-K-

ka |n./stm.| (non-elemental) power, force, energy; ability, (creative) potential [ka < kā. Variant form: ca]

kabolo |n.| fruit of power [kabolo < ka-bolo, from ka “power, force, ability” and bolo “fruit”. Variant form: cabolo]

kadin |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) flight; lit. “power of high-space” [kadin < ka-ti-ini, from ka “power, force, ability”, the stem ti “space, area” (variant of te, see entry), and ini “star(s); height”]

kahgai |adj.| elite, powerful; lit. “immersed in power” [kahgai < kahi-agai, from kahi “power/energy thing” and the modified verbal stem agai “elemental water; washing, immersion” (see entry ga)]

kahgarak |n.cmpd.| elite/powerful menace [kahgarak < kahgai-rak, from kahgai “elite, powerful” and rak “menace, scourge”]

kahu |n.| Rahi-bird species (gukko-subspecies) [kahu < kau-huw, from kau “free-flowing, unhindered; flying” and huw “activity, sport”]

kai¹ |n.| skill, ability [kai < ka-ī, from ka “power, force, ability” and the nounal particle ī]

kai² |n.| unity; lit. “unified/combined power, force, ability” [kai < ka-yi, from ka “power, force, ability” and yi “together, combined”. Variant form: ky]

kailani |n.| prowess, expertise, high-skill [kailani < kai-la-nī, from kai “skill, ability” (see entry), the particle la “good, excellent”, and the particle nī, a reduction of nui “great”]

kaita |n.| spirit of unified/combined power [kaita < kayi-ta, from kayi “unified/combined power” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]

kaj |n.| excavation, quarrying [kaj < ka-ji, from ka “power, force, ability” and the stem ji “empty/emptied space”]

kakama |n.| (Kanohi-) speed; lit. “movement-of-movement” [kakama < ka-kama, from an intensivizing reduplication of the verbal complex ka-ma “to move”]

kal¹ |n./stm.| action, capability [stem l-modified from ka “power, force, ability” (see entry)]

kal² |n.| seeking power; lit. “detecting/finding/sensing power” [kal < ka-el, from ka “power, force, ability” and el “seeking/searching; detection, sense” - FD: MN#2]

kalama |n.cmpd.| highly skilled/capable one; lit. “master of excellent ability” [kalama < ka-la-ma, from ka “power, force, ability”, the modifying particle -la “good, excellent”, and ma(t) “mastery, control”]

kali |n.| ability, capability [kali < kal-ī, from kal¹ “power, force, ability” and the nounal particle ī. Variant form: cali]

kalix |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) greater capability [kalix < kali-ak-si, from kali “ability, capability”, the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si. Variant form: calix]

kal-ma |v.| to act, lead, initiate [From the modified stem kal¹ “power, force, ability” and the verbal particle ma]

kalmah |n.| leader, forerunner, figurehead; lit. “thing that acts/is able” [kalmah < kalma-hī, from the verbal complex kal-ma “to act, lead, initiate” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]

ka-ma |v.| to move [From ka “power, force, ability” and the verbal particle ma]

kame |n.| finesse, increasing skill/ability [kame < ka-me, from ka “power, skill, ability” and mē “up, upward, rising” (variant of mi, see entry)]

kamen |n.| apprentice, learner; lit. “one who increases in skill/ability” [kame-ān, from kame “finesse, increasing skill/ability” and ān “being, individual”]

kanae |n.| harshly proliferating [kanae < ki-anae, from the stem ki “sharpness, harshness, biting” (variant of khi) and anae “multiplying, proliferation”. Largely a Le-Matoran dialectal term, applied to large bodies of water, in reference to choppy (“harsh”) waves]

kane |n.| Rahi-bull [etymology uncertain]

kane-ra |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) lit. “wild bull” [From kane “Rahi-bull” and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]

kano |n.| forged mask of power [kano < kanohi, a reduced form of older kanohi “mask of power” (see entry), also found further reduced as an affix -kan(o)]

kanohi |n.cmpd.| mask of power [kanohi < ka-nohi, from ka "power, force, ability" and nohi “face; mask”]

kanoka |n.cmpd.| disk of power [kanoka < ka-noka, from ka "power, force, ability" and noka “disk; powerful protodermic object”]

kantai |n.cmpd.| power of enlightenment [kantai < ka-antai, from ka “power, force, ability” and antai “enlightenment”]

kao |n.| power, energy [kao < ka-ō, from ka “power, force, ability” and the nounal particle ō. Variant forms: kō, cō]

kapura |n.cmpd.| wise and powerful friend [kapura < ka-pu-rua, from ka “power(ful), force, ability”, pu “friend, ally”, and rua “contemplation, stillness, wisdom”]

kar |n./stm.cmpd.| 1. (archaic) application of power/energy; 2. (modern) application of power against (something), repulsion, rejection, subjugation; 3. (modern) resistance, resisting/repulsing; shell, barrier [kar < ka-ār, from ka “power, force, ability” and the particle ār “applied, application of; applied against, resistance, hindering”. Variant forms: kara, cara, kera, kra, kre - FD: MN#4]

karapar |n.cmpd.| stubbornness; lit. “strong/robust resistance (shell)” [karapar < kara-par, from the stem-compound kara “resistance, resisting/repulsing; shell, barrier” (variant of kar, see entry) and the stem-compound par “strong, stolid, robust; strengthened, made strong”. Variant form: carapar - FD: MN#4]

karda |n.| heart, core, engine; lit. “ordered/rhythmic application of power” [karda < kar-da, from the stem-compound kar “application of power/energy” and da “authority; order”]

karda-nui |n.cmpd.| great heart/engine [From karda “heart, core, engine” and nui “great, significant”]

kardas |n.| (Rahi-) lit. “engine-Rahi” [kardas < karda-s, from karda “heart, core, engine” and the Rahi-designation affix -s]

kar-ya |v.| to exert, apply power/force [From the stem-compound kar “application of power/energy” and the verbal particle ya]†

karzahni |n.cmpd.| 1. (archaic) lit. “one who applies power according to plan/strategy”; 2. (modern) anomaly, enemy, error; lit. “one who rejects plan/strategy” [karzahni < kar-zahi-ni, from the stem-compound kar “application of power/energy” (see entry), zahi “plan, schematic, strategy”, and the particle ni “one who...” - FD: MN#4]

kau 1. |n./stm.| breath; breathing; 2. |adj.| free-flowing, unhindered; flying [etymology uncertain; possibly kau < k-wa-u, from the split-particle (u)ku (k...u) “middle, in the midst of” and the stem wa “wide, great, large”, yielding an original sense of “out/in the middle of wide/open space”. Variant forms: ko, ku, ka]

kaukau |n.| (Kanohi-) water-breathing; lit. “breath-of-breath” [From an intensivizing reduplication of kau “breath; breathing” (see entry)]

kau-ya |v.| to move freely, fly, swim [From kau “free-flowing, unhindered” (see entry) and the verbal particle ya]

kava |adj.| rapid, rushing, breathless; lit. “time of (a) breath” [kava < kau-vā, from kau “free-flowing, breathing” and vā “time”]

kavinika |n.cmpd.| Rahi-canine [kavinika < kava-ini-kau, from kava “rapid, rushing, breathless”, ini “star(s)” and kau “free-flowing; breathing; howling” (see entry), yielding a sense of “breathless star-howler”, in reference to the nocturnal behavior of kavinika]

ka-ya |v.| to empower, energize [From ka “power, force, ability” and the verbal particle ya]

kazi |n.cmpd.| strategic ability [kazi < ka-zī, from ka “power, force, ability” and zī (zai, zē) “strategy, planning, scheming”]

kē |n.| whole(ness); regeneration, restoration [kē < kī-yi, from the particle kī “part, piece, portion of” and yi “together, combined”]

kea |n.| Rahi-shark/marine predator [etymology unknown]

keahi |n.| tooth, fin; lit. “shark-thing” [keahi < kea-hī, from kea “Rahi-shark” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]

keke |n.| bush, shrub [etymology uncertain; possibly from a reduplication of boki “leaf” (see entry): boki-boki “many leaves” > bokiki > keke]

kēlerak |n.cmpd.| shrieking/screaming menace [kēlerak < kē-le-rak, from kē “sharp, biting/gnawing”, le “elemental air”, and rak “menace, scourge”]

kērakh |n.cmpd.| harsh-command-Vahki [kērakh < kē-oro-akh, from kē “sharp, biting/gnawing” (variant of khiu, see entry), oro “word, unit of communciation”, and the Vahki-designation affix -akh (reanalyzed from the older Vahki-designation terms, see entries bord-akh, rorz-akh, vorz-akh, zad-akh) - FD: MN#3]

keras |n.| Rahi-crab; lit. “shell-spawn” [keras < kera-s, from the stem kera “resistance, resisting/repulsing; shell, barrier” (variant of kar, see entry) and the Rahi-designation suffix -s - FD: MN#4]

kēto |n.| healer, lit. “spirit of regeneration” [kēto < kē-tā, from kē “whole(ness); regeneration, restoration” and tā “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence” (with final ā > ō vowel shift)]

kētongu |n.cmpd.| lit. “last of healers” [kētongu < kēto-ngu, from kēto “healer” and ngu “last, final; alone”]

khiara |n.| chain-lightning; lit. “wild(ly) stabbing” [khiara < khiya-ra, from khi-ya “to cut, stab” and ra “wild(ness), untamed”. Variant form: chiara]

khirox |n.| lit. “many more teeth” [khirox < khiru-ak-si, from khiru (variant of kiru, see entry) “tooth, tusk”, the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si. Variant forms: khirux, chirox]

khiu |adj.| sharp, biting/gnawing [khiu < khi-u, from the stem khi “sharpness, harshness, biting” and the adjectival particle u. Variant forms: khu, chiu, kē]

khi-ya |v.| to cut, stab [From the stem khi “sharpness, harshness, biting” and the verbal particle ya. Variant form: chi-ya]

kī |p.| part, piece, portion (of)

kika |n.| (a) croak; croaking [From an onomatopoeic coinage kika, in imitation of the croaking of the makika Rahi-toad (see entry makika)]

kikanalo |n.cmpd.| strength in numbers; lit. “group (made up) of powerful parts” [kikanalo < ki-ka-nalo, from the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”, kai “power(ful), force, ability”, and nalo “group, collection, herd”]

kini |n.| temple; lit. “great part, significant part” [kini < kī-nī, from the particle kī “part, piece, portion of” and the particle nī, a reduction of nui “great, significant”]

kini-nui |n.cmpd.| great temple [From kini “temple” (see entry) and nui “great, significant”]

kinloka |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) powerful biting/gnawing horde [kinloka < ki-nalo-ka, from the stem ki “sharpness, harshness, biting” (variant of khiu, see entry) and nalo “group, collection, herd”, and ka “power(ful), force, ability”. Variant forms: kinaloka, khinloka, khinaloka]

kirik |n.| chirp, chirping; chirping insect [From an onomatopoeic coinage kirik, imitating the sound of the kirikori Rahi-insect (see entry kirikori)]

kirikori |n.cmpd.| Rahi-insect; lit. “creature communicating with chirps” [kirikori < kirik-or-ī, from kirik “chirp, chirping”, or “word, unit of communciation” (variant of oro, see entry), and the nounal particle ī]

kirikori-nui |n.cmpd.| great kirikori [From kirikori “Rahi-insect” and nui “great, significant”]

kiril |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) regeneration, restoration; lit. “oriented toward wholeness/restoration” [kiril < kē-ril, from kē “whole(ness); regeneration, restoration” and the modified stem ril (< ru-li) “orientation; oriented toward; intention”. Variant form: keril]

kiro |adj.| bounded, within an edge/boundary [kiro < ki-rho-o, from the split-particle oki (ki...o) “in/on/at; during (basic locative)” and the stem rho “line, edge, boundary”]

kirop |n.| soothing/restorative speaker [kirop < kē-oropi, from kē “whole(ness); regeneration, restoration” and oropi “word-creature, speaker”]

kiru |n.| tusk, tooth; jaw [etymology uncertain; possibly kiru < ki-rui from ki “sharp, biting/gnawing” (variant of khiu, see entry) and rui “joint; oriented thing”. Variant forms: khiru, chiru]

kivi |n.| detail, facet [kivi < kī-fi, from the particle kī “part, piece, portion of” and fi ”subtle, fine, cunning; web”, yielding a sense of “subtle part”]

ko |n./stm.| 1. elemental ice; 2. stillness, silence; clarity, focus; 3. icy, stern [ko < kō, from the primeval elemental stem kō “elemental ice”. Variant forms: ko-, koul/kul/kyl (u/l-modified)]

koda |n.| determination, resolve [koda < kau-da, from kau “free-flowing, unhindered; flying” (see entry) and da “authority, order”. Variant form: kauda]

kodan |n.| determined one [kodan < koda-ān, from koda “determination, resolve” and ān “being, individual”]

kodrex |n.cmpd.| lit. “highest authority/control of power” [kodrex < kō-drex, from kō “power, energy” (variant of kao, see entry) and drex “high command; highest authority” (variant of darex). Variant form: codrex]

kofo |adj.| small, little [kofo < kau-fā, from kau “free-flowing, breathing” (see entry) and fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling, sky” (with final ā > ō vowel shift), yielding an original sense of “limit of/restriction on free movement”, eventually shifting toward “small space/range of movement” and repurposed as an adjectival modifier. Variant forms: kofa/kova; -k'fa > -fa, -va (heavily reduced, affixal)]

kofo-jaga |n.cmpd.| small Rahi-scorpion [From kofo “small, little”, and jaga “Rahi-scorpion”]

kohrak |n.| ice-designation Bohrok [FD: MN#2]

koi |adj.| white [koi < ko-ui, from the elemental stem ko “elemental ice” and the adjectival particle ui; Variant form: koui]†

kojol |n.cmpd.| icy/stern tactician [kojol < ko-jola, from ko “elemental ice; icy, stern” and jola “excellent strategy” (variant of jala, see entry)]

koki |n.| snowflake [koki < ko-kī, from ko “elemental ice” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”. Also found in an intensivized form kiki (also kokiki), see entries boki, keke for a parallel development]

kokkan |n.| lover of snowflakes; lit. “snowflake-being” [kokkan < kokiki-ān, from kokiki “(many) snowflakes” (intensivized variant of koki, see entry) and ān “being, individual”]

kolhii |n.| game of koli [koli-hui, from koli “free-flowing, running; a Matoran sport” and hī, a reduction of hui “sport, game, activity”]

koli |adj./n.| free-flowing, running; a Matoran sport [koli < kau-li, from kau “free-flowing, breathing” (see entry) and the primeval modifying particle li]

komau |n.| (Kanohi-) mind control [komau < ko-ma-u, from the split-particle uko (ko...u) “outside, external (locative)” and ma(t) “mastery, control” - FD: NM]

kongu |n.| solo-flight [kongu < kau-ngu, from kau “free-flowing, breathing; flying” and ngu “last, final; alone”. Variant forms: kaungu, koungu]

kopaka |n.cmpd.| strength of ice [kopaka < ko-paka, from ko “elemental ice” and paka “strength”]

kopeke |n.cmpd.| 1. ice-carving; carver of ice; 2. silent carver [kopeke < ko-peke, from ko “elemental ice; stillness, silence” and peke “carving; carver”]

kopen |n.cmpd.| Rahi-wasp; lit. “flying carver” [kopen < kua-pen, from kua “flying thing” (see entry) and pen “carver”. Variant form: kuapen]

kordak |n.cmpd.| desolation, destruction; lit. “powerful repulsion/explosion” [kordak < kardu-ak, from the stem-compound kar “resistance, resisting/repulsing; shell, barrier”, du “extension, scope, reach; influence”, and the intensive particle -ak. Variant form: cordak]

koro |n.| village, town, settlement defined by borders [koro < kar-rhō, from the stem-compound kar “resistance, resisting/repulsing; shell, barrier” and the stem rhō “ring, boundary, edge”, yielding a meaning of “edge/boundary of resistance” with reference to the outlying borders of early Matoran settlements, which were frequently delimited by walls or barriers. Variant forms: korro, karo]

kotini |n.| glacier [kotini < ko-ti-nī, from ko “elemental ice”, ti “space, area”, and nī, a reduction of nui “great, significant”]

kotu |n.| icicle [kotu < ko-tu, from ko “elemental ice” and tu (< du) “extension, scope, reach; influence”]

krā |n./stm.| elemental shadow [From the primeval elemental stem krā “elemental shadow”]

krāhi |n.| (a) shadow; darkness, gloom [krāhi < krā-hī, from krā “elemental shadow” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]†

krahka |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) power in shadow/gloom [krahka < krāhi-ka, from krāhi “shadow, gloom” and ka “power, force, ability”]

krāhkan |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) Mask of Shadows [mult. potential etymologies; one proposed etymology is krāhkan < krā-hiki-ān, from krā “elemental shadow”, hiki¹ “part/piece/portion of (something]; measurement”, and ān “being, individual”, yielding a meaning of “measurement of (one’s) shadow”; another proposed etymology is krāhkan < krāhi-kan(o), from krāhi “(a) shadow; darkness, gloom” and an affixed form of kano “forged mask of power” (see entry), yielding a (somewhat straightforward) meaning of “mask of shadows/darkness”]

krāhu |n.| lit. “shadowy activity” [krāhu < krā-huw, from krā “elemental shadow” and huw “activity, sport”]

krakua |n.cmpd.| shadow-bird, night-singing bird [etymology uncertain; one proposed etymology is krakua < krā-kua, from krā “elemental shadow” and kua “bird, flying thing” (see entry)]

kralhi |adj.cmpd.| clandestine, surreptitious; lit. “fulfilling duty/function in the shadows” [kralhi < krā-lhi, from krā “elemental shadow” and lhi “fulfilling duty/function”]

krana |n.| hive, hive-mind; lit. “many subjugations” [krana < kra-nā, from kra “subjugation; application of power against (something)” (variant of kar, see entry) and the plural particle nā]

kranua |n.| lit. “hidden in shadow” [kranua < krā-nua, from krā “elemental shadow” and nua “hidden, unseen, secret”]

krast |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) repulsion, rejection; lit. “driving out via repulsion” [krast < krā-sta, from kra “resistance, repulsion” (variant of kar, see entry) and the stem sta “scattering, consuming, driving out” (< sā-ta). Variant form: crast - FD: MN#4]

krāta |n.| spirit of shadow [krāta < krā-ta, from krā "elemental shadow" ta "elemental fire; spirit, being, essence"]

krāwa |n.| (Rahi-) lit. “large shadow” [krāwa < krā-wa, from krā “elemental shadow” and the stem wa “wide, great, large”. Coined as the name of a dangerous Rahi encountered in Metru Nui with the ability to dramatically increase its size by absorbing kinetic energy]

krekka |n.cmpd.| extremely resistant force [krekka < krē-ak-ka, from kre “resistance, repulsion” (variant of kar, see entry), the intensive particle -ak, and ka “power, force, ability”. Variant form: krakka - FD: MN#4]

krika |n.cmpd.| powerful insect [krika < kirik-ka, from kirik “chirp, chirping; chirping insect” and ka “power(ful), force, ability”]

krom |n.cmpd.| lesser-master; lit. “master-within-boundaries” [krom < kiro-ma, from kiro “bounded; within an edge/boundary” and ma(t) “mastery, control”. Variant forms: kroma, kromata, kiro-mata - FD: MN#6]

kua 1. |n.| bird, flying thing; freedom, independence; 2. |adj.| liberated, independent; free-flowing, flying, leaping [etymology uncertain; possibly kua < ku-wa, from the particle (u)ku “middle, in the midst of” and the stem wa “wide, great, large”, yielding an original sense of “out/in the middle of wide/open space”. Variant forms: ko, ku, ka, kual (l-modified)]

kualsi |n.cmpd.| teleportation, quick-travel; lit. “flying/leaping between possibilities” [kualsi < kual-isi, from kual “free-flowing, flying, leaping” (l-modified form of kua, see entry) and isi “possible; possibilities”]

kualus |n.cmpd.| converser with birds [kualus < kua-lu-s, from kua “bird, flying thing” (see entry), the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking”, and the affix -s, usually reserved for Rahi-designations]

kuma |n.| Rahi-rodent; lit. “master of biting/gnawing” [kuma < kiu-ma, from kiu “sharp, biting/gnawing” (variant of khiu, see entry) and ma(t) “mastery, control”. Applied to a common variant of the kinloka species of Rahi-rodent]

kuma-nui |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) great kuma [From kuma “Rahi-rodent” and nui “great, significant”]

kume-ha |v.| to hone, sharpen [kume-ha < ku-mē-ha, from ku “sharp, biting/gnawing” (variant of khiu), mē “up, upward; rising/increasing” (variant of mi, see entry), and the verbal particle ha]

kumo |n.| refinement, sharpening, honing [kumo < ku-mē-ō, from ku “sharp, biting/gnawing” (variant of khiu), mē “up, upward; rising/increasing” (variant of mi, see entry), and the nounal particle ō]

kumu |adj.| partly-changed; lit. “in the middle of change” [kumu < ku-mu, from the primeval particle (u)ku “middle, in the midst (of)” and the stem mu “change, variation, difference”]

kuna |n.| Rahi-snake; lit. “much twisting/turning/slithering” [kuna < kau-nā, from kau “free-flowing, breathing” and the plural particle nā]

kur |n.| anger, rage [kur < ko-ūr, from ko “elemental ice” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, not”. Variant form: kour - FD: MN#1]

kurahk |n.cmpd.| lit. “raging wild thing” [kurahk < kur-rahk, from kur “anger, rage” and rahk “wild/untamable thing” - FD: MN#1]

kuru |adj.| angry, enraged [kuru < kur-u, from kur “anger, rage” and the adjectival particle u]†

kuru-ha |v.| to rage, become angry [From the stem kūr(u) “anger, rage” and the verbal particle ha]†

kyl-ma |v.| to freeze, frost over [From the u/l-modified elemental stem kyl (< koul) “elemental ice” and the verbal particle ma. Variant forms: koul-ma, kul-ma]

kylma |vn.| deep-freeze, freezing, frosting over [From the verbal complex kyl-ma “to freeze, frost over”. Variant forms: koulma, kulma]

kyrehx |n.cmpd.| unified power of community [kyrehx < ky-rehix, from ky “unity; lit. ‘unified power’” (variant of kai, see entry) and rehix “community”]

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Key:

|adj.| - Adjective

|adj.cmpd.| - Adjective Compound

|adv.| - Adverb

|aff.| - Affix

|n.| - Noun

|n.cmpd.| - Noun Compound

|p.| - Particle

|p.cmpd.| - Particle Compound

|pro.| - Pronoun

|stm.| - Stem

|v.| - Verb

|vn.| - Verbal Noun

|vn.cmpd.| Verbal Noun Compound

Some entries are marked with FD “Further Discussion”, followed by a reference to a blog entry containing more explanatory content related to that etymology. The references are as follows:

NM - “Nameless Masks”

MN#1-X... - “Meaningless Names #1-X...”

LM#1-X - “Learning Matoran, Lesson 1-X...”