-L-

-la |p.| good, excellent (modifying particle) [etymology uncertain; possibly la < li-hā, from the primeval modifying particle li and the stem hā “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal”]

lari |adj.| refined, perfectionistic; lit. “oriented toward excellence” [lari < la-rī, from the particle la “good, excellent” and rī, a reduction of rui “oriented toward” (< ru-ui)]

lariska |n.cmpd.| powerful refined-creature/perfectionist [lariska < lari-s-ka, from lari “refined, perfectionistic”, the Rahi-designation affix -s, and ka “power(ful), force, ability”]

la-ya |v.| to be good/kind [From the particle -la “good, excellent” and the verbal particle ya]

lawa |n.| boat, floating vessel [etymology uncertain]

le |n./stm.| elemental air [le < lē, from the primeval elemental stem lē “elemental air”. Variant forms: le-, leu (u-modified, see entry leu)]

lehvak |n.| air-designation Bohrok [FD: MN#2]

lekha |vn.| interaction, conversing; hearing+speech [lekha < leu-ha, nominalized from the verbal complex leu-ha (see entry lu-ha). Variant forms: lukha, also found affixed as -lek]

ler |n.| toxicity, poison [ler < lē-ūr, from le “elemental air” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, not”. Variant form: lūr - FD: MN#1]

lerahk |n.cmpd.| lit. “poisonous wild thing; poisoner” [lerahk < ler-rahk, from ler “toxicity, poison” and rahk “wild/untamable thing” - FD: MN#1]

leru |adj.| acidic, toxic [leru < lēr-u, from the stem lēr “noxious, toxic; poison(ous)” and the adjectival particle u]†

leso |adj.| wandering; lit. “scattering wind” [leso < le-sā, from le “elemental air” and sā “scattering, consuming” (with final ā > ō vowel shift)]

lesovikk |n.cmpd.| wandering judge [lesovikk < leso-vikk, from leso “wandering” and vikk, an extreme reduction of vahki “judge, law-keeper” (earlier vahiki > vaiki > vīk, vikk)]

leu |n./stm.| elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking [Derived from the elemental stem le “elemental air” (see entry) via u-modification. Variant form: lu]

leva |n.cmpd.| weather, weather-cycle [leva < le-vā, from le “elemental air” and vā “time; timeline, progression, schedule, cycle”]

lewa |n.cmpd.| open air [lewa < le-wa, from le “elemental air” and wa “wide, great, large”]

le-ya |v.| to hear; to receive [From the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking” and the verbal particle ya. Variant form: lu-ya]†

lhī |adj.| virtuous, good, noble; fulfilling-duty/function [etymology uncertain; possibly an extreme reduction lhī < l’hui < li-hā-ui, from the primeval modifying particles li and ui (analogous to u/l-modified elemental stems, perhaps split from an even earlier particle -uil, -ol) and the stem hā “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal”, yielding a meaning of “functioning well/normally; performing one’s function”]

lhika |n.| integrity, uprightness; lit. “power/ability of fulfilling-duty” [lhika < lhī-ka, from lhī “virtuous, good, noble” and ka “power, force, ability”]

lhikan |n.| upright one, duty-bound hero [lhikan < lhika-ān, from lhika “integrity, uprightness” and ān “being, individual”]

lho |n.| duty; function, assigned purpose [lho < lhī-ō, from lhī “fulfilling-duty/function” and the nounal particle ō]†

lohi |n.| cry, screech, scream [lohi < leu-hī, from the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]

lohrak |n.cmpd.| screeching menace [lohrak < lohi-rak, from lohi “cry, screech, scream” and rak “menace, scourge”]

lu-ha |v.| to interact, interface with; to converse [From the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking” and the verbal particle ha]†

lui |adj.| green [lui < le-ui, from le “elemental air” and the adjectival particle ui. Variant forms: leui, leo]†

lumi |n.| greater insight; lit. “increasing perception” [lumi < lu-mi, from the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking” and mi “up, upward, rising”]

-M-

-ma |p.| verbal particle

madu |n.| tree; spire, tower; lit. “extending upward” [madu < mai-du, from mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry) and the particle du “extension, scope, reach; influence”. Variant forms: maidu, midu]

madumei |n.cmpd.| canopy; lit. “tree-head” [madumei < madu-mehi, from madu “tree” and mehi “head”]†

maglya |vn.| succeeding, advancing; lit. “mastering power/force/ability” [maglya < makal-ya, from the verbal complex makal-ya “to succeed, advance, master/learn (a) skill”. Variant form: amagli]

ma-ha |v.| to ascend/descend, move vertically [From mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry) and the verbal particle ha. Variant form: mai-ha]†

mahi |n.| Rahi cattle, beast of burden, lit. “controlled-thing” [mahi < ma(t)-hī, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]

mahiki |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) mastery of deception; deception-master [mahiki < ma-hiki, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and hiki² “trickery, deception”]

mahri |n.| ocean, depths; descent/ascent (through water); lit. “violent ascent/descent” [mahri < maha-rī, from ma-ha “to ascend/descend” and rī “wild, uncontrolled, violent” (< ra-ui). Variant forms: mahari, maihri, mahrui]

mahri-nui |n.cmpd.| great ocean/depths [From mahri “ocean, depths; descent/ascent” and nui “great, significant”]

maiduno |n.cmpd.| east (cardinal direction) [maiduno < maidui-no, from maidui “arm” (variant of midui, see entry) and ono “protodermis”. This term patterns traditionally with terms for cardinal directions in that such terms appear to be derived from parts of the body (see entries meno, midouno, uduno). Variant form: meduno]†

maka |n.| power distributor; lit. “mastery of power” [maka < ma-ka, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and ka “power, force, energy”. Variant form: maca]

makal-ya |v.| to succeed, advance, master/learn (a) skill [makal-ya < ma-kal-ya, from ma(t) “mastery, control”, the modified stem kal “power, force, ability”, and the verbal particle ya]

makani |n.| shooting star, comet; lit. “star of/with flying power” [makani < mai-ka-ini, from mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry), ka “power, force, ability”, and ini “star”]

makika, n .cmpd. (Rahi-) croaker, one who croaks; lit. “master of croaking” [makika < ma-kika, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and kika “croaking”]

mako |n.| lock, bond; lit. “control of freedom” [mako < ma-kua, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and kua “freedom, independence” (see entry]

makoki |n.| (archaic) key; lit. “piece/part of a lock” [makoki < mako-kī, from mako “lock, bond; lit. ‘control of freedom’” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”]

maku |n.| light-heartedness, optimism; lit. “upward-sight, looking-up” [maku < māku < mai-aku, from mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry) and aku “sight, vision”. Variant forms: macku, maiaku, mēku]

makuta¹ |n.cmpd.| 1. master of knowledge; 2. higher knowledge [mult. potential etymologies; one proposed etymology is makuta < ma-akuta, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and akuta “knowledge”; another proposed etymology is makuta < mai-akuta, from mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry) and akuta “knowledge”]

makuta² |n.cmpd.| master of lesser-spirits [makuta < ma-kuta, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and (u)kuta “lesser spirit, being of lesser rank”. Largely a scholarly term, indicating the hierarchical rank of the Makuta in relation to other beings]

mamru |n.| crane/lift-operator, lit. “mastery of suspension” [mamru < ma-mi-ru, from ma(t) “mastery, control”, mi “up, upward, above”, and the particle ru “orientation; oriented toward; intention”]

mana |n.| servant, slave; enslavement; lit. “much control” [mana < ma-nā, from ma(t) “master, control” and the plural particle nā]

mana-ko |n.cmpd.| silent slave [From mana “servant, slave; enslavement” and ko “elemental ice; silence, stillness”]

manas |n.| monster, servant of evil; lit. “enslaved spawn” [manas < mana-s, from mana “servant, slave; enslavement” and the Rahi-designation suffix -s]

mangai |n.| elite protector [mangai < ma-hā-ngai, from ma(t) “mastery, control”, hā “protection; peace/calm, safety, systems-normal”, and ngai “elite”. Variant form: mahangai]

mangaia |n.| under-Mangai [mangaia < mangai-au, from mangai (used as a placename, see entry) and the stem au “under, lower, below” (variant of uw, see entry)]

mantax |n.| conqueror, subjugator; lit. “spirit of greater-enslavement” [mantax < mana-ta-ak-si, from mana “servant, slave; enslavement”, ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”, the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si]

manu |adj.| enslaved, chained [manu < mana-u, from mana “servant, slave; enslavement” and the adjectival particle u]

manutri |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) lit. “chained wings” [manutri < manu-tiri, from manu “enslaved, chained” and tiri “wing, flat appendage”. Applied to the common aquatic species of Rahi-bird, referencing their flightlessness]

marka |n.| swimming, treading water [marka < marī-kau, from marī “arm(s)” (a reduced variant of mirui) and kau “free-flowing, breathing” (see entry)]

ma(t) |n./stm.| mastery, control; master [etymology uncertain; undoubtedly related to the coeval stems me(t) “upper-part, head; primary system” and atu “mind, will”, as well as the stem mi “up, upward, above” (see entries). Variant form: ma]

mata |n.| master of spirits; master-spirit [mata < ma-ta, from ma(t) “mastery, control; master” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]

mata-nui |n.cmpd.| great master of spirit; great master-spirit [From mata “master of spirit; master spirit” and nui “great, significant”]

matatu |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) mastery of will(power) [matatu < mat-atu, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and atu “mind, will”]

matau |n.| (high-)elevation, altitude; lit. “result/essence of upward-movement” [matau < mai-tau, from mai “up, upward, above” (variant of mi, see entry) and the u-modified elemental stem tau “elemental fire; spirit/essence, result-of-process”]

matoro |n.| mastery of words, word-master [matoro < mat-oro, from ma(t) “mastery, control; master” and oro “word(s)”]

matoran |n.| speakers; lit. “word-master-beings; those who use words” [matoran < matoro-ān, from matoro “word-master” and ān “being, individual”]

mat-ya |v.| to master, use [From ma(t) “mastery, control; master” and the verbal particle ya]†

mavrah |n.cmpd.| lit. “master of revealed/discovered Rahi” [mavrah < ma-avu-rahi, from ma(t) “mastery, control”, avu “revealed, (newly) discovered”, and rahi “beast, wild thing”]

maxi |n.| enforcement, pacification; lit. “more intensive control” [maxi < ma-ak-si, from ma(t) “mastery, control”, the intensive particle ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si]

maxilos |n.cmpd.| peacekeeper, security-unit; lit. “unit with enforcement/pacification function” [maxilos < maxi-lo-s, from maxi “enforcement, pacification, peacekeeping”, lo (< lho) “duty, function”, and the affix -s, usually reserved for Rahi-designations]

mazeka |n.cmpd.| powerful spy/infiltrator [mazeka < maze-ka, from maze “spy, infiltrator” (variant of mazi, see entry) and ka “power(ful), force, ability”]

mazi |n.| spy, infiltrator [mazi < ma-zī, from ma(t) “mastery, control” and the stem zī (zai, zē) “strategy, planning, scheming”. Variant form: maze]

mehi |n.| head; skull [mehi < me-hī, from me(t) “head; mind” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”. Variant form: mei]†

mehirui |n.cmpd.| neck; lit. "head-joint" [mehirui < mehi-rui, from mehi “head; skull” and rui “joint”. Variant form: meirui]†

meno |n.| north (cardinal direction) [meno < me-no, from me(t) “head; mind” and no (also ono) “protodermis”. This term patterns traditionally with terms for cardinal directions in that such terms appear to be derived from parts of the body (see entries maiduno, midouno, uduno)]†

me(t) |n./stm.| upper-part, head; primary system [etymology uncertain; undoubtedly related to the coeval stems ma(t) “mastery, control” and atu “mind, will”, as well as the stem mi “up, upward, above” (see entries)]

meto |n.| mind-brain, mental system [meto < met-ō, from me(t) “head; mind” and the nounal particle ō]†

metu |adj.| mental, of the mind [metu < met-u, from me(t) “head; mind” and the adjectival particle u]†

metru |n.| city; lit. “oriented toward the head” [metru < met-ru, from the stem me(t) “head; mind” and the particle ru “orientation, intention; oriented toward”. The application of this term to the city of Metru Nui is unclear, although it may pattern along with terms for cardinal directions, which appear to be derived from parts of the body (see entries maiduno, midouno, meno, uduno)]

metru-nui |n.cmpd.| great city [From metru “city” and nui “great, significant”]

mi |adv.| up, upward, above [mi < mī. Variant forms: mai, mē]

midak |n.| lit. “fervently reaching upward” [midak < mid’ak < mi-du-ak, from mi “up, upward, above”, the stem du “extension, scope, reach; influence”, and the intensive particle -ak]

midouno |n.cmpd.| west (cardinal direction) [midouno < midui-ono, from midui “arm” and ono “protodermis”. This term patterns traditionally with terms for cardinal directions in that such terms appear to be derived from parts of the body (see entries maiduno, meno, uduno). Variant form: midono]†

midui |n.| arm; lit. “upper-limb” [midui < mi-dui, from mi “up, upward, above” and dui “limb, appendage; extension”. Variant forms: medui, maidui]†

midurui |n.cmpd.| shoulder; lit. “arm-joint” [midurui < midui-rui, from midui “arm” and rui “joint”]†

mi-ma |v.| to rise, levitate [From the stem mi “up, upward, above” and the verbal particle ma. Variant forms: mai-ma, mē-ma]†

miru |n.| (Kanohi-) levitation, floating; lit. “upward orientation” [miru < mi-ru, from mi “up, upward, above” and the particle ru “orientation; oriented toward; intention”]

misi |adj.| unknown, indistinct; misty, hazy [misi < me-isi, from me(t) “head; mind” and isi “possibility; possible”, yielding a sense of “possible thoughts, unknown thoughts”. Variant forms: meisi, metisi]

miserix |n.cmpd.| 1. (archaic) high-level command of the mind; 2. mysterious/unknown high-level command [miserix < misi-orix, from misi “unknown, indistinct; misty, hazy” and orix “superior command, upper echelon”. Variant forms: miseryx, meserix]

miso |n.| mist, fog, haze [miso < misi-ō, from misi “unknown, indistinct; misty, hazy” and the nounal particle ō]

mistai |n.| unknown being, stranger, silhouette; lit. “unknown-spirit, spirit of mist” [mistai < misi-tai, from misi “unknown, indistinct; misty, hazy” and tai (also tī) “spirit, being, essence”. Variant forms: misti, misitai]

mistika |n.cmpd.| powerful unknown spirit, spirit of mist [mistika < misti-ka, from misti “stranger, silhouette” (variant of mistai, see entry) and ka “power(ful), force, ability”. Variant form: mistaika]

mo |n.| plains, broad expanse of land [mo < mō < no-wa, from no (also ono) “protodermis” and the primeval stem wa “wide, great, large” (with final ā > ō vowel shift), yielding a sense of “expanse of protodermis”]

moa |n.| desert bird; lit. “from the plains; plains-dweller” [moa < mo-kha < moha, from mo “plains, broad expanse of land” and an extreme reduction of the origin particle ha]

mohi |n.| (an) alternate, variant [mohi < mou-hī, from mou “change, variation, difference” (variant of mu(t)) and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]

mohtrek |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) time-duplication; lit. “guide of alternate(-versions)” [mohtrek < mohi-trē-ak, from mohi “(an) alternate, variant”, the stem trē (< tēr) “guidance, guiding-force”, and the intensive particle -ak]

mora |adj.| moody, tempermental [mora < mou-ra, from mou “change, variation, difference” (variant of mu(t)) and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]

morak |n.| very tempermental [morak < mora-ak, from mora “moody, tempermental” and the intensive particle -ak]

morbuzakh |n.cmpd.| treacherous sentient plant [morbuzakh < mor-bo-u-zakh, from mor “word-usage, sentience”, bo “elemental plant-life”, the adjectival particle u, and the adjectival stem zakh “treacherous”]

motara |n.cmpd.| desert, wilderness; hot, barren region [motara < mo-ta-ra, from mo “plains, broad expanse of land”, ta “elemental fire”, and ra “wild(ness), untamed”, yielding a sense of “hot, untamed expanse of land”]

mua |n.| Rahi cat/feline [etymology uncertain]

muaka |n.cmpd.| powerful Rahi-cat [muaka < mua-ka, from mua “Rahi cat/feline” and ka “power, force, ability”]

mukau |n.cmpd.| Rahi-bovine; lit. “mu-breath” [mukau < mu-kau, from an onomatopoeic coinage mu (in imitation of the lowing of bovinous Rahi) and the stem kau “free-flowing, unhindered; breathing”]

mutra |adj.| erratic, volatile, unpredictable, eccentric; lit. “wildly changing” [mutra < mut-ra, from the stem mu(t) “change, variation, difference” and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]

mutran |n.| eccentric being, maverick; lit. “one who changes wildly” [mutran < mutra-ān, from mutra “erratic, volatile, unpredictable, eccentric” and ān “being”]

mutatu |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) charisma; lit. “change-mind/will” [mutatu < mut-atu, from mu(t) “change, variation, difference” and atu “mind, will” - FD: NM]†

mutru |n.| lit. “oriented toward change; process of mutation” [mutru < mut-ru, from mu(t) “change, variation, difference” and ru “orientation; intention; oriented toward” - FD: NM]†

mutu |adj.| different, unlike [mutu < mut-u, from mu(t) “change, variation, difference” and the adjectival particle u - FD: NM]†

mutuku |n.| emulation; lit. “not-different” [mutuku < mutu-ku, from mutu “different, unlike” and the negative particle -ku - FD: NM]†

--------------------

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...”