu. n. portion of a coral flat slightly raised.  a. slightly raised as a portion of a coral flat.  O  onatabu. n. cloister, place prohibited.  a. cloistered, reserved, prohibited.  vt. onatabua: to enclose, to cloister, to confine, to put in prohibited place, to forbid entrance to ...

onatabuki O  onatabuki. n. raised up place or enclosure.  vt. onatabuka: to raise up ...

onatabukibuki B  ónatabúkibuki. a. uneven, elevated a little in places, as the surface of the ground or of a plank <even>.

onauti B  ónauti. n. flying fish.  oónauti. va. abounding in flying fish.  O  onauti. n. flying fishh.  sn. Exocaetus volitans, exocoetidaeCypselurus sp.  ex. baiura: a large flying fish with red-tipped fins.  te keti: a small flying fish.  G  ónauti. sn. family Exocoetidae (ll).  n. flying fishes (sm).  ónauti1. sn. Cypselurus spp. (y).  n. flying fishes (sm).  L  onauti. sn. Cypselurus simus (exocoetidae).  n. flying fish.

one B  one. a. six, same as ono six.  note. the final o of the latter becoming e before the suffixes ai and ung for euphony.

onea B  ónea. vt. replace, fill as a vacantcy.  n. change as of clothing.  O  onea. vt. (irr.) oneai, onoiko, onea, onoira, or oneira, onoingkami, onoia, oneaki, with direct object of each plural ono, oni, onoi one and onei: to change, to change oneself, to transform, to modify, to metamorphose.  ex. N na oneai moa: I will go and change first.  onei nana: to change shells.  onoi burae: to change feathers, to moult.  onoi mane: to change money.  one aba: change country, to emigrate.

oneai B  óneai. a. six, in counting hardware, furniture, chests, barrels, timber, coconut leaf stems, fingers, teeth, large fish as sharks and ikari.

oneamwi B  oneamwi. n. substitute.

oneamwina O  oneamwina. v. onea mwiu, onea mwim, onea mwina, oneamwira, etc.: to replace, to substitute, to supply.  n. te onomwi: replacement, substitution.  v. onomwi: to replace.  n. te tia-onomwi: substitute (for another person).

oneung B  oneung. a. six in counting pandanus fruit.

ong O  ong1. a. ongong: spongy.  ongong, kiriongong, nibongong: swollen, heavy from sleepiness, tiredness, soporific.  ong2. v. to squeeze, to press to extract juice.  a. which can be squeezed as a sponge.  red. ongong.  see v.t. ongira.

ong_ O  ong_. excl. at the end of song; end, finished.  ex. ong! ong!

onga B  ónga. a. soft or soggy as watery babai.  n. soggy watery babai.  vt. swallow.  O  onga. a. porous, spongy.  sup. ongaonga ...  onga1. vt. to swallow, to absorb:.  ex. ongan, ongakin, onga nako. .  te ongana, uaonga, tenonga, etc.: one mouthful, two ..., three ..., etc.

onga n tari O  onga n tari. n. a sponge.  syn. tutu.

ongantari B  óngantari. n. sponge.

ongaonga O  ongaonga. n. myth per. giant swallower of tree trunks.  fig. sword swallower, ogre, braggart.

ongea B  óngea. vt. regard, used generally with aki .  ex. aki ongea not to regard or mind.  O  ongea. vt. to count on, to hope that, to confide in.  note. rarely used except in negative.  ex. aki ongea: not to count on, not to worry about ..., not to take any notice of ...  e aki ongea te karau: he doesn't mind the rain.  e aki ongeaki: he can't be relied <rely> on.  va. ongeaki. (onimakinaki) (usual): worthy of confidence, conscientious.

ongeaba B  ongeába. vi. hear.  O  ongeaba. from. ongea and aba (who heeds what he is told).  n. docility, submission, obedience.  a. docile, obedient, submissive.  v. to obey, to listen, to advise.  ex. e aki ongeaba: he doesn't listen to anything.  vt. ka-ongeaba: to make become ..., to make obey.

ongeaki B  óngeaki. va. not recognized at first.

ongira B  óngira. vt. wring, blow or squeeze as the nose.  O  ongira. from. ong.  vt. to squeeze to extract liquid, to press, to apply pressure, to use a handkerchief.  vn. ongiri ngako: to wipe one's nose.

ongo B  óngo. vt. hear, obey.  n. hearing, sense of hearing.  O  ongo. n. hearing (te ongo, te ongongo).  v. ongo, ongongo: to hear, to learn by hearsay.  fig. to understand, to obey.  ex. ongo buaka: to understand wrongly <misunderstand>.  ongo raoi: to hear clearly, to understand well.  ongo maki (ongo ma aki): to hardly hear.  ongo taeka: to obey.  kaongo taeka: to make obey.  vt. ka-ongoa: to inform, to tell, to let know, to advise.  ex. e kaongoai: he informed me.  vc. ka-ongongo: speak louder to make yourself heard.  v. kakauongo: to listen, to be attentive, to give ear.  a. kakaiongo: prompt to understand, to obey.

ongo tao O  ongo tao. n. knowledge by public divulgation, by rumours reported.  vc. ka-ongotaoa: to inform, to warn, to let know by spreading rumour.

ongong B  óngong. n. wisdom tooth.  vi. wringing.  O  ongong. n. wisdom tooth.

ongora B  óngora. vi. listen, hearken.  n. desire to hear, an attentive listening to the news.  O  ongora. from. ongo.  n. act of listening, hearing.  v. to listen to recital, news, to give ear, to be informed, to be attentive to ...  ex. ti no ongora iroum: we will hear, listen to what you have to say.  v. kan ongora: to desire to hear.  vc. kaongoraea, kakaongoraea: to inform, to pass on the news, information, to speak about ...  ex. ko na kaongoraira rongorongon abam: tell us the news of your place.  n. te kaongora: public announcements, conferences, communications, announcement of news.  a. kakaongora: fluent, interesting to listen to.

ongotaeka B  óngotáeka. vi. be obeydient.  n. obedience.  O  ongo-taeka. v. to obey.  a. obedient, docile, submissive.  n. obedience, docility, submission.  vc. kaongo-taeka: to make obey, to make become docile.  kaongoa te taeka: to make understand what is said, to announce.

ongotao B  óngotao. vi. hear distressing news of a member of one's family when at a distance.  n. distressing news from one's family.

oni kitiba O  oni kitiba. n. cage for kitiba.  oni kitiba1. n. Aurora Borealis.

onia O  onia. n. high tide at new and full moon.  <spring tide>.

onibora B  ónibora. adj. nasty, soft.  n. crab when it has cast its crust-like shell.  O  onibora. v. onobora (oni-pora, onopora) to change, to shed shell, skin or carapace (as do crabs, lobsters, etc.), to slough.  n. a crab at the stage of changing ... (ntabena, nnewe).  a. daubed, dirty, trailed in dirt.  vc. kaonobora: to let get dirty, soiled.

onibua B  ónibua. n. young coconut in the third stage.  a. being in the third stage of development.  O  onibua. and onobua.  n. a coconut fallen before maturity.  onibua1. a. a certain dividing membrane especially noticeable in fish's throats.

onika B  oónika. n. onycha [incense ingredient] (ENG).  ónika. vt. change.  O  onika. vt. to transform, to change.  red. ononika, onionika, .  ex. te onikaki: the changing, the transformation, transubstantiation (Mass).

oniki B  òniki. n. onyx (ENG).  O  oniki. v. to transmute, to transfigure, to metamorphose, to change.  red. ononiki.  ex. e onikaki te ran ba te rara: water was changed to blood.  n. transformation, change, transfiguration, metamorphosis, etc.  see onea.

onimaki B  ónimaki. n. faith, confidence, belief.  vi. believe, have faith.  O  onimaki. n. faith, confidence, belief.  v. onimaki nakon ...: to have faith or confidence in.  n. te kakaonimaki: fidelity, punctuality.  a. ae kakaonimaki: faithful, punctual, worthy of confidence.  vt. onimakina: to have faith in, to believe, to trust, to count on.  vc. ka-onimakina: to induce to ..., to make ...

onimakina B  ónimakína. vt. have faith in, trust, believe in.

oning O  oning. n. awning, sail cloth, canvas.

oningea B  óningea. n. fish.  O  oningea. n. a fish.  oningea1. n. parrot fishh.  G  oningea. n. a parrotfish (ll).

onionika B  oniónika. vt. frequentative of onika change repeatedly.

onnon O  onnon. and onnonia. n.v.  see onon v.t.

ono B  óno. a. six always followed by a numeral suffix ua, man, nga, kai or kora or by certain nouns as bong, ririki, ritoro, inaki, atao, ba or by certain adjectives as bwi, bubua, etc.  n. one's share or portion.  O  ono. a. rad. for adv. num. six. onoua, onoman, onokai, onokora, etc.  ex. ka-onomakoron: sixth part of ...  vc. ka-onoua: to make it six, to complete six.  ono1. from. on.  n. part, portion, one's due, share.  ex. e ono: he has his share, he has got his ..., he is satisfied.  ex. ti ono ngaira: we have our share.  ex. onou, onom, onona.  vc. ka-onoa, ka-onona: to give, to distribute to each one his share.  kaonota.  n. te kaono, te kaonono. idem.

onoati O  onoati. n. te tia Onoati: a star.

onoba B  ónoba. vi. put forth a new leaf in exchange for a falling old leaf of some babai plants, or of a coconut tree.  a. six leafves.

onobauta O  onobauta. v. to change ligature, to change the ...

onobora B  ónobora. n. crab when it has cast its crust-like shell.  a. having cast its crust-like shell as a crab.

onobubua B  ónobúbua. a. six hundred.

onobwi B  ónobwi. a. sixty.  see onongaun.

onoea B  onóea. a. six million.

onokai B  ónokai. a. six in counting trees, fish-hooks, and sections of land.

onokora B  ónokora. a. six in counting baskets.

onokuri B  ónokuri. a. six hundred thousand.

onoman B  ónoman. a. six in counting persons and animals.

onomwi O  onomwi. v. to replace.  n. replacement.  ex. te tia onomwi: substitute (for another person), pronoun. (grammar).

onon B  ónon. vi. beg for in a very imploring manner, almost abjectly.  n. most humble entreaty.  O  onon. n. supplication, request, demand, entreaty.  note. stronger than bubuti.  vt. ononia (ononiai, ononiko, etc.): intense supplication.  ex. ononou, ononim, ononina, etc.

ononga B  ónonga. a. six thousand.  six in counting fathoms.

onongaun B  ónongaun. a. sixty.  see ngaun.

ononia B  ónonia. vt. beseech, entreat imploringly.

onorebu B  ónorebu. a. sixty thousand.

onotabo O  onotabo. nv. ono-tabo: to change place.  ex. ono boti: idem.

onotano B  ónotano. a. sixty million.

onoti B  ónoti. a. enough, sufficient in quantity.  O  onoti. see ono n.a.

onotoa O  Onotoa. n. Clark Island discovered in 1827 -- sit. in south of group.

onotoki B  ónotoki. a. six hundred million.

onoua B  onóua. a. six in counting things in general.

onoung B  onóung. a. six in counting bunches of pandanus fruit.

onra O  on-ra. a. on-buaka: loaded badly, not well balanced, not filled properly.  vc. kaonraea: to fill badly.

ontira O  on-tira. a. full to overflowing, flowing over (liquid).  vc. kaontiraea: to fill to ...

ontiti O  ontiti. sup. superlative of on.  na. full of ..., covered with ...  vc. kaontita: to fill, to cover with (dirt, dust).

ora B  óra. a. shallow, shoal, not deep, low tide.  n. flat reef from the beach to the breakers, shoal.  óraa. vt. eat raw as fish.  O  ora. n. low tide, expanse of beach, strand.  va. e ora, ae ora: it is low tide, the tide is out.  a. dry (well, bucket, etc.).  ex. oratakaroro: completely dry.  note. sundry terms --.  ex. e ora nako: the beach is becoming uncovered.  e ora takaroro; the beach is completely uncovered.  e ora tangenge: the beach is laid bare.  e orata (oraata): a large expanse of beach is bare.  te ora n ro: the low tide at night.  te ora ni ngaina: day low tide.  te ora ni mama: the moonlight low tide.  te ora n ia n ro: low tide on moonless night.  vc. ka-ora, ka-oraora: to wait till low tide.  ka-ora, ka-oraora. idem.  ka-ora, ka-oraora. idem.  ka-oratakaroroa, ka ora nakoa: to wait till ..., to let ...  see n.a. oraba (ora-aba).  na. an uncovered place, without water, sand bank, a shallow place.  ora1. n. oraora: act of eating fish or meat in raw state.  vt. ora to eat raw ...  and oraora:  ex. e oraki te onauti: flying fish can be eaten raw.

oraba O  oraba. syn. orata.  na. wide expanse uncovered at low tide. tide receding very far out.  vc. ka-oraba: to cause, to wait for ..., to let ...

oraitan B  'oráitan. n. horizon (ENG).

oranako B  óranako. vi. ebb as the tide.  n. ebb-tidee.

oraora B  oráora. vi. eating fish raw.

oraoranako B  oráoranako. vi. frequentative of oranako.

orata B  oraáta. n. unusually wide flat.  oráta. a. having a very wide reef or flat.

oratakaroro B  óratákaroro. a. unusually low, or very low as the tide.  n. unusually low tide.

oratiram O  oratiram. n. goat fishh.  sn. Mulloidichtys sp.  G  oratiraam. sn. Mulloidichthys sp. (ll).  n. goatfish (sm).

ore O  ore. n. name of land of crazy people.  ex. te I-Ore: a mad man.  va. I-Ore, kiritabaiore: who is crazy, altogether mad.  see I-Tabweang, I-Tabaong, I-Tabaroro.

orea B  órea. vt. beat, strike.  n. suitable place for manipulating a seine <fishing>.  O  orea. vt. (irr.).  see oro: to hit.  orea1. n. a place suitable for net and rai fishing.  v. to fish in this way.

oreano B  óreano. n. general term for ballplaying.  vi. play ball.  O  oreano. n. a game played with large hard ball called ano.  v. to play this game.  vc. ka-oreanoa: to make play. national game formerly very popular.

orian O  orian. n. a plant, oleander.  G  orion. sn. Nerium oleander L. (z).  n. oleander.

oriatita B  oriæ/tita. n. oleaster [ornamental shrub] (ENG).

oriba O  Oriba. n. te Oriba stars.  or. to Oriba:  ex. te oriba ni meang, te oriba ni maiaki.

orikinare O  orikinare. a. original.  ex. te bure orikinare: original sin.

orin B  órin. n. work of binding dry leaves for torches.  vi. binding dry coconut leaves for torches.  O  orin. nv. to tie, to make torches of rin (palm leaves).  vc. ka-orina ...

oriori O  oriori. suf. indicating sup.  see nimaoriori, beoriori, etc.

oriwa B  òriwa. n. olive (ENG).  O  oriwa. n. olive, olive tree. (ENG).

oro B  óro. vi. strike, hit.  n. hit, blow.  O  oro. n. (1) act of striking, hitting, a hit, a blow.  ex. te orona, uaoro, ten oro, etc.  v. to strike, to hit.  red. ororo.  vt. (irr.) orea (oreai, oreiko.  or. oroiko, oroia.  oreia, oroira, oroingkami, oroia, oreaki: to strike, to hit, to knock on, to beat on, to beat.  n. te kai n oro: instrument used to ..., stick, hammer, whip, cane.  v. i oro: to hit each other, to clash.  vt. ka-i-oroia, kaka-i-oroia: to make ...  vc. ka-oro: to make fight.  a. (2) pullulant, which swarms, plentiful.  n. swarming, great number.  note. the word oro is used for abortion (by blows).  ex. e oreaki or e oroaki natina.  oro1. idiom. e oro maitina, e oro riki nakon: its total attains to or is equal to ..., to more than.  ex. e kaoro, e kaoro riki, e kaoro nakon: that gives, that makes as much, more than.  e oro, e kaoro: to be in great number, big quantity, packed tightly, close together.

oro karababa O  oro karababa. v. to flatten out karababa.

oro tenua O  oro tenua. n. a child's game.

orobairi O  orobairi. v. to hit the nose (of the loser in cards).

oroben O  oroben. nv. to make copra (split coconuts).  ex. bo-ben: to collect coconuts and split them.

orobiti B  órobiti. vi. drivee>ing nails.  n. marine animal.  O  orobiti. v. to nail, to drive in nails, tacks.  syn. bobiti.  vt. orobotia: to nail.

orobitia B  órobítia. vt. drive a nail into.

oroboti O  oroboti. see onabiti.  n. a marine animal.

orobuki O  orobuki. n. a spanking, a flogging.  v. to give a ..., to hit from behind (wind in sail).  vt. orobukia ...

oroku O  oroku. n. a shirt. (S.).  syn. te kabaraki (N.).

oromaki B  oromaáki. vi. give a blow gently.  O  oromaki. n. a slight hit, barely hit.  v. to graze, to stroke.

orona O  Orona. n. Hull Island in Phoenix group. Visited by Commodore Wilkes in 1845.

oronibai O  oronibai. v. to hit with hand.

oroniwae O  oro-ni-wae. or. oronuwae.  v. to kick.  n. a kick.

ororea B  orórea. vt. frequentative of orea.

ororeano B  oróreano. vi. frequentative of oreano.

ororo B  oróro. vi. frequentative of fish with a seine and rai <fishing>.  n. repeated strikeing.  fishing with a seine and rai .

orotaba O  orotaba. n. a slap in the face.  v. to slap ...  syn. orobora.  vt. orotaba: to slap ...

orotai O  orotai. nv. to beat time, to conduct singing (music).

oroubu O  oro-ubu. n. boxing, pugilism.  syn. te itau.

ota B  oóta. n. light (opp of darkness).  n. coconut leaf tied around a tree whose fruit has been tabooed.  a. not dark, light.  óta. n. scraped coconut after the oil has been extracted.  vt. bind a torch for fishing.  vt. bind a coconut tree with a coconut frond to prevent the stealing of coconuts.  O  ota. from. o.  vt. to tie or bind around with string.  ex. ota rin: to make torches of palm leaves (tie the rin), to truss, to bind leaves.  see o-rin, o-baki.  ota1. n. light, brightness, daylight.  ex. otan tai: sunlight.  v. ota: to give light, to shine.  a. e ota: there is light, it is clear.  fig. to see clear, to understand, to perceive.  ex. ti ota iai: we understand.  a. bright, brilliant, clear, comprehensible.  vc. ka-ora: to give light to, to light up, to wait till there is light.  fig. enlighten, instruct, make understand.  ex. kaotaba: to enlighten the people.  ota2. n. a mark on a reserved tree (not much used).  ex. more used: te rabu or te rabu or te kamainaina.  ota3. n. coconut after oil has been extracted, residue.

otaba B  ótab'a. n. marryy>ied woman in her prime.  a. in her prime as a married woman.  O  otaba. from. taba.  n. daughter in law during the first years of married life.  vc. ka-otaba: to care for and preserve the beauty and freshness of the daughter-in-law, to make her happy.

otabanina O  otabanina. and otabaninia.  vt. to surround, to encircle, to hem in, to gather around, to crowd around.  fig. to take care of a person, to be attached to them.

otabaninia B  ótabaninía. vt. surround.

otabu B  ótabu. n. something tabooed and not to be taken.  O  otabu. sup. superlative of tabu.  na. a sacred place, forbidden to outsiders, prohibited, no admission, strictly prohibited.  vt. otabua: to prohibit, to strictly prohibit.

otabua B  otábua. see vt tabua.

otanga B  ótanga. vt. shield.  n. shield.  O  otanga. n. buckler, shield, defence, <armour>, protection.  ex. otaotanga.  vt. betanga, bebetanga: idem. to protect by packing.  karibabetanga: idem. to pack tightly.

otangana O  otangana. vt. to protect, to shield by any protective object.

otanna B  'otæn/na. n. hosanna (ENG).

otaota B  otáota. n. preparation of food , scraped coconut mixed with coconut molasses.  vi. preparation of otaota .  otáotaa. vt. prepare food called otaota.  O  otaota. n. a dish made of grated coconut, and mixed with coconut from which oil has been extracted.  vc. ka-otaota: to nourish with ...  see ota.

otaotanga B  otáotanga. vt. frequentative of otanga shield.

otaotangaki B  otáotángaki. a. of various hues as the flesh of the ati.  O  otaotangaki. from. otanga.  a. protected by intercepting object, striped with several colours.

otarin O  otarin. v. to make torches of rin.  see ota, orin.

otea B  otéa. vt. fold.  n. fold.  O  otea. vt. (irr.) to break, to break by bending (wood, bones, etc.).  fig. to compose a song, a story, etc.  ex. oteai, oteiko, otoiko, oteia or otia, oteingkami or otoingkami, oteia or otoia, oteia or otei, oteaki.  see oto.  n. te ototo: poems, songs, stories, music composed.

oti B  oóti. n. oats (ENG).  óti. vi. appear, come in sight.  vi. rise as the sun.  n. appearance, appearing, rising of the sun.  O  oti. a. appeared, visible, manifest, public, risen (stars), self-evident.  ex. e a oti te rongorongo: the news is out.  red. otioti: appearing often, much, very evident.  v. to appear, to come into sight, to come out, to emerge, to be seen, made known, to become public, to rise (stars, planets).  n. otin ..., otiotin, kaotin: rising of stars, etc., apparition.  vc. kaoti: to show oneself, to come out, to manifest oneself, to disclose, to reveal, to be seen.  n. apparition, manifestation.  vc. kaota, kakaota, kaotiota: to show, to manifest, to disclose, to reveal, to divulge, to publish, to confess, to proclaim, etc.  n. te kaoti onimaki: profession of faith, creed.  v. kaotionimaki: to profess, to confess one's faith.  nv. te kaotibure: confession (sacr.), to confess.

otinako B  ótinako. vi. go out.  n. going out, an exodus, the book of Exodus.  O  otinako. v. to go out, to come out, to go beyond, to be visible, to be revealed.  a. be out, issued, made known.  red. otiotinako, otinako mai, otinako man: to come out of ...  n. otinakon: the going out, exit, quotient (te tia otinako).  v. kaotinako: to put out, to make appear outside, to supervene, to rise, to surge, to be revealed.  n. kaotinakon: revelation, manifestation.  vc. kaotinakoa, kakaotinakoa: to put out, to make go out, to go beyond, to turn out of doors, to expel, to extract, to evacuate.  n. Te Otinako: Exodus (Bible).

otioti B  ótioti. vi. frequentative of oti.

otiotinako B  ótiotináko. vi. frequentative of otinako.

oto O  oto. v. to break, to shatter, to smash, to bend.  fig. to compose, to invent; see otea.  n. oton, ototon: a break, a crack, a fracture, a pleat, a fragment.  te ototo: composition, invention, conjugation.  vt. (irr.) to break, to smash, to bend, to compose.  see otea, ototea.  ex. e otea taekau: he made up a story about me.  otea te kunikai, te beba: to fold material, paper.  te oto-beba: the act of folding paper.  vt. (irr.) kaototoa: to make, to compose; see the following words.

oto kuna O  oto kuna. v. to compose songs, poems.  n. the composition of ...  vc. ka-otokuna: to make ...  ex. e otea te kuna te tia otokuna: the composer composed a song.

otoanene B  ótoánene. vi. compose words to be set to music.  n. composition of words set to music.  O  oto-anene. n. composition of songs.  v. to compose ...  vc. kaoto anene, kaotoanenea ...

otobai O  oto-bai. nv. rheumatism in arm or hand.

otobebe B  ótobebe. vi. exaggerate.  n. exaggeration.  O  otobebe. v. to say or tell tall stories. (bebe) to exaggerate.  n. exaggeration.  vt. otobebea ...

otobebea B  ótobébea. vt. exaggerate, add to a story.

otobibi O  otobibi. from. tobibi.  v. (embellish around ...) to exaggerate.  ex. otobibia: idem.

otobina O  otobina. see tobina.  n. pre natal massage.  vt. otobina.

otobwebwe O  otobwebwe. v. to prune (branches).  fig. to purge a work, an institution, etc.  vt. otobwebwea: to prune, to lop, to curtail.  see bwebwe, kabwebwea.

otokai O  otokai. n. revenge, compensation.  v. to take revenge, to give tit for tat, to pay back (in good or bad meaning).  vt. otea te kai, kabaka te kai: to break, to ward off ill-luck, to take away, to withdraw a punishment, to take one's revenge on ..., to pay back, to get even with.  ex. e otea kaina; (is said of one who takes revenge, etc.).  otea kaim, kabaka kaim, kaoka kaim (is said to one who loses a victory).

otokuna B  ótokuna. vi. compose a chant for the ruoia.  n. composition of chants for the ruoia .

otorake B  ótorake. vi. twisting a line with four strands.  n. line with four strands.  O  otorake. n. a four ply rope, cord.  v. to do this work.  vt. otorakea: to twist a rope in a certain way with four strands.

otorakea B  ótorakéa. vt. braid a line with four strands.

otorao B  ótorao. vi. slandering or inventing evil storyies.  n. slander, invention of evil stories, lying.  O  otorao. n. invention of lies, chaff, humbug, calumnies <calumny>.  v. to tell ..., to retail ..., to invent ...  red. ototorao.

otoriki O  otoriki. a. broken, smashed in pieces.  vt. otorikia.  and otorika: to break, to smash, to shatter, to crush to smithereens.  red. otorikiriki.

otorikia B  ótoríkia. vt. break into pieces as a stick.

ototo B  otóto. vi. breaking, folding or composeing.  n. new or recent chant.  O  ototo. v. to compose.  n. te ototo: the art of composing, composition of narrative, poems, music.  ex. te tia ototo: composer.  see oto, otea.

ototorao B  otótorao. vi. frequentative of otorao.

otoua B  ótouaa. vt. break in two as a stick.  otóua. n. long waist cloth of double thickness.  O  otoua. v. to break in two.  ex. oto-ten: to break in three.  vt. otoua: (otouaia) idem.  ex. otouaki or otouaeaki: broken.

otowae O  otowae. n. rheumatism in joints of leg, foot, gout.  v. to have ...

ou B  óu. a. stupid, demented, without intelligientce.  n. stupid person, demented person.  O  ou. a. silly, stupid, simple.  sup. tari-ou:  dim. tiri-ou.  a. bura-ou: stupid looking.  n. te ou, te tiriou, te tari ou: stupidity, silliness, imbecility.  te nna n ou: crowd of stupids, imbeciles.  vc. ka-oua: to treat as ..., to find ...

ouru B  óuru. n. fish.  O  ouru. n. a fish, parrot fish (Abemama) tabou.  sn. Scarus ghobban.  G  ouru. sn. Scarus ghobban (ll).  n. parrotfish (sm).

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