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A Matoran Dictionary - Second Edition - Volume VIII


JRRT

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A Matoran Dictionary

2nd Edition

VOLUME VIII :: V-Z

 

-V-

 

|stm.| 1. (abstract) time; 2. timeline, progression, advance, headway [Variant forms: (ā > ō / __#), vah-]

vahi |n.| (Kanohi) lit. “time-thing” [vahi < vā-hī, from “(abstract) time” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

vahki |n.| judge, law-keeper; lit. “measurer of limits” [vahki < fā-hiki, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling, sky” and hik “measurement, extent” (see entry) - FD: MN#3]

vakama |n.cmpd.| (the) future; lit. “movement of time” [vakama < vā-kama, from “time” and ka-ma “to move”]

vako |n.| species of Rahi-bull; lit. “part of stampede/charge” [vako < va-kī-ō, from “time; timeline, progression, advance, headway”, the particle “part, piece, portion of” and the nounal particle ō. The term is applied in reference to the behavior of vako herds]

valma |vn.| awaiting; lit. “seeking (a particular) time” [valma < vā-elma, from “time” and el-ma “to seek, search”]

valmai |n.| (archaic) place of awaiting; cursed place [valmai < valma-hī, from valma “awaiting” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

vamprah |n.cmpd.| always feeding/devouring; lit. “continuously made strong/satiated thing” [vamprah < vamu-pra-hī, from vamu “always, continuously”, the stem pra “strengthened, made strong” (variant of par, see entry), and the particle “thing, object, place”]

vamu |adv.| always, continuously [vamu < vā-amu, an adverb grammaticalized from the nounal complex vā-amu, from “time; progression, advance” and the particle amu “through, by (transitional-instrumental)”]

varian |n.| 1. time-struggler; lit. “one who strives against time”; 2. prisoner; lit. “one who strives against bonds/limits” [mult. potential etymologies; one proposed etymology is varian < vā-ari-ān, from “time”, ari “striving, struggling; climbing” (variant of , see entry), and ān “being, individual”; another proposed etymology is varian < fā-ari-ān, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling”, ari “striving, struggling; climbing” (variant of see entry), and ān “being, individual”]

vatuka |n.| (Rahi-) limited will-power [vatuka < fa-atu-ka, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling”, atu “mind, will”, and ka “power, force, ability”. Applied to the elemental vatuka rock-creatures, in reference to their apparently half-sentient nature]

veli 1. |vn./adj.| (archaic) awaiting, abiding; 2. |n.| (modern) riddle, secret knowledge [veli < vel-ī, from vel-, a contraction of earlier valma “awaiting” (vel- < vā-el- < vā-el-ma) and the nounal particle ī]

velika |n.cmpd.| 1. powerful abiding/awaiting one; 2. riddler, keeper of secret knowledge [velika < veli-ka, from veli “awaiting, abiding; riddle, secret knowledge” and ka “power(ful), force, ability”]

vezo |n./adj.| double, twofold [etymology uncertain]

vezok |n.| duplicity, treachery; lit. “very two-faced” [vezok < vezo-ak, from vezo “double, twofold” and the intensive particle -ak]

vezon |n.| double, twin, doppleganger [vezon < vezo-ān, from vezo “double, twofold” and ān “being, individual”]

vhiso |n.| scholar; lit. “desiring subtle-things/facts” [vhiso < fi-hī-sā, from fi “subtle, fine, cunning; web”, the particle “thing, object, place”, and the primeval stem “hungering, desiring”]

vhisola |n.cmpd.| excellent scholar [vhisola < vhiso-la, from vhiso “scholar” and the modifying particle -la “good, excellent”]

vika |n.cmpd.| cunning power/ability [vika < fi-ka, from the stem fi “subtle, fine, cunning; web” and ka “power, force, ability”. Variant form: vica]

vikan |n.cmpd.| one with cunning ability [vican < vika-ān, from vika “cunning power/ability” and ān “being, individual”. Variant form: vican]

vira |n.| 1. wildly cunning; 2. sprawling web [vira < fi-ra, from fi ”subtle, fine, cunning; web” and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]

vis |n.| Rahi-spider; lit. “web-creature” [vis < fi-s, from fi “subtle, fine, cunning; web” and the Rahi-designation affix -s]

viso |n.| poison; lit. “spider-substance” [viso < vis-ō, from vis “spider” and the nounal particle ō]

visorak |n.cmpd.| poisonous scourge, menace [visorak < visou-rak, from visou “poisonous” and rak “extreme wildness, lawlessness, violence; menace, scourge”]

visou |adj.| poisonous [visou < viso-u, from viso “poison” and the adjectival particle u]

vo |n./stm.| elemental lightning [vo < vō, from the primeval elemental stem “elemental lightning”. Variant forms: vo-, vol (l-modified)]

vohi |n.| spark; discharge [vohi < vo-hī, from vo “elemental lightning” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

voho |n.| static, static charge [voho < vohi-ō, from vohi “spark; discharge” and the nounal particle ō]

vohon |n.| static/charged being [vohon < voho-ān, from voho “static, static charge” and ān “being, individual”]

vohta |n.| discharging/aggressive/volatile spirit [vohta < vohi-ta, from vohi “spark; discharge” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]

vohtarak |n.cmpd.| lit. “volatile/aggressive menace” [vohtarak < vohta-rak, from vohta “discharging/aggressive/volatile spirit” and rak “menace, scourge”]

voli |adj.| flickering, flashing, wavering [voli < vo-li, from vo “elemental lightning” and the primeval modifying particle li]

volitak |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) stealth; lit, “flickering/wavering spirit” [volitak < voli-ta-ak, from voli “flickering, flashing, wavering”, ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”, and the intensive particle -ak]

volo |n.| vitality, energy (substance) [volo < vol-ō, from the l-modified elemental stem vol “elemental lightning” and the nounal particle ō]

vopo |n.| time-passing, age, erosion, entropy [vopo < vapo < -, from “time” and “elemental stone” (with final ā > ō vowel shift), yielding a sense of “time’s effect on stone; erosion”]

voporak |n.cmpd.| lit. “scourge of time/entropy” [voporak < vopo-rak, from vopo “time-passing, age, erosion, entropy” and rak “menace, scourge”]

vor |n.| hunger, energy-draining [vor < vō-ūr, from vo “elemental lightning” and the particle ūr(u) “un-, negative, not” - FD: MN#1]

vorahk |n.cmpd.| lit. “devouring wild thing; devourer” [vorahk < vor-rahk, from vor “hunger, energy-draining” and rahk “wild/untamable thing” - FD: MN#1]

voriki |n.cmpd.| (a) lightning bolt, shaft of lightning [voriki < vo-rī-kī, from vo “elemental lightning”, “wild, uncontrolled, violent”, and “part, piece, portion of”]

vorzakh |n.cmpd.| lit. “great restricting judge/law-keeper” [vorzakh < vor-zatahki-ak, from vor (< fā-oro, a compound of fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction” and oro “word, unit of communication” in imitation of boh-oro, see entry bohrok), zatahki “judge, law-keeper” (an earlier form of dahki, see entry), and the intensive particle -ak - FD: MN#3]

vo-ya |v.| to conduct energy, flow (along), journey [From vo “elemental lightning” and the verbal particle ya]

voya-nui |n.cmpd.| great journey [From voya “journey, current” (nominalized from the verbal complex vo-ya) and nui “great, significant”]

vua |n.| great energy; power-reservoir [vua < vo-wa, from vo “elemental lightning” and wa “wide, great, large”]

vuata |n.| power source; lit. “essence of great energy” [vuata < vua-ta, from vua “great energy” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]

vuata-maca |n.cmpd.| power source and power distributor [From vuata “power source” and maca “power distributor”]

vultraz |n.cmpd.| bird of prey; lit. “predatory sky-wing” [vultraz < fultriazi < faol-tiri-azi, from the stem faol “sky, ceiling” (u/l-modified from fā(n)), tiri “wing, flat appendage”, and azi “violence, predatory” (variant of, see entry)]

 

-W-

 

wa |adj./stm.| wide, great, large

wahi |n.| region, place [wahi < wa-hī, from wa “wide, great, large” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

wai- |p.| possessive particle [wai < *uai, originally denoting an object as being possessed (by something). Variant form: -ui (see entry) - FD: MN#7]

waikiru |n.| (Rahi) possessing tusks [waikiru < wai-kiru, from the possessive particle wai (originally denoting possession of the object) and kiru “tusk, tooth”]

wairuha |n.| possessing wisdom [wairuha < wai-ruha, from the possessive particle wai (originally denoting possession of the object) and ruha “contemplation, stillness; wisdom” (variant of rua, see entry)]

whe |n.| underground [whe < uw-hī, from uw “under, lower, below” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

whenua |n.cmpd.| hidden/secret underground [whenua < whe-nua, from whe “underground” and nua “hidden, unseen, secret”]

 

-Y-

 

-ya |p.| verbal particle [Variant forms: i...a, a...i (splitting+displacement)]

yi |adv./stm.| together, combined

yi-ya |v.| to collect, gather, bring together [From the stem yi “together, combined” and the verbal particle ya]

 

-Z-

 

za |n./stm.| planning, tactic [etymology uncertain; undoubtedly related to the set of stem-forms zī, zē, zai “strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory” (see entry ). Variant form: xa]

zadakh |n.cmpd.| lit. “great judge/law-keeper” [zadakh < zatahki-ak, from zatahki “judge, law-keeper” (an earlier form of dahki, see entry) and the intensive particle -ak - FD: MN#3]

zahi |n.| plan, schematic, strategy [zahi < za-hī, za “planning, tactics” and the particle “thing, object, place”]

zakaz |n.| war-zone, extreme violence; lit. “violence of violence” [zakaz < zai-ak-azi, from zai “violence” (variant of , see entry), the intensive particle -ak, and azi “violence, predatory” (variant of , see entry)]

zakta |n.| very cunning spirit; lit. “spirit of great strategy/tactics” [zakta < za-ak-ta, from za “planning, tactic”, the intensive particle -ak, and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”]

zaktan |n.| lit. “one with a very sly/cunning spirit” [zaktan < zakta-ān, from zakta “very cunning spirit” and ān “being, individual”]

zali |n.| foreboding, premonition, sense of danger [zali < zai-el-ī, from zai “strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory” (variant of , see entry), the stem el “seeking/searching; detection, sense”, and the nounal particle ī]

zamor |n.| sphere [etymology uncertain; one proposed etymology attributes the development of zamor to a rarely-attested primeval form sferu (sferu > sefur > zevor > zamor), frequently appearing as part of a compound sferu-makna. The meaning of this term is uncertain, although it is found exclusively in texts related to the Great Beings. It does not appear to be Matoran in origin]

zaria |vn.| retaliation; counterattacking, counter-strategy [From the verbal complex zari-ya “to retaliate, counterattack”]

zari-ya |v.| to retaliate, counterattack [zari-ya < za-ari-ya, from za “planning, tactics”, ari “striving, struggling; climbing” (variant of, see entry), and the verbal particle ya]

zatth |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) summoning; lit “mind/will of authority” [zatth < zata-ath, from a primeval compound za-ta (later da) “authority, order” and ath, a heavily reduced form of atu “mind, will”]

ze |adj./stm.| empty, emptied out, drained [Variant forms: zi, se]

zemi |n.| absence, excavation; lit. “increasing emptiness” [zemi < ze-mi, from ze “empty, emptied out, drained” and mi “up, upward, rising”]

zem-ya |v.| to excavate, empty/hollow out [zem-ya < zemi-ya, from zemi “absence, excavation” and the verbal particle ya]

|n./stm.| strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory [Variant forms: zai, zē, zy, xi, azi]

zia |vn.| planning, schematic, engineering [From the verbal complex zī-ya “to strategize”. Variant form: xia]

zivon |n.| creature of violent energy [zivon < zī-vo-ān, from “strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory”, vo “elemental lightning; energy”, and ān “being, individual”]

zu |adj.| tactical [zu < za-u, from za “planning, tactics” and the adjectival particle u]

zya |v.| (archaic) to strategize, attack [zya < zī-ya, from “strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory” and the verbal particle ya]

zyglak |n.cmpd.| lit. “extremely treacherous/traitorous power” [zyglak < zy-kal-ak, from zy “strategy, planning, scheming; violence; predatory” (a variant of , see entry), the modified stem kal “power, force, ability”, and the intensive particle -ak]

 

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

 

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...”

 

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Wow. Just, wow.

 

The whole thing is out now, as far as I know XD

 

Again, this is an amazing thing, Will. Excellent. This should count for something in Real Life beyond the still valuable personal gratification.

  • Upvote 1
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I really want to commend you on this whole dictionary - I actually made my account on BZPower partially because I wanted to thank you for making this resource. I am blown away by the whole thing. It helped me name a Toa of mine, and the words you've come up with really sound authentic. :^)

I unfortunately have to point out one small error - many sources (BS01 being one of them) say that the meaning of Visorak "poisonous scourge" is attributable to their own language and not Matoran. Wouldn't the etymology listed here therefore be rendered moot?

  • Upvote 1
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I really want to commend you on this whole dictionary - I actually made my account on BZPower partially because I wanted to thank you for making this resource. I am blown away by the whole thing. It helped me name a Toa of mine, and the words you've come up with really sound authentic. :^)

I unfortunately have to point out one small error - many sources (BS01 being one of them) say that the meaning of Visorak "poisonous scourge" is attributable to their own language and not Matoran. Wouldn't the etymology listed here therefore be rendered moot?

It depends on the medium, it is also stated to mean "The stealers of life" in visorak tongue.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment

I really want to commend you on this whole dictionary - I actually made my account on BZPower partially because I wanted to thank you for making this resource. I am blown away by the whole thing. It helped me name a Toa of mine, and the words you've come up with really sound authentic. :^)

I unfortunately have to point out one small error - many sources (BS01 being one of them) say that the meaning of Visorak "poisonous scourge" is attributable to their own language and not Matoran. Wouldn't the etymology listed here therefore be rendered moot?

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad it's been a helpful resource!

 

You're right about the supposed origin of the meaning of "Visorak". Here's the relevant quote (from Toa Whenua):

 

"No one knows where the Visorak came from or why. Those few who have mastered their language claim that Visorak means 'stealers of life' and others say it means 'poisonous scourge.'"

 

Note that both of the meanings cited ("stealers of life" and "poisonous scourge") are assigned an origin by Whenua. The "stealers of life" meaning comes from "those few who have mastered [the Visorak] language" (and they only claim that that is the correct meaning, apparently). The "poisonous scourge" meaning, on the other hand, comes from "others" (i.e. not necessarily those who have mastered the Visorak language). Very interesting. Here's the justification I've used:

 

The "poisonous scourge" meaning is a "folk-etymology" invented by Matoran/speakers of the Matoran Language who became aware of the Visorak. It was formed on the basis of the already pre-existing Matoran words viso "poisonous" and -rak "scourge". This fits with the fact that it is "others" (non-speakers of Visorak) who have assigned this meaning to the name. Therefore, the "stealers of life" meaning is presumably the correct etymology in the Visorak Language (or close to correct, depending on how reliable the claims of those who have mastered the language are =p ).

 

The reasoning for this is as follows: The "poisonous scourge" translation feels (to me) like a description that would be assigned to the Visorak by the Matoran (or other species) that have fallen victim to the Visorak--not something that the Visorak would call themselves. "Stealers of life", on the other hand, seems to fit that bill a little better. I might be wrong, of course, but that analysis feels like it fits in with Whenua's assessment of the name's translation.

 

There are a couple more aspects to this (namely a postulated relation between the Visorak Language and a general Rahi Language, which would ultimately be descended from the same basis as the Matoran Language), but I think that covers it!

 

JRRT

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