omugabe.
o- (bu/-) nature (in a general sense); nature, essence, inherent characteristics. obutonde bw'ensi, the nature of the earth, cf. tonda.
e-: (li/ma) millipede (in general); arch, a kind of millipede, cf. kagongolo.
a- (ka/bu) fiber-producing plant, Hibiscus diversifolius; crisis, difficulty, trouble. Awo akanyamberege we kajjira. That is when the trouble started, akanyamberege akaazaala ekkula, lit. a woman of low estate who brought forth a jewel (formerly used of a commoner whose son became a Kabaka, and later used in a more general sense), cf. ennyamberege.
a- (ka/bu) kind of small cricket; small cricket (in general).
a- (ka/bu) mushroom (in general). Ekika ky'obutiko, the Mushroom Clan. cf. ekitiko.
a- (ka/bu) kind of insect-eating bat; bat (in general).
e- (ki/bi) large fruit bat; large bat fin general, as opposed to kawundo, small bat), cf. obunyira.
e- (ki/bi) reed fence; fence (in general); chief's inclosure/compound; inclosure made of reeds for washing or for use as an outhouse. Types of fencing include: kigombe, crosswise in diamond shapes; kya kasiira, upright and close together; kya nnakabanda, grouped in columns. (Sn., LeV.)
e- (ki/bi) hairy caterpillar; cater- pillar (general term).
employ (in the most general sense); employ (workers). okukozesa amaanyi, to use force (against opposition); to work with vigor.
inside, within. It is used with verbs, nouns and adjectives. With adjectives it weakens the force of the primary meaning. forehead, ekyenyi ky'empumi, projecting forehead. Wa mpumi. He has a projecting forehead, cf. 2e|tjwumj,
o- (mu/mi) beer made from the juice of a special type of banana (such as mbidde, gonja or kisubi) and fermented with sorghum; beer (in general); liquor, intoxicating drink. cf. obwenge, ebyenge, Ssegamwenge, otwenge.
e- (n/n) small beads generally made of plant seeds, cf. olukwanzi.
e- (n/n) kind of grasshopper; grasshopper (in general). Ekika ky'Enseenene, the Grasshopper Clan, omutwe gw'ensee- nene, a head like that of a grasshopper, a pointed head. cf. obuseenene, omuseenene.
e- (n/n) termites that leave the termite hill first at the time of the general flight, lit. the ones that polish the holes in the hill. cf. zigula, ettabo.
kill (game), swagula, ssebo! congratulations! (originally addressed to a hunter but now more general in use).
when used, are generally suffixed directly to the word: jjajjange, jjajjaawo, jjajjaawe, jjajjaffe, jjajjammwe, jjajjaabwe; bajjajjange, etc. cf. obujjajja.
adj. general; central, main, olukuŋŋaana ttabamiruka, a general meeting. Olukiiko Ttabamiruka, the Ecumenical Council, cf. taba, omuluka.
etc. okutwalira awamu, generally, in general, ng'otwaliddemu ne..., including, if you include.
a- adv. in one place; together, awamu ne, together with, okutwalira awamu, in general, generally, akatale ak'awamu, common market, emirimu egy'awamii, joint enterprises, work done in common. Balina ebintu eby'awamu ebibagatta. They have things in common which unite them. Agali awamu ge galuma ennyama. (prov.) lit. The teeth (aga- implies amannyo, teeth) which are together bite the meat. In unity there is strength.
interj. salutation or congratulations (originally to a hunter or to one who has gathered white ants but now used in a more general sense), cf. swaga.
apportion; appoint, designate (e.g., a general as chief of a military expedition). Ky'ofa togabye, Walumbe y'akigaba. (prov.) What you have not given away by the time you die, Walumbe (death) gives it away.
v.tr. start work/begin operations in a rough/provisional way. Guno omulimu tukyakaabula mukaabule. We are just starting the job (and we have a general idea of how we are going to go about it).
interj. salutation or congratulations (originally to a hunter or to one who has caught termites hut now used in a more general sense), cf. swaga, -swagu.
o- (mu/ba) general, commander, one who has been assigned to head a military expedition; with cap. formerly the tide of the hereditary ruler of Ankole. cf. gaba.
derived from the personal name Mannyowenu, a very easygoing general with the -a of rel. of the character of a joke, ne nseka nga nduyita lwa mannyo wenu, and I laughed thinking it (lit. calling it) a joke. Ebyokulwanyisa ebyakozesebwa byali bya mannyo wenu. The arms which were used were ridiculous/playthings/a joke.