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JRRT

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  1. JRRT
    A Matoran Dictionary



    2nd Edition







    VOLUME II :: E-J


     
    -E-
     
    e- |p.| make, cause (causative/transitive particle)†
    ehlek |n.cmpd.| effective contact/communication [ehlek < ehl-le-ak, from ehl “seeking/searching; detection, sense” (variant of el), the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking”, and the intensive particle -ak, yielding an original sense of “seeking to communicate”, referencing the earliest Matoran attempts to make contact with sentient amphibious races]
    e-ka-ma |v.| to move X: to put, to give, to take [From ka-ma "to move" and the causative/transitive particle e-]†
    e-kuru-ha |v.| to anger, enrage [From kuru-ha “to rage, become angry” and the causative/transitive particle e-]†
    el |stm.| finding, seeking/searching; detection, sense [etymology uncertain; possibly augmented from the elemental stem le - FD: MN#2]
    elda |n.| detection, finding [elda < el-tau, from the stem el “finding, seeking/searching; detection, sense” and the u-modified elemental stem tau “elemental fire; essence, result-of-process” - FD: MN#2]
    e-le-ha |v.| to listen [From le-ha "to hear" and the causative/transitive particle e. Variant Form: e-lu-ha]†
    el-ma |v.| to seek, search [From the stem el “seeking/searching; detection, sense” and the verbal particle ma. Basically synonymous with el-ya “to seek out”. Variant form: il-ma]
    el-ya |v.| to seek out [From the stem el “seeking/searching; detection, sense” and the verbal particle ya. Basically synonymous with el-ma “to seek, search”. Variant form: il-ya]†
    e-mī-ma |v.| to lift, raise up, elevate [From mī-ma "to rise, levitate" and the causative/transitive particle e-. Variant forms: e-mai-ma, e-mē-ma]†
    epena |n.| 1. quarry-master, foreman; 2. upper quarry, initial excavation [epena < eh-pena; from eh “high, upper; important” (modified from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)”) and pena “quarry, carvings” (see entries)]
    e-turu-ha |v.| to frighten, cause X to be afraid [From turu-ha “to fear, be fearful” and the causative/transitive particle e-]†
     
    -F (PH)-
     
    fa |n./stm.| elemental magnetism [fa < fā, from the primeval elemental stem fā “elemental magnetism”. Variant forms: fa-, ?fā(n) (see entry fā(n))]
    fā(n) |stm.| limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling; sky [Possibly a modified form of the elemental stem fa (< fā) “elemental magnetism”. Variant forms: phā(n), fao (u-modified), faol (u/l-modified)]
    fano |n.| barrier, ceiling/roof; sky [fano < fān-ō, from the stem fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling, sky” and the nounal particle ō. Variant form: phano]†
    fanto |n.| (archaic) flying-thing, bird; lit. “spirit of the sky” [fanto < fān-tā, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling” and tā “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence” (with final ā > ō vowel shift). Variant form: phanto]
    fantoka |n.cmpd.| powerful sky-spirit, spirit of the sky [fantoka < fanto-ka, a modern word-coinage from archaic fanto “flying-thing, bird; sky-spirit” with addition of ka “power(ful), force, ability”. Variant form: phantoka]
    fau |n.| under-roof [fau < fā-uw, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling” and the stem uw “under, lower, below”. Used as a placename for a swamp, referencing the dense canopy]
    faxo |n.| greater stamina/abilities; lit. “greater/higher limits” [faxo < fā-ak-si-ō, from fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof/ceiling”, the intensive particle -ak, the comparative adjectival particle si, and the nounal particle ō]
    faxon |n.| (Kanohi-) lit. “one who has greater stamina/abilities” [faxon < faxo-ān, from faxo “greater stamina/abilities” and ān “being, individual”]
    fe |n./stm.| elemental iron [fe < fē, from the primeval elemental stem fē “elemental iron”. Variant forms: fe-, feu (u-modified, see entry feu)]
    fe-ha |v.| to shape, make, craft [From the u-modified elemental stem feu “elemental iron; shape, craft, craftsmanship” and the verbal particle ha. Variant form: fu-ha]
    felnas |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) power-disruption; lit. “disrupting one’s sense of limits” [felnas < fā-el-nas, from the stems fā(n) “limit, barrier, restriction; roof, ceiling, sky”, el “finding, seeking/searching; sensing; detection, sense”, and the stem nas “scattering, dispersing, disrupting” - FD: MN#2]
    fen |n.| spider [fen < fi-ān, from fi “subtle, cunning, strong; web” and ān “being, individual”. A Skakdi dialectal equivalent of vis “Rahi-spider” (see entry)]
    fenrakk |n.cmpd.| lit. “spider-scourge” [fenrakk < fen-rak, from fen “spider” (Skakdi dialectal term, see entry) and rakk “menace, scourage” (Skakdi dialectal variant of rak, see entry)]
    feu |n./stm.| elemental iron; shape, craft, craftsmanship [Derived from the elemental stem fe “elemental iron” (see entry) via u-modification. Variant form: fu]
    fikou |n.| Rahi-spider [mult. potential etymologies; one proposed etymology is fikou < fi-ku, from fi “subtle, fine, cunning; web, silk” and the particle kuw “middle”, yielding a meaning of “(in the) middle of web”; another proposal is fikou < fi-hiki-o, from fi “subtle, fine, cunning; web, silk”, hiki (multiple meanings, see entries), and the nounal particle ō. Such a compound could be interpreted in two ways: “measurer of web/silk” (hiki¹, see entry) or “deceptive web” (hiki², see entry)]
    fohrok |n.cmpd.| (see etym.) [A word coinage created in imitation of the original term bohrok (see entry), replacing the initial boh with the stem foh, derived from feu “elemental iron”, yielding a sense of “iron-Bohrok, crafted Bohrok”]
    foto |n.| ember, spark [foto < fo-tā, from (o)fo “end, finish” and tā “elemental fire” (with final ā > ō vowel shift). Variant form: photo]
    fotok |n.| bright/burning ember [fotok < foto-ak, from foto “ember, spark” and the intensive particle -ak. Variant form: photok]
    fusa |n.| (Rahi-) leaping-thing; lit. “desire/hunger for the sky” [fusa < fao-sā, from fao “sky, roof” (u-modified from fā(n), see entry) and the primeval stem sā “hungering; desiring”]
     
    -G-
     
    ga |n./stm.| 1. elemental water; 2. peace, calm, settledness; 3. tranquil, settled, undisturbed [ga < gā, from the primeval elemental stem gā “elemental water”. Variant forms: ga-, gal (l-modified), gau (u-modified), gaul/gol (u/l-modified), ag(a)i (verbal)]
    gadjati |adj.cmpd.| clear-minded, focused; lit. “mind-pattern like a pool of water” [gadjati < gadu-jatī, from gadu “body of water” and jatī, a reduction of jatui “personality; lit. ‘mind-pattern’” (see entry)]
    gadu |n.| pool, body of water [gadu < ga-du, from ga “elemental water” and du “extension, scope, reach; influence”]
    gadun |n.| water being/creature [gadun < gadu-ān, from gadu “pool, body of water” and ān “being, individual”]
    gadunka |n.cmpd.| powerful water-creature [gadunka < gadun-ka, from gadun “water being/creature” and ka “power(ful), force, ability”]
    gafna |n.| Rahi-rodent; lit. “many variations” [gafna < gaf-nā, from gaf “reflection; variation” (variant of gavi, see entry) and the plural particle nā. Applied to the gafna species of Rahi-rodent, referencing the various elemental breeds]
    gahi |n.| (water) droplet; ripple [gahi < ga-hī, from ga “elemental water” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]
    gahlok |n.| water-designation Bohrok [FD: MN#2]
    gāki |n.cmpd.| leader of water, water-leader [gāki < ga-aki, from ga “elemental water” and aki “leader, lord”]
    gali¹ |adj.| watery, wet [ga-li, from ga “elemental water” and the primeval modifying particle li]
    gali² |n.| water (in general); sea, ocean [gali < gal-ī, from the l-modified elemental stem gal “elemental water” and the nounal particle ī]
    galonu |n.cmpd.| mud, swampy earth [From the l-modified elemental stem gal “elemental water” and onu “elemental earth”. Variant form: galnu]†
    galonuhi |n.cmpd.| swamp [galonuhi < galonu-hī, from galonu “mud, swampy earth” (see entry) and the particle hī “thing, object, place”. Variant form: galnuhi]†
    galonu-wahi |n.cmpd.| swamp [From galonu “mud, swampy earth” and wahi “region, place” (see entries). Basically synonymous with galonuhi (see entry). Variant form: galnuhi-wahi]†
    gamadu |n.cmpd.| jungle-tree; lit. “wet tree” [gamadu < ga-madu, from ga “elemental water” and madu “tree; spire, tower”]†
    gamaduhi |n.cmpd.| jungle; lit. “wet-tree place” [gamaduhi < ga-madu-hī, from ga “elemental water”, madu “tree; spire, tower”, and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]†
    gamadu-wahi |n.cmpd.| jungle [From gamadu “jungle-tree” and wahi “region, place” (see entries). Basically synonymous with gamaduhi (see entry)]†
    gar |n.| weight; importance [etymology uncertain]
    garai |n.| (Kanohi-) control of gravity/weight [etymology uncertain; potentially a compound incorporating a verbal noun arai “reacting; acting upon”]
    garan |n.| important one [garan < gar-ān, from gar “weight; importance” and ān “being, one”]
    gārdus |n.cmpd.| important advancement/improvement [gārdus < gār-du-s, from gār (> gar) “weight; importance”, du “extension, scope, reach; influence”, and the Rahi-designation affix -s]
    gavi |n.| reflection; variation [gavo < ga-avo-ī, from ga “elemental water”, avo “elemental light”, and the nounal particle ī. Variant forms: gafi, gaf]
    gavla |n.| good/pleasing reflection [gavla < gavi-la, from gavi “reflection; variation” and the modifying particle -la “good, excellent”]
    gheku |n.| fortune, luck [etymology uncertain; one proposed etymology is gheku < gahi-aku, from gahi “(water) droplets; ripples” and aku “sight, vision”, yielding an original sense of “watching droplets/ripples; watching where droplets fall”, possibly more in reference to “chance”]
    ghekula |n.| (Rahi-) good fortune/luck [ghekula < gheku-la, from gheku “fortune, luck” and the modifying particle -la “good, excellent”]
    gol-ya |v.| to water, make wet [From the modified u/l-elemental stem gol (< gaul) “elemental water” and the verbal particle ya]
    golyo |n.| watering, irrigating/irrigation [golyo < gol-ya-ō, from the verbal complex gol-ya “to water, make wet” and the nounal particle ō]
    gorast |n.cmpd.| storm, hurricane; lit. “scattering of wild water” [gorast < gau-ra-sta, from the u-modified elemental stem gau “elemental water”, ra “wild(ness), untamed”, and the stem sta “scattering, consuming” (< sā-ta)]
    grālo |n.| Rahi bear; Ash Bear [grālo < grāl-ō, from grāl, an onomatopoeic word symbolizing the roar of the Ash Bear, and the nounal particle ō]
    grālok |n.cmpd.| mighty Ash Bear [grālok < grālo-ak, from grālo “Ash Bear” and the intensive particle -ak]
    gukko |n.| Rahi bird-species [gukko < goko < goh-kua, a southern dialectal form of original goko , from goh (an onomatopoeic imitation of the call of the kahu subspecies of gukko) and the stem kua “flying thing” (see entry)]
    gūr |n.| disintegration, disturbance [gūr < ga-ūru, from ga “elemental water; tranquil, settled, undisturbed” and ūr(u) “un-, negative, not” - FD: MN#1]
    gūrahk |n.cmpd.| lit. “disintegrating wild thing; disintegrator” [gūrahk < gūr-rahk, from gūr “disintegration, disturbance” and rahk “wild/untamable thing” - FD: MN#1]
     
    -H-
     
    -ha |p.| verbal particle [Variant form: -kha]
    -ha |p.| from, out of (origin particle) [-ha (see allomorphs) < *-hā. Variant forms: -ka/-kha (after short vowels), -ga (after /n/ and long vowels), -ka (after consonants) - FD: LM#8]†
    ha |n./stm.| protection; peace/calm, safety, systems-normal [ha < hā. Variant forms: haha (intensive redup.), hō (ā > ō / __#)]
    hafu |vn.| expertise, craftsmanship; lit. “making, displaying craft” [hafu < ha-fu, from the verbal complex fu-ha “to shape, make, craft” (variant of fe-ha, see entry) with displacement of the verbal particle ha. Variant forms: hafe, khafu]
    hagah |n.cmpd.| guardian; lit. “one who protects tranquility” [hagah < hā-ga-hī, from hā “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal”, ga “elemental water; serenity, tranquility”, and the particle hī “thing, object, place”. Variant form: hagahi]
    hahli |adj.| peaceful, calm [hahli < hahi-li, from hahi, a variant of hai “shield, relief, respite” (see entry) and the primeval modifying particle li]
    hahna |adj.| loyal, highly protective; lit. “many shields” [hahna < haha-nā, from haha “protection, loyalty” (an intensivized reduplication of ha “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal”) and the plural particle nā]
    hahnah |n.| fiercely loyal thing [hahnah < hahna-hī, from hahna “loyal, highly protective” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]
    hai |n.| (a) shield; (a) relief, respite; lit. “thing that protects, calms, brings peace” [hai < ha-hī, from the stem ha “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”. Variant form: hahi]
    hak |n.| armor, callous [hak < ha-ak, from ha “protection, peace/calm, safety, systems-normal” and the intensive particle -ak]
    hakann |n.| bully; lit. “armored/calloused one” [hakann < hak-ann, from hak “armor, callous”, the intensive particle -ak, and ann “being, individual” (Skakdi dialectal variant of ān, see entry)]
    hara |n.| rope; flax [etymology uncertain]
    harakeke |n.cmpd.| flax-bush, rope-bush [From hara "flax, rope" and keke "bush, shrub"]
    hau |adj.| defending, protecting, shielding [hau < ha-u, from the stem ha “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal” and the adjectival particle u]
    helryx |n.cmpd.| lit. “upper echelon/high commander of security” [helryx < hel-oryx, from hel (< hā-el) “security; lit. ‘sense of protection’” and oryx “superior command, upper echelon” (variant of orix, see entry)]
    -hi |p.| thing, object, place [hi < hī. Variant form: -hī]
    hikaki |n.cmpd.| (Rahi-) measuring bravery [hikaki < hiki-aki, from hiki¹ “part/piece/portion of something; measurement” and aki “bravery, courage; aptitude, capability”. Applied to the common species of Dragon Lizard, in reference to the creatures’ penchant for swimming in molten magma]
    hiki¹ |p.cmpd.| piece/part/portion of something; measurement, extent [hiki < hī-kī, from the particle hī “thing, object, place” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”]
    hiki² |p.cmpd.| trickery, deception; lit. “(only) part of a thing, not whole” [hiki < hī-kī, from the particle hī “thing, object, place” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”]
    hoi |n.| (Rahi-) name of Shore Turtle [hoi < hō-hī, independently lexicalized form of hai “shield” (see entry), from hā “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”]
    hor |adj./adv./stm.| half, partly, almost [hor < horo < huw-rho, from huw “activity, sport” and rho “line, edge, boundary”, yielding an original sense of “(on the) edge/boundary of activity/state; ‘almost there’”]
    hordika |n.cmpd.| half-beast [hordika < hor-dika, from the stem hor “half, partly, almost” and dika² “rahi, beast”]
    hoto |n.| fire-elemental Rahi-insect; lit. “protected by fire” [hoto < hō-tā, from hō “protection, peace/calm, systems-normal” and the elemental stem tā “elemental fire” (with final ā > ō vowel shift)]
    huai |n.| large-scale sporting event [huai < huw-wa-ī, from huw “activity, sport”, wa “wide, great, large” and the nounal particle ī]
    hui |n.| sport, game, activity [hui < huw-ī, from huw “sport, activity” and the nounal particle ī. Variant form: hī]
    huki |n.| agent, participant; player/competitor, athlete; lit. “part of sport/activity” [huki < huw-kī, from huw “sport, activity” and the particle kī “part, piece, portion of”. Variant forms: huwki, hewkii]
    huna |n.| (Kanohi-) invisibility; lit. “hidden activity” [huna < huw-nua, from huw “activity, sport” and nua “hidden, unseen, secret”]
    hura |n.| agitation, wild activity [hura < huw-ra, from huw “sport, activity” and ra “wild(ness), untamed”]
    husi |n.| (Rahi-) lively creature [husi < huw-s-ī, from huw “activity, sport”, the Rahi-designation affix -s, and the nounal particle ī]
    hyda |n.| protecting/order-keeping spirit [haida < hai-ta, from hai “(a) shield; (a) relief, respite” and ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”. Variant forms: haida, haita]
    hydraxon |n.cmpd.| brutally capable peacekeeper [hydraxon < hyda-ra-axon, from hyda “protecting/order-keeping spirit”, ra “wild(ness), untamed; brutal”, and axon “valorous/capable being”]
    hydruka |n.cmpd.| aquatic Rahi (see etym.) [hydruka < hyda-ru-kau, from hyda “protecting spirit”, ru “orientation; oriented toward; intention” and kau “free-flowing, breathing; breath” (see entry), yielding a sense of “protecting spirit oriented toward breath”, referencing the use of the hydruka by the Matoran of Mahri Nui as a means of harvesting precious air (“breath”) from airweed]
     
    -I-
     
    iden |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) 1. assembling mind and body; 2. one who fills vessels [multi. potential etymologies; one proposed etymology is iden < aitaon < ayi-ta-on, from ayi “collecting, assembling, gathering up”, the stem ta “elemental fire; spirit, being, essence”, and on, a heavily reduced form of onoi “body” (see entry); another proposed etymology is iden < aitan < ayi-atu-ān, from ayi “collecting, assembling, gathering up”, atu “mind, will”, and ān “being, individual”]
    idris |n.| high-flying bird [idris < ihti-ris, from ihti “high space” and ris “Rahi bird”]
    ign(a)i |n.| everything; lit. “all parts, every part” [ignai < iki-nai, from iki “part, piece” (variant of kī, see entry) and nai “all” (also variant nī)]
    ignalu |n.cmpd.| high-alert; lit. “listening to everything” [ignalu < ignai-lu, from ignai “everything” and the u-modified elemental stem leu “elemental air; listening/hearing/speaking”. Used as a term for the highly dangerous Matoran sport of lava-surfing. Variant form: ignailu]
    ignika |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) power/force of life; lit. “power of everything, all parts” [ignika < igni-ka, from ign(a)i “everything” and ka ”power, force, ability”. Variant form: ignaika]
    ī(h)- |p.| to, toward (endpoint particle)†
    ihti |n.| high space [ihti < īh-ti, from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)” and ti “space, area”]
    ihu |adj.| high, elevated; far-seeing, wise [ihu < ih-u, from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)” and the adjectival particle u. Variant form: inihu]
    ikarax |n.cmpd.| 1. (archaic) motivator; lit. “toward greater motivation”; 2. (modern) agitator, usurper; lit. “toward greater resistance/conflict” [icarax < ī-kar-ak-si, from the particle ī- “to/toward (endpoint)”, the stem kar(a) “application of power/energy; rejection, repulsion” (< ka-ār), the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si. Variant form: icarax - FD: MN#4]
    ini |n.| star(s) [ini < inih, from the stem i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)”]
    inika |n.| star-energy; lit. “energy of a star” [inika < ini-ka, from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)” and ka “power, force, ability”]
    inikhi |n.| high-place; mountain-top [inihi < inih-hī, from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)” and the particle hī “thing, object, place”. Variant form: ikhi]†
    initoi |n.| the Red Star [initoi < ini-toi, from ini “star” and toi “red”]†
    ini-wahi |n.| the heavens; lit. “star-place(s)” [From ini “star” and wahi “region, place”]†
    ino |n.| mountain, peak [ino < ih-nu-ō, from i(n)ih “high, elevated; star(s)”, nu (< onu) “elemental earth”, and the nounal particle ō. Variant forms: inuo, inou]†
    iraka |vn.| wrongdoing, crime; murder [iraka < i-rak-a, from the verbal complex rak-ya “to commit crime/violence” (see entry) with uncommon splitting+displacement (i...a) of the verbal particle ya (see entry)]
    iruini |n.cmpd.| star-gazer; lit. “orientation toward the stars” [iruini < ī-ru-ini, from the particle ī- “to, toward (endpoint), ru “orientation; oriented toward; intention”, and ini “star(s)”]
    isi |n.| possibility [etymology uncertain - FD: NM]
    isima |n.cmpd.| (Kanohi-) control of possibility [isima < isi-ma, from isi “possible; possibility” and ma(t) “mastery, control” - FD: NM]†
     
    -J-
     
    jā |n.| strategy, tactics; pattern [jā < tza < ta-za, from the stem ta ”elemental fire; leadership” and the stem za “planning, tactics”. Variant form: jō (ā > ō / __#)]
    jaga |n.| Rahi scorpion [etymology uncertain]
    jala |n.| excellent strategy [jala < jā-la, from jā “strategy, tactics; pattern” and the modifying particle la “good, excellent”. Variant form: jola - FD: MN#6]
    jaller |n.cmpd.| excellent strategist/tactician; lit. “application of good strategy” [jaller < jā-la-er, from jā “strategy, tactics; pattern”, the modifying particle la “good, excellent”, and the particle er (< ār) “application of” - FD: MN#6]
    jātikko |n.cmpd.| icy weather-pattern; lit. “pattern of icy wind” [jātikko < jā-tikko, from jā “strategy, tactics; pattern” and tikko “icy wind”]
    jatui |n.| personality; lit. “mind-pattern” [jatui < jā-atui, from jā “strategy, tactics; pattern” and atui “willful; of the mind”]
    jerbraz |n.cmpd.| veteran soldier/strategizer [jerbraz < jer-brā-azi, from the stem jer “strategizing” (< jā-er), the stem b(e)rā “antagonistic, warlike, rogueish, mischievous”, and azi (variant of zī) “violence, predatory”, yielding an original sense of “strategizing for warlike-violence”]
    jetrax |n.cmpd.| lit. “wild spirit of empty space” [jetrax < je-tara-ak-si, from je “empty/emptied space” (variant of ji), tara “wild spirit”, the intensive particle -ak, and the comparative adjectival particle si. Variant forms: jetarax]
    ji |n./stm.| empty/emptied space [ji < ti-zi, from ti “space, area” and zi “empty, emptied out, drained” (variant of ze, see entry)]
    johi |n.| (a) strategy, complex pattern [johi < jō-hī, from jō “strategy, tactics; pattern” and hī “thing, object, place”]
    johmak |n.cmpd.| master of strategy/complex patterns [johmak < johi-ma-ak, from johi “(a) strategy, complex pattern”, ma(t) “mastery, control”, and the intensive particle -ak]
    jovan |n.| cunning strategist [jovan < jovi-ān, from jovi “subtle/cunning strategy” and ān “being, one”]
    jovi |n.| subtle/cunning strategy [jovi < jō-fi, from jō (< jā) “strategy, tactics” (see entry) and the stem fi “subtle, fine, cunning”]
    ju |adj.| drained, sapped, weakened [ju < ji-u, from ji “empty/emptied space” and the adjectival particle u]
    jutlin |n.| (Kanohi-) decay, weakening [jutlin < ju-otilin, from ju “drained, sapped, weakened” and otilin “steadily, soundly; structured, structurally sound”]
     
    --------------------
     
    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...”
     
  2. JRRT
    Looks like we've reached the end of this three-installment series. Next MN, I'll have to find something else to talk about. Anyways, this final entry focuses on the words in Group 3, as quoted from MN#4:
     
    3) artakha, artidax, teridax, tren krom, pridak, jaller
     
    Group 3:
     
    The distinguishing factor for words in Group 3 is simply the presence of the particle ār in some form or another, making Group 3 the least restrictive of Groups 1-3. Any members of the preceding groups could also be included, since they all contain some form of ār, though usually as a part a stem-compound.
     
    We’ll begin with the most significant (and most complex) etymology, the name Artakha:
     
    artakha, n./n.cmpd. 1. (archaic) “forger, crafter, lit. one-who-applies-craft”; 2. (modern) “(a) refuge, safe haven; lit. out-of-bondage”
     
    The difference between the meanings exhibited by this name/term is not necessarily a sole consequence of any semantic shift, unlike the name/term karzahni from MN#4. It is instead a consequence of a complete reinterpretation of the internal structure of the word, albeit a reinterpretation made on the basis of a semantic shift. We’ll start with the original (now archaic) decomposition of the term:
     
    takha, vn. “crafting, craft”
    ār, p. “applied, application (of); later (applied) against, resistance, hindering” [exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”: ar. . .a, with displacement of ar before the stem.]
     
    The element takha is a verbal noun derived directly from the verbal complex ta-ha “lit. to make-with-fire; to heat, forge, weld; to craft (smthg.)”. In this instance, the particle ār exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”, whereby it is separated into two units a and ar, the latter of which is displaced before the stem to which it is applied (takha, in this case). This yields the complex form ar-takha-a, modernized as artakha, “one-who-applies-craft”.
     
    This translation is widely attested at early stages of Matoran records, and was even used as a general term for crafter-Matoran, in addition to its usage as the name of the legendary crafter-spirit Artakha. This translation was, however, eventually supplanted by a reinterpreted formation, putatively motivated by the emergence of a mytho-historical idea that the realm of Artakha was the “Great Refuge”, the place where Matoran went out of “bondage” (“working in darkness”, literally ki arta-krāho “in the bondage of darkness”). The reinterpretation of the internal structure involved the following elements:
     
    arta, n. “bondage, hinderance, limitation; (a) prison; lit. against-the-spirit”
    -ha, p. “from, out of (origin particle)”
     
    The element arta was an independently lexicalized word that emerged after the semantic meaning-shift of the particle ār (“applied, application (of)” > “(applied) against, resistance, hindering”). It consists of a combination of ār and the elemental stem ta, in this case with reference to “spirit”, yielding a rough meaning of “against-the-spirit”, later acquiring the concepts of “bondage, limitation” and “imprisonment”. The origin-particle -ha was then straightforwardly applied to yield the nounal complex arta-ha, modern artakha “out-of-bondage; (a) refuge, safe haven”. This newly-formed term encapsulated the mytho-historical concept of Artakha as both ruler and representation of “The Great Refuge”.
     
    -----
     
    artidax, n.cmpd. “bondage/imprisonment-toward-greater-order; paraphr. (a) prison for the promotion of greater order”
     
    arta, n. “bondage, hinderance, limitation; (a) prison; lit. against-the-spirit”
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    da, stm. “order, authority; execution-of-a-strategy/plan”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The term arta should be familiar from above. In this case, arta is combined with an internally complex element ī-da-ak-si. This consists of the stem da (from earlier zata) with the general meaning of “order, authority”. This stem is combined with the intensive particle -ak and with the comparative adjectival particle -si to yield a complex with the meaning “toward greater order”. When compounded with arta, the meaning of “bondage, hinderance” is added, with the specific meaning of “prison” becoming particularly salient. The meaning of the resulting compound arta-īdāksi > artīdaxi > artidax references the usage of the southern island Artidax as an ancient prison by the Brotherhood of Makuta: a prison intended to keep dangerous experiments confined in order to promote (i.e. as a means to the end of) “greater order”.
     
    -----
     
    teridax, n.cmpd. “guidance-toward-greater-order; guidance-toward-(better)-execution-of-strategy/plan”
     
    tae-ār, stm.cmpd. “application of spirit/leadership/initiative; guidance, direction, (a) guide”
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    da, stm. “order, authority; execution-of-a-strategy/plan”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The stem-compound tae-ār undergoes the same processes of reduction as the other stem-compounds with ār, yielding variants ter-, tar-, tre-, etc. In this case, the compound is combined with an internally complex element ī-da-ak-si. This consists of the stem da (from earlier zata) with the general meaning of “order, authority”, but also with connotations of “execution of a plan or strategy”, deriving from the original meaning of the elements za “strategy, plan” and ta “elemental fire; leadership, initiative, execution”. This stem is combined with the intensive particle -ak and with the comparative adjectival particle -si to yield a complex with the meaning “toward greater/better execution of a plan/strategy”. When compounded with tae-ār, the meaning of “guidance, direction” is added: taeār-īdāksi. “guideance toward greater/better execution of a plan/strategy”, modern reduction taeār-īdāksi > tērīdaxi > teridax.
     
    This meaning is somewhat ironic, given the intended purpose (and ultimate intentions) of the Makuta who bore this designation. The Makuta-teridax was meant to serve as a crucial stand-in for the Great Spirit during the final stages of the Great Beings’ plan (literally a “guide toward the execution of the plan”), but he instead chose to devise his own Plan for seizing control of the Great Spirit’s position, in which case the name-designation teridax still remains applicable: “a guide toward the execution of the (Makuta’s) Plan”.
     
    -----
     
    Tren, n. “(a) guide; lit. (a) guide-being”
    Krom, n.cmpd. “lesser-master; lit. master-within-boundaries” [variant forms kroma, kromata, kiro-mata]
     
    trē, stm. “guidance, guiding force” [from tae-ār via metathesis: taeār > tār > trē]
    -an, aff. “being, person”
     
    -oki, ke/ki-. . .-ō, p. “in/on/at/within (basic locative particle)”
    rhō, stm. “ring, edge, boundary”
    ma(t), stm. “mastery, control”
     
    These two separate titles were applied simultaneously to the mythic being Tren Krom, who is characterized in Matoran mytho-history as a presage of Mata Nui. The first term tren derives transparently from the element trē, a variant of the stem-compound tae-ār, with addition of the affix -an yielding a complex trē-an “guiding-being”, modern form tren. The decomposition of the second term krom is somewhat more complicated. Krom consists of a stem rhō combined with the basic locative particle, resulting in the nounal complex ki-rhō-ō “within (an) edge/boundary”. This complex is then combined with the element ma(t) to form the compound ki-rhō-ō-ma(t) “master-within-(an)-edge/boundary”, eventually reducing ki-rhō-ō-ma > kirhōma > krōma > krom. The status of Tren Krom as a presage or counterpart of Mata Nui is reflected in surviving etymological variants of the Krom motif: kiro-ma, kiro-mata “Mata-within-boundaries; lesser-Mata”.
     
    -----
     
    pridak, n. “great ruler, governor” [variant forms prida’k, prīdak, praizdak, prīzdak, paridak]
     
    praida, prīda, n.cmpd. “governance, rule, strong-authority; lit. applying strength toward order” [variant forms praizda, prīzda, parida]
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
     
    The element praida/prīda combines straightforwardly with the intensive suffix -ak, yielding the compound praida-ak, prīda-ak with an original meaning of “extremely strong governance”, eventually shifting toward an agentive/honorific meaning “great ruler, governor”.
     
    The term praida/prīda itself originates as a compound of the stem pra (from older par(a) < po-ār) and the lexicalized nounal complex ī-da, consisting of the endpoint particle ī- “to/toward” and the heavily reduced stem da “authority, order” (earlier zda < zata).
     
    -----
     
    jaller, n.cmpd. “excellent strategist/tactician; lit. application-of-good-strategy”
     
    jā, n. “strategy, tactics, planning ahead; strategist, tactician”
    -la, p. “good, excellent (modifying particle)”
    -er, p. “application of ” [modifying particle, derived directly from older ār]
     
    The element jā originally derives from a stem-compound ta-za, roughly meaning “fire/spirit of strategy” (eventually reduced ta-za > tzā > jā). This stem combines with the modifying particle -la to form the compound jā-la “excellent strategy/tactics/planning”, itself an independently lexicalized word. Combination with the particle -er “application of” (from older ār, see MN#4) yields the final complex form jā-la-er > jāler > jaller.
  3. JRRT
    This (rather brief) entry focuses on the words in Group 2, as quoted from the start of the previous entry:
     
    2) barraki, brakas, brutaka, brander
     
    Group 2:
     
    All of the words in Group 2 exhibit an element bar-, b(e)ra-, or some variation thereof. These variants all derive from an ancient compound consisting of the stem kae and the particle ār: kae-ār.
     
    barraki, n.cmpd. “warlord, military leader”
     
    barra, n. “war, conflict; instability, imbalance, chaos”
    aki, n. “leader, lord” [from aka “power, ability, skill” (< kā) plus common nounal particle -ī]
     
    The decomposition of barraki into barra and aki is very straightforward. The element barra originates from a stem-compound consisting of the elemental stem bae “gravity” and the particle ār “applied; application (of)” combined with the ancient stem rā “wild(ness), untamed”: bae-ār-rā. The compound bae-ār denotes the concept “stability, balance; lit. application of gravity”. In combination with rā, this yields a meaning of “imbalance, instability; lit. wildness-of-balance/stability” eventually acquiring the meaning “conflict, war”.
     
    -----
     
    brakas, n.cmpd. “Rahi-monkey; mischievous-kau” [brākas, brakashi, berakas]
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The term brakas dissolves into the element b(e)rā (an adjectival derivative of bae-ār) plus the onomotapoeic element kau (an imitation of the kau-kau call of the Brakas monkey) and the Rahi-designation affix -s, yielding the compound brā-kau-s, modern brakas.
     
    -----
     
    brutaka, n.cmpd. “warlike lesser-spirit of power”
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    uk(u)ta, n. “lesser-spirit, being-of-lesser-rank; (a) kuta-level being”
    ka, n. “power, energy, force, ability”
     
    The element b(e)rā combines straightforwardly with the elements uk(u)ta and ka to form the compound brā-uk(u)ta-ka, eventually reduced brā-ūta-ka > brautaka > brutaka. The ukuta-component of the name signifies a rank within the hierarchy of beings or “spirits” within Matoran cosmology. An ukuta or kuta-spirit was a being of middle-rank (uku “middle, in the middle of” ta “fire, spirit”), above the rank of Matoran and Toa but below the rank of Mata Nui. Interestingly, the Makuta were also classified as (perhaps higher-level) kuta-rank beings. The parallel in status is significant if only for the light it sheds on the subtle connection between these two different species; namely the extraordinary effects of antidermis (the incorporeal substance of the Makuta-species) upon members of the being Brutaka’s species.
     
    -----
     
    brander, n.cmpd. “mischief-maker, practical-joker; lit. application-of-cunning-mischief” [variant form branider, brandar]
     
    b(e)rā, adj. “antagonistic, warlike, rogeuish, mischievous” [from bae-ār via metathesis: baeār > baar > brā]
    nid(i), stm. “cunning”
    -er, p. “application of ” [modifying particle, derived directly from older ār]
     
    The elements b(e)rā, nid(i), and the particle -er combine in a relatively transparent manner to form the compound brā-nid(i)-er, modern form brander.
  4. JRRT
    Alright, after that brief interlude, we’re back on schedule. This is going to be a semi-regular series, posted on Monday or Tuesday, as possible. I’ve abbreviated “Meaningless Names” to “MN”, since I originally wanted to call it “Matoran Notes”. Best of both worlds, this way. =P
     
    Before jumping into the discussion, I’ll start with a brief plan for this entry and the next two entries: Three groups of words, some (seemingly) related, some (seemingly) unrelated. Ultimately, it will be seen that the etymologies of all three groups are interrelated in some way.
     
    1) karzahni, carapar, keras, koro, icarax, crast, krekka, parakrekks
     
    2) barraki, brakas, brander, brutaka
     
    3) artakha, artidax, teridax, tren krom, pridak, jaller
     
    This entry will focus only on Group 1, tying together the etymologies of the members of this group in an effort to highlight the underlying elements which are shared across the spectrum of these (seemingly) distant terms. The next entry will deal with Group 2, the next with Group 3.
     
    Group 1:
     
    All of the words in Group 1 exhibit an element kar(a)-, kera-, kre-/kra-, or some variation thereof. These variants all derive from an ancient compound consisting of the stem kae and the particle ār: kae-ār.
     
    kae, stm. “power, energy, force, ability” [a semi-elemental stem]
     
    ār, p. “applied, application (of); later (applied) against, resistance, hindering (see discussion below)” [exhibits “splitting” and “variable placement”: ar. . .a, with displacement of ar before the stem.]
     
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. “application of power/force/ability; later application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion (see discussion below)”
     
    Both the meaning of the compound kae-ār and the meaning of the particle ār underwent a particular semantic shift at an early stage. This shift is attributed to events surrounding the actions of the being Karzahni, whose name exemplifies the compound. The meaning of kae-ār acquired connotations of “repulsion, rejection, application of power against (smthg.)” as a consequence of the pseudo-rebellion of Karzahni, whose name (kaeār-zahni) originally translated as “keeper-of-the-plan; lit. one-who-applies-power-according-to-the plan/strategy” (in reference to Karzahni’s original purpose). The meaning-shift here is roughly “one who applies power to X” > “one who applies power against X; one who rejects” (“one-who-rejects-the-plan/strategy”, in Karzahni’s case, see discussion below). The particle ār follows an identical path of development in most cases under the direct influence of kae-ār, with the meaning of “applied, application (of)” shifting toward “(applied) against, resisting, hindering”. This shift had widespread consequences for the meaning and interpretation of other lexical elements and compounds, some of which will be examined below.
     
    But first, an etymology for the root cause of the semantic shift: the name Karzahni:
     
    Karzahni, n.cmpd. 1. (original) “one who applies power according to (a) plan/schematic/strategy”; 2. (modern) “(an) anomaly, enemy; one who rejects the plan/schematic/strategy”
     
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. 1. (original) “application of power/force/ability”; 2. (modern) “application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion”
    zahi, n. “(a) plan, schematic, strategy”
    -ni, p. “personifying particle; one who. . .”
     
    The elements above combine straightforwardly to form the compound kaeār-zahi-ni, reducing to kar-zah’ni > karzahni. In this case, the compound kae-ār yields the reduced form kar-. This is only one of several descendant forms, some of which have taken on independent lexical status.
     
    -----
     
    carapar, n.cmpd. “strong/robust resistance (also ‘shell’); stubbornness” [modern spelling karapar]
     
    kara-, kera-, stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    par(a), stm. “strong, stolid, robust; strengthened, made strong” [derived from po-ār “lit. application-of-strength (elemental stone)”]
     
    The forms kara (<cara>), kera are generally associated with concepts of “resistance, resisting/repulsing”. These concepts become concrete in the meaning of “shell, covering, barrier” (something that “provides resistance”). In the case of carapar, this yields a double-meaning: one with the abstract “resistance” and one with the concrete “shell”. The stem kara- is combined with par(a) to yield kara-par(a), modern form karapar (older spelling carapar).
     
    -----
     
    keras, n. “name for a rahi-crab; lit. shell-spawn” [variant forms karas, kerash, kerashi]
     
    kar(a), ker(a)-, stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The word keras dissolves straightforwardly into the stem kera and the affix -s, which frequently denotes a form of Rahi (rahi-spawn, etc.). The translation of keras (with the concrete meaning of kera) is thus simply “shell-rahi” or “shell-spawn”.
     
    -----
     
    koro, n. “village, town, settlement defined by borders” [variant forms korro, karo]
     
    kar(a), ker(a), stm. “resistance, resisting/repulsing; (a) shell, barrier, smthg. that resists” [< kae-ār]
    rhō, stm. “ring, boundary, edge”
     
    The elements kar(a)/ker(a) and rhō combine to form the stem-compound kar-rhō with roughly the meaning “edge/boundary of resistance”. This term was originally used to refer to the outlying borders of early Matoran settlements, which were frequently delimited by walls or barriers. This term eventually develops into modern koro, now used as a general term for any (bounded) settlement, village, or town.
     
    -----
     
    icarax, n. 1. (original) “toward greater application of power/energy; toward greater motivation”; 2. (modern) “toward greater resistance/conflict” [variant forms ikarax, ikaraxi]
     
    ī-, p. “to/toward (endpoint particle)”
    kae-ār, stm.cmpd. 1. (original) “application of power/force/ability”; 2. (modern) “application of power against (smthg.), rejection, repulsion”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    -si, p. “more, -er (comparative adjectival particle)”
     
    The term icarax is attested at a fairly early stage, early enough to undergo the same shift in meaning experienced by words containing the stem-compound kae-ār. The endpoint-particle ī- in combination with this stem-compound and with the functional particles -ak and -si yields a complex form ī-kaeār-ak-si, modern for icarax (īkāraksi > ikaraxi > ikarax, icarax).
     
    An alternate etymology has also been proposed for this term based on the relatively rare compound term kara “ambition, pride; lit. wild/rampant-power”. This would yield a compound with roughly the meaning “toward greater ambition/pride”.
     
    -----
     
    Kanohi Crast, n. “Mask of Repulsion; allows the wearer to repel other objects with violent force” [variant forms krasta, kras’ta, kraseta, krest]
     
    krā, krē, stm. “repulsion, resistance, forcing back” [older spellings <crā>, <crē>; from kae-ār via metathesis: kaeār > kār > krā, krē]
    sta, s’ta, seta, stm.cmpd. “driving-out, removing, taking away” [From compound sae-tae, possibly with original meaning of “scattering/consuming fire; leader-of-scattering”; sae is likely related to sā “scattering, dispersing; sand”, see previous post for discussion]
     
    The elements krā/krē and sta/seta combine straightforwardly to yield the compound krā-s(e)ta, roughly “driving-out/away-(via)-repulsion”, modern form crast (but see variant forms above).
     
    -----
     
    krekka, n.cmpd. “extremely resistant force/power” [variant form krakka]
     
    krā, krē, stm. “repulsion, resistance, forcing back” [older spellings <crā>, <crē>; from kae-ār via metathesis: kaeār > kār > krā, krē]
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    ka, n. “power, energy, force, ability”
     
    The stem krā/krē combines with the intensive particle -ak to form a unit krē-ak “extremely resistant, extreme resistance”. This is then combined with ka to form a compound krē-ak-ka “extremely resistant force/power”, modern form krekka.
     
    -----
     
    parakrekks, n.cmpd. “name of a Rahi-species: strengthened/robust and extremely resistant force”
     
    par(a), stm. “strong, stolid, robust; strengthened, made strong” [derived from po-ār “lit. application-of-strength (elemental stone)”]
    krekka, n.cmpd. “extremely resistant force/power” [variant form krakka]
    -s, aff. “(rahi-)beast, spawn” [affix directly derived from shi “spawn, descendant” with eventual reduction to -s in final position; variants -shi -sh]
     
    The elements par(a) and krekka combine straightforwardly to yield the compound para-krekka, with addition of the Rahi-designation affix -s leading to the modern form parakrekks (parakrekka-shi > parakrekkas > parakrekk’s, parakrekks).
  5. JRRT
    Just a short one today. This entry, we’ll take an even further detour into the etymological origins of Vahki (and associated designations). Somewhat ironic, this being Tax Day. >>
     
    Vahki, n.cmpd. “law-keeper; lit. measurer-of-limits” [variant forms vah’ki, vahiki, fanhiki]
     
    fa(n), stm. “limit, restriction, range, field; also roof, ceiling, sky” [probably derived from the elemental prefix fa “magnetism; magnetic (field)”; spelling variant pha(n)]
    hiki, n. “piece/part/portion of (something); measurement, extent”
     
    The stem fa(n) combines straightforwardly with hiki to form the compound fa(n)-hiki “limit-measurement”. The term hiki may be familiar to you: it has a further shade of meaning involving “trickery, deception” as a consequence of its etymology (see dictionary entries <hiki>, <mahiki> and discussion in previous posts). Perhaps ironically, the term hiki was also used as a unit of measurement, originally for dividing up land during the settlement phases of Matoran prehistory (hī-kī “part/piece of a thing OR place”) and later as a term for measuring out substances and amounts of material in industry and trade. It is this meaning that is at work in the etymology of the term vahki (fan-hiki > fahiki > vah’ki, vahki), which ultimately took on the meaning of “law-keeper”: “one who measures limits”. This was originally a general term referring to any being involved in law-enforcement, and this usage still persists in non-Metru Nuian jurisdictions. Within the bounds of Metru Nuian culture, however, the term vahki has almost exclusively been applied to the law-enforcement automatons invented by the Onu-Matoran Nuparu.
     
    Vahki Designations:
     
    Nuparu, inventor of the first Vahki law-enforcement automatons, wrote in his memoirs that he intended the Vahki to stand as representations of law and order in a city that, to him, seemed to be slowly slipping back into the same old ways that ultimately led Metru Nui into the Matoran Civil War and its terrible aftermath. The names that Nuparu devised for the different Vahki types reflected these intentions, as well as his ultimate inspiration for the Vahki: the long-dormant Bohrok swarms.
     
    The first Vahki units were designated Borzatahkak “vigilant judges/law-keepers”, later reduced to Bordakh (borzatahkak > borzdahk’k > bordakh). This term was, in fact, patterned on the name of the Bohrok themselves. Nuparu recounts how he consulted the Ko-Metruan scholar Ihu (an authority on Matoran linguistics) on the etymology of terms related to the Bohrok swarms and ultimately devised a compound boh-oro-zatahki-ak, directly based on the original form of the name Bohrok: boh-oro-ak (see previous post for discussion of the translation of this term). The element zatahki, which Nuparu added to his invented term, is originally a compound of zata “authority, order” and hiki “piece/part/portion of (something); measurement, extent” and yields the modern dahki “judge; lit. measurer-of-authority/order ” (zata-hiki > zadah’ki > zdakhi > dahki). The terms dahki and vahki are very closely related in origin and composition, and dahki is, in fact, attested as a variant term used to refer to Vahki.
     
    The upshot of the original compound Borzatahkak is a term referring both to the fact that the Vahki units follow the orders of the law (boh-oro “following words; vigilant for words”) and that they zealously represent and enforce that law (zatahki-ak “judge+intensive particle”), in accord with Nuparu’s vision for his inventions.
     
    Other designations for the Vahki were also devised, both by Nuparu and others. The term Zatahkak, later Zadakh (zatahkak > zadahk’k > zadakh) is a shortening of Borzatahkak, later used as a designation for the Le-Metruan Vahki squads.
     
    Other terms originated as further elaborations of this original compound: the Vorzakh units take their name from a compound fa(n)-oro-zatahki-ak, making use of the stem fa(n) “limit, restriction, range, field” which, as noted above, also forms the basis of the term vahki itself (fa-oro-zatahki-ak > vaorzatahkak > vorzdahk’k > vorzakh).
     
    Likewise, the name of the Rorzakh units originates as a compound rho-oro-zatahki-ak, replacing fa(n) with the stem rho, of similar meaning, “boundary, ring, edge” (rho-oro-zatahki-ak > rhorzatahkak > rorzdahk’k > rorzakh))
     
    The two remaining Vahki-designations -- Nuurakh and Keerakh -- are also the most recent in origin. They were not, therefore, formed according to the same elaborate compound-pattern as the others. At the time of their formation, the suffix -akh had been reinterpreted as a general “Vahki-designation suffix”, rather than as a component of a larger compound zatahki-ak (manifesting as -zakh or -dakh in the reduced forms of the other Vahki designations above). In both cases, this “new” element -akh was simply applied to a stem: in the case of nuurakh, the stem nuur “firm command” (older nu-or “earth-word”) forms the basis of the compound: nuor-akh > nuurakh “firm-command Vahki”. In the case of keerakh, the stem keer “harsh/severe command” (older kee-or “harsh/severe word”) forms the basis of the compound: keer-akh > keerakh “harsh/severe-command Vahki”.
  6. JRRT
    This entry, we’ll take a detour into the etymological origins of Bohrok (and associated designations):
     
    Bohrok, n.cmpd. “awaiting-commands, vigilant-for-commands; also vigilantly awaiting/following words”
     
    boh, stm. “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond”
    oro, n. “word”
    -ak, p. “intensive particle”
    orok, n. “order, command; lit. intensive-word” [from oro-ak, oro “word” and -ak “intensive particle”]
     
    The deciphering of Bohrok is somewhat difficult, as it was not originally a Matoran innovation, being found instead as an inscription (albeit a legibly Matoran inscription) boh-oro-ak on the entrances of Bohrok nests. The origin of the term has been commonly attributed to the Great Beings themselves.
     
    There are two possible translations of Bohrok: The first involves the element boh combining straightforwardly with the elements oro and -ak to yield the meaning “vigilantly-awaiting/following-words”. The second involves the combination of boh with the elsewhere-attested compound oro-ak “order, command” (modern form orok) to yield the meaning “awaiting/vigilant for commands”. Both of these etymologies are equally plausible, but they present subtly different semantic interpretations.
     
    As an aside, some scholars have noted a similarity between the composition of the original boh-oro-ak compound and the composition of the original form of the term matoran: mat-oro-ān “user(s) of words”. The reason for this similarity in pattern (if it is non-coincidental) thus far remains a mystery, although some folk-etymologies persist based on the (somewhat superstitious) belief that Bohrok are revenant-Matoran (having gone from being living “users of words” to non-living “followers of words”) and that the Bohrok nests are, in fact, ancient graves.
     
    Bohrok Swarm-designations:
     
    When the Bohrok were first discovered in nests beneath Metru Nui, scholars and archivists rushed to classify them according to known species of Rahi. After close examination, however, it was discovered that the Bohrok were actually fully mechanical--the first fully mechanical constructs encountered by Matoran. A profusion of technical terms soon arose for “non-biomechs”:
     
    hi-vo and vo-hi, n. “powered-thing(s)” [from the elements hī “thing, place” and voi “elemental electricity”, with reference to the dormant artificial power-sources of the Bohrok units]
     
    hi-no, n. “protodermic-things(s)” [from the elements hī “thing, place” and noi “elemental protodermis”, referencing the non-organic makeup of Bohrok units]
     
    hi-olo, n. “thing-with-a-door/hatch” [from hī “thing, place” and ol(o) “door, gate, etc.”; a slightly whimsical term referencing the face-plate or “hatch” of the Bohrok shell]
     
    hi-oro, n. “word-thing” [from hī “thing, place” and or(o) “word”; a loosely-applied label referencing the ancient designations (“words”) written throughout the Bohrok nests; this term was patterned on the composition of the original form of the term Bohrok: boh-oro-ak (see above)]
     
    These terms were all variously incorporated into the official labels applied to the different types of Bohrok swarm-designations. As such, the labels were not so much independent words as they were technical classifications. They generally made use of the same pattern as the original term for Bohrok, boh-oro-ak, replacing boh with the elemental designation of each Bohrok nest and oro with one of the non-biomech terms listed above:
     
    Tahnok, n.cmpd. “fire-designation Bohrok” [variant forms tah’nok, tahnak; tahrok/tahlok/tahvok; Original compound ta-hino-ak, with eventual reduction: ta-hino-ak > tah’noak > tah’nok, tahnok]
     
    Gahlok, n.cmpd. “water-designation Bohrok” [variant forms gah’lok, gahlak; gahrok/gahnok/gahvok; Original compound ga-hiolo-ak, with eventual reduction: ga-hiolo-ak > gah’loak > gah’lok, gahlok]
     
    Lehvak, n.cmpd. “air-designation Bohrok” [variant forms leh’vak, lehvok; lehrok/lehnok/lehvok; Original compound le-hivo-ak, with eventual reduction: la-hivo-ak > leh’voak > leh’vak, lehvak]
     
    Nuhvok, n.cmpd. “earth-designation Bohrok” [variant forms onuhvok, nuh’vok, nuhvak; nuhrok/nuhnok/nuhlok; Original compound (o)nu-hivo-ak, with eventual reduction: (o)nu-hivo-ak > nuh’voak > nuh’vok, nuhvok]
     
    Pahrak, n.cmpd. “stone-designation Bohrok” [variant forms pah’rak, pahrok; pahlok/pahnok/pahvok; Original compound pao-hioro-ak (pao-, a variant of po-), with eventual reduction: pa-hioro-ak > pah’roak > pah’rak, pahrak]
     
    Kohrak, n.cmpd. “ice-designation Bohrok” [variant forms koh’rak, kohrok; kohlok/kohnok/kohvok; Original compound ko-hioro-ak, with eventual reduction: ko-hioro-ak > koh’roak > koh’rak, kohrak]
     
    ----------
     
    Moving along, what entry on the Bohrok would be complete without mention of the Bohrok Queens?
     
    Bahrag, n.cmpd. “lit. elder-of-the-followers; vigilant/waiting-elders” [variants bahraga, bohrag, bohraga]
     
    boh- stm. “boh, stm. “vigilance, watchfulness; awaiting, on-standby, ready-to-respond”
    rag(a), stm. “tame one, wise one; elder” [reduction of a very ancient compound rā-gae “lit. (the) wild-at-peace, the wild settled”]
     
    The modern name of the Bahrag twins was also found as an inscription in even the earliest Bohrok nests: boh-rāgae. It exhibits the same ancient element boh as the name of the Bohrok, but combines it with a different (though equally ancient) compound rā-gae. This compound is itself derived from a combination of the stem rā “wild, untamed” and the elemental stem gae “water”, in this case with reference to the stem’s itinerant connotations of “peace, calm, serenity”. The compound rāgae thus originally denoted a concept of “being tame; settling one’s wildness”, ultimately leading to the more modern meanings of rag(a) “tame one, wise one; elder”. The compound boh-rāgae thus encapsulates the symbolism of the Bahrag’s role: elders or “queens” of the Bohrok Swarms, the leaders of those who await or follow.
     
    ----------
    And what entry that includes the Bohrok and the Bahrag would be complete without mention of the Bohrok-Kal? I mean really.
     
    (Bohrok-)Kal, n.cmpd. “seeker-of-power; lit. detecting/finding/sensing-power”* [variant forms kāl, kel]
     
    kā, stm. “power, energy”
    el, stm. “finding, seeking, sensing; detection, sense”
     
    The stem kā combines straightforwardly with the stem el to yield the compound ka-el “power-seeking; seeker/finder of power”, modern form kal.
     
    *...Find the Power?**
     
    **(Live the Legend)
     
    ----------
     
    And a couple more (related) Kanohi-etymologies to finish things off:
     
    Kanohi Elda, n.cmpd. “Mask of Detection; allows the wearer to sense and find hidden things, as well as detect the location of the Kanohi Ignika” [variant forms elzata, elza]
     
    el, stm. “finding, seeking/searching, sensing; detection, sense”
    zata, stm. “authority, order; leader” [common modern (affixal) forms: za, da, zda]
     
    The element zata derives from an older compound of za (“strategy/strategic”) and the elemental stem ta (rough meaning of “leader(ship)”). The combination of zata and el yields a compound el-zata “leader-of-the-search; lit. (an) authority on detection”, with eventual reduction el-zata > elzda > elda.
     
    -----
     
    Kanohi Felnas, n.cmpd. “Mask of Disruption; allows the wearer to disrupt another being’s control of their natural powers, causing said power to go out of control”
     
    fa(n), stm. “limit, restriction, range, field; also roof, ceiling, sky” [probably derived from the elemental prefix fa “magnetism; magnetic (field)”; spelling variant pha(n)]
    el, stm. “finding, seeking/searching, sensing; detection, sense”
    nas, stm. “scattering, dispersing, disrupting” [etymology uncertain; see below for some discussion]
     
    The elements fa(n) and el combine to yield a compound fa(n)-el “sense-of-limits; limit-sense” (roughly the ability to measure and control one’s actions/potential). This compound is then combined with the stem nas to form a further compound fa-el-nas “scattering/disrupting (one’s) limit-sense”, modern form felnas. This compound encapsulates the concept whereby a Felnas-user can disrupt or scatter another being’s ability to control (i.e. sense the limits of) their powers.
     
    The etymology of the stem nas itself is uncertain. It is most likely derived from or related to the same root that yielded terms such as aso “sand” (see entries <aso>, <aswe>). Whatever its exact origins, it is clear that this element is very ancient, possibly coeval with the elemental stems themselves. One plausible etymology for nas is a combination of (o)nu “earth” and the stem-form ās (also found as sā; these stem-forms yield modern aso, aswe, etc.), with a rough meaning of “shifting/dispersing earth/sand”. Words deriving from ās/sā seem to carry an original connotation of “shifting” or “instability”, consistent with the “sand” concept.
     
    [Post-Melding insertion by Spheru-Magnan scribes: Recent linguistic analysis of Spheru-Magnan languages provides some support for the proposed etymology above. Evidence from Modern Agoric terms such as scar-āba “shifting-sand, quicksand”, scarus “treachery”, and scaral “treacherous one; Skrall” (Northern Agoric scrāl) points toward an Old Agoric stem sakar-, with attested variants skār-, sār-, and asar-. Old Agoric is believed to be (one of) the languages used by the Great Beings in constructing the earliest forms of the Matoran Language, and the almost pre-Matoran nature of the Matoran stem-forms ās and sā lends credence to the idea that these stems may, in fact, have been (indirect) modified borrowings from Old Agoric itself. This also accords with surviving accounts of Matoran prehistory, whereby the earliest Avo-Matoran tribes first emerged from Karda-Nui, traditionally characterized as a primordial desert or wasteland with a variant-name Asa-Nui, the Great Sand.]
  7. JRRT
    LEARNING MATORAN
    - LESSON 7 -


     
    We’re back! Might as well jump right in. This lesson, we’ll be looking at some aspects of the paradigms for nouns and pronouns. It's fun! I promise.
     
    I. Nouns and Pronouns: Overview.
     
    As you may have guessed, nouns in Matoran are a bit different from typical English nouns. Just like verbs, they are generally made up of a stem and they may take a variety of particles expressing different relationships between the noun and other elements (verbs, other nouns, etc.) in the sentence. Unlike verbs, however, nouns in Matoran do not take a dedicated set of particles in the same way as verbs. For example, many nouns are simply stems in their own right, while all verb-stems must be paired with a verbal particle. Nominal particles do exist, of course, and some of them function in similarly to verbal particles, i.e. indicating that the stem with which they are paired is of the category “noun”, rather than some other category. Such particles would technically be referred to as “derivational”, and they contrast with the “functional” particles that are more abundant for nouns. These functional particles will be the primary subject of the following discussions. In this respect, verbal particles are both derivational and functional: they indicate that the stem is a verb, in addition to encoding functional content such as Tense. In contrast, nominal particles are mostly functional, encoding content such as “subject”, “object”, “possessor”, etc. Regardless, as in the case of verbs, the combination of stem+particle will be referred to as the nominal complex when necessary.
     
    Pronouns follow the same paradigms as nouns, although they are, in many respects, more irregular. Originally, pronouns took nominal particles identically to nouns, and they therefore encoded the same functional content (“object”, “possessor” etc.). With time, however, pronoun+particle sequences merged drastically, such that, in current stages of Matoran, they form single units.
     
    We will begin with a discussion of the subject forms of pronouns (the simplest paradigm) before moving on to a discussion of the paradigms for a few of the essential nominal particles, a complete discussion of the other (more complicated) paradigms being delayed until later.

    II. Pronouns: Subject Forms.
     
    Before we get to a discussion of particles and the nominal complex, we’ll start off with some simple things. For this section, all you need worry about are the subject forms of pronouns (these were called “nominative” in previous lessons—same function). In anticipation of future discussion, however, it will be good to know that the “subject” category contrasts with the “objective” category, which, for nouns, includes a basic “objective” particle indicating direct/indirect object status (I threw the snowball.), as well as a range of more descriptive markers indicating spatial and temporal positions (“I arrived in Ko-Koro before sundown.”), along with aspectual contours of events (“I threw the snowball to Kopeke” vs. “I threw the snowball at Kopeke” vs. “I threw the snowball toward Kopeke”, etc.).
     
    The subject forms of pronouns for first-person through “fourth-person” (an impersonal/generic pronoun “one, some”) are as follows (the particle nā indicates plural number):
     
    Sg. Plural
    1 o o nā
    2 oa oa nā
    3 ai ai nā
    4 ua ua nā
     
    You can see that the paradigms for the plural pronouns are actually much simpler now than they were in previous lessons. Rejoice! Subject-pronouns are usually positioned directly before the verb. This is a fairly rigid rule; however, due to the variability of word order in Matoran, an object or other element could intervene between the subject-pronoun and verb. This is much more common when the subject is non-pronominal, however. The following examples will illustrate:
     
    1) a. o okoma “I sleep.” (oko ma “to sleep; to pause/rest”)
    b. ai nā okonnā “They are sleeping.”
    c. oa orahō “You spoke.”
    d. ai orahōna “He was speaking.”
    e. o nā kamē “We will go.”
    f. ua orakha “One speaks...” (example context: “One should speak only when spoken to...”)
    g. airahi oa akumō “You saw Rahi.” (aku ma “to see”; airahi < ai-rahi. The particle ai is objective.)
    h. oa airahi akumō “You saw Rahi.”
     
    The patterns of combination here are very straightforward. Note that (1g), which exhibits a full nominal object preceding the pronominal subject and the verb, would be more standard than (1h), which has a full nominal object intervening between subject and verb, although (1h) is certainly not ungrammatical.
     
    III. Nominal Particles: Introduction.
     
    Now that you’re aware of the overall structure of the nominal complex and you’ve been introduced to the subject-forms of pronouns, it’s time to jump into the first few types of nominal particles. These are the subject particle, the basic objective particle, and the possessive particle.
     
    IIIa. The Subject Particle.
     
    As its name suggests, the subject particle indicates that the noun is the subject of a sentence (generally the agent). The particle takes the form ai or ka, and is always positioned after the noun. The ai form generally occurs with stems ending in a consonant (ussal ai or ussalai), but can also occur with stems ending in a or a long vowel (or diphthong), in which case it is frequently shortened to -‘i (mata ai > mata’i; kolhī ai > kolhī’I, hau ai > hau’i). The ka form generally occurs with stems ending in a short vowel other than a (hoto ka, rhotu ka). As usual, the particle can be written as a separate word or attached to the noun either directly or with a dash.
     
    One exception to the usage rules of ai/ka is as follows: if a stem ends with n, ka is frequently used instead of ai and merges with the noun stem itself, forming -nga: matoran-ka > matoranga.
     
    Also, note that the subject particle is actual optional in many cases! For example, if a noun is placed directly before the verb (a common pattern), and information from context makes it possible to distinguish between the subject and object, the subject particle can be dropped. There is, in fact, an interesting interplay between word order and particle-marking that will be discussed in a later lesson.
     
    IIIb. The Basic Objective Particle.
     
    The basic objective particle indicates that the noun is a direct or indirect object, depending on the context and the verb involved. It is the most commonly used of the objective particles. The particle itself takes the form of ai or ak. The ai form generally occurs with nouns beginning in a consonant (rahi > ai rahi), while the ak form is used with nouns beginning in a vowel (ak ussal). As you can see, the particle is always positioned before the noun, and can be written as a separate word or attached to the noun either directly or with a dash (ai rahi, ai-rahi, airahi; ak ussal, ak-ussal, akussal).
     
    One exception to the usage rules of ai/ak is as follows: if a stem begins with n, ak is frequently used instead of ai and merges with the noun stem itself, forming ang-: ak-nohi > angohi. This mirrors the exception to the usage rules of the subject pronoun discussed above.
     
    Finally, note that, much like the subject particle, the basic objective particle is also optional in many cases, depending on the context, the presence of other forms of marking, and the word order. This interplay between factors will be discussed in-depth in a later section.
     
    IIIc. Examples.
     
    Now that you know something about the subject and basic objective particles, a few examples are in order:
     
    2) a. matoranga ak-ussal usyōna. "The Matoran was riding the Ussal." (us ya “to ride”)
    b. ai-piraka toa’i zyōna. "The Toa attacked the Piraka." (zya “to attack”)
    c. turaga’i orahē ai-matoran nā. "The Turaga spoke to the Matoran (pl.)."
    d. kanohika crasyō ak-azal. “The Kanohi repelled the attack.” (cras ya “to repel”, azal “attack”)
    e. gehelai galya. “The river flows.” (gehel “river, stream”, gal ya “to flow”)
    f. angenu toa’i vikimē. “The Toa cut the grass.” (angenu < ak-nenu “grass”, viki ma “to cut”)
    g. brakasai matyō ak-enerui. “The Brakas used (climbed) the vine.”
     
    IIId. The Possessive Particle.
     
    The possessive particle indicates—you guessed it—possession! It is attached to the possessor-noun (the noun that possesses something: Tahu’s mask, Makuta’s evil plan). The particle comes in two different flavors, each of which is historically descended from a single possessive marker. These two forms are wai, which is always placed before the noun, and ui or u’i, which is always placed after the noun. The wai form frequently truncates to wa- when the stem begins with a vowel. In addition, as you can see, the possessor-noun itself (stem+particle or particle+stem) is positioned after the noun it possesses.
     
    Both of these markers descend from a single historical marker *-uai, which was originally placed after the noun. Recall, however, that in the case of verbs, verbal particles may be displaced before the stem to which they are attached. This is, in fact, a consistent pattern that extends beyond verbal particles, and the variation in the forms of the possessive particle are one of the results. Indeed, this concept of “variable position” will feature prominently in future discussions of the remaining objective particles.
     
    A few examples, to conclude:
     
    3) a. ussal wai-huki “Hewkii’s ussal”
    b. onoto matoranui “Matoran’s tool” (onoto “tool”)
    c. azahi pirakau’i “Piraka’s crime” (azahi “crime”)
    d. onuyo wa-ihu “Ihu’s mountain” (truncation of wai to wa; (o)nuyo “mountain”)
     
  8. JRRT
    WttV Entry 1.4


     
    “Remember, creature.”
     
    “Perhaps then you will learn to listen...”
     
    The Hau faded into the starlight as Takanuva moved away, its eyes glittering with a knowing look as it flickered and vanished.
     
    The wind began to moan again as Takanuva jogged off down the ruined track of the road. His focus was now turned to a new duty—a new goal. He was running out of time. He felt the urgency of his plight keenly now. He would have to finish this task quickly if he was to continue.
     
    Before him, along the horizon, the silver light rose up into the towers and spires of a vast city. A City of Silver. The stars paled in comparison as he ran briskly down the winding track. Here and there to the side of the road a stone pillar loomed among the trees, and sometimes he glimpsed the remains of ruins deeper in the forest, broken and buried beneath ancient dust and the winding of dead roots.
     
    The forest ended abruptly before the walls of the Silver City. Straight from the earth it rose, smooth and glass-like. Takanuva approached and ran a hand along the surface. It was almost frictionless. Impossible to climb, for sure. The metal or crystal of which the wall was made glowed with an inner light, filling the sky above him with its silver radiance.
     
    He turned back to the road. Now he saw that it wound its way parallel to the wall, vanishing in the dusk to his right. He followed it, moving more slowly now, staff in hand, ready for anything he might meet.
     
    After a while, he found that the roadway was paved. Closely-fitted stones made the path straight and even. The stones were well-carved, bathed in the same silver light as the city. No Po-Matoran could do better...
     
    For a moment, faced with memories rising in his mind, Takanuva felt the strangeness of his situation. Lost in a dead forest in some Mata Nui-forsaken land, searching along a glowing road beside a glowing city. He certainly never expected to be doing this.
     
    A sound broke his reverie—the noise of shouts. He realized that he had slowed to a walk, but now he quickened his pace. There was a commotion ahead. Some kind of uproar. He squinted through the dimness, around the curve of the wall. This must be the danger the Hau had spoken of.
     
    He would find out soon enough. . . .Read on.
     
     
     

    JRRT


  9. JRRT
    WttV Entry 1.3


     
     
    It was a hau.
     
    It was a Hau.
     
    A Kanohi Hau was hanging in the night air before him, huge and spectral. A Hau made of light.
    The stars seemed to glimmer through its face, through its two huge eyes. They were deep eyes, ancient and tranquil. The pattern of the stars found an order in those eyes.
     
    “Wh-who are you?” Takanuva asked, finally finding his voice. His eyes were wide, almost disbelieving the image that hung before him. The shock of seeing such a familiar likeness in such a foreign place seemed to clash with the relief he felt at finding something living in this dead forest.
     
    “I am...of the Great Beings,” the Hau said, staring down at him impassively. Its eyes seemed to pierce him through, gazing into his heart and mind.
     
    “Can you...can you tell me where I am?” Takanuva replied. He felt his heartbeat quicken at the mention of the Great Beings. Perhaps he wasn’t as far from home as he had thought.
     
    “You are lost.” it replied, and Takanuva thought he caught a glimmer of humor in the mask’s face.
     
    “Yes, I know,” he said, frowning a little, “I mean, can you help me find my way?”
     
    “I can.” Now the image of the mask turned its eyes downward. Takanuva’s gaze followed, and, there in front of him, he saw the shape of the gnomon, still quivering slightly, pointing straight toward the floating Hau. He picked it up gingerly, finding that it no longer burned him.
     
    “Why did this lead me to you?” Takanuva asked, turning the small rod in his fingers.
     
    “It is also of the Great Beings.”
     
    “Oh? But it’s just a gnomon.”
     
    “Appearance should not be judged so hastily,” the mask said with a tinge of reproach. “You will only deceive yourself that way.”
     
    Takanuva sighed. The mask was a riddle-maker. . . .Read on
     
     

    JRRT


  10. JRRT
    WttV Entry 1.2:


     
    An hour went by. The gravel of the forest floor crunched under his armored feet. The stars shone down, unblinking.
     
    Takanuva was beginning to feel restless. Striding on through the endless darkness, there was no destination, no real direction. He had no goal, other than getting out of the forest, and now he felt as if he were going in circles.
     
    The trees seemed to gather more thickly around him as he went on, the branches lowering like twisted arms. It was an unsettling place, this forest. No sound disturbed the silence, other than the crunch of gravel and the mourning of the wind. There were no rahi here. Nothing at all.
     
    It was a place that felt...left behind. Abandoned. Empty. A house with no inhabitants...
     
    He shivered. Would the night never end? Perhaps here night was eternal.
     
    ”Ironic,” he thought. "They said I was supposed to drive out the night, bring a ‘new day’. Now I can’t even manage a flicker...”
     
    He squinted, putting a hand out in front of him to push away the low-hanging twigs.
     
    “A Toa of Light in need of a lightstone...” . . . Read on
  11. JRRT
    WttV - Entry 1.1:


     
    A flash, and stars flickered across his vision, but not just the stars of shock or pain.
     
    Real stars.
     
    An unfathomable darkness opened beneath him, a gaping absence. The endless depth of the Void yawned, tearing at his being as he hurtled onward. Onward through the emptiness, through the black, reeling darkness...
     
    Onward!
     
    A thud, and the heavy weight of gravity seized his limbs as he collapsed to solid earth.
     
    It was over.
     
    Takanuva lay still, his lungs heaving, perspiration and fear clouding his vision like a fog. His jaw was clenched tight, muscles seizing as he began to shudder. The feeling of abject terror that enveloped him was like nothing he had ever encountered, and it was slow to abate.
     
    But it did abate, gradually releasing its hold upon him. He exhaled, letting his body go limp, exhausted from the journey. His mind was still dazed, and his eyes roved around him, trying to focus on his surroundings. Where was he? . . . Read on
     

    JRRT


  12. JRRT
    “Go.”


     
    The voice echoed in the dry air of the chamber. Helryx’s voice was terse, thick with urgency. She stepped forward and pressed something into his hand. It was the gnomon—a piece of the ancient sundial he had unlocked. What did it mean? He could not say.
     
    Takanuva glanced to his left. The Silent Toa still stood motionless, his eyes grim. Krakua was a strange Toa, Takanuva thought; but, of the three beings which surrounded him in this dim chamber, he trusted him the most.
     
    Krakua nodded, his voice echoing in Takanuva’s mind: “Go.”
     
    The other being was there too: Brutaka, the traitor, the one whom they said had despaired, once.
     
    “Once condemned, but now redeemed,” Helryx had said. The scarred mask upon Brutaka’s face flickered with a dangerous light. The Olmak was perilous. A thing that could open doors…gateways.
     
    Windows through the Void.
     
    There was nothing for it now. No other task, no other cause.
     
    No other duty.
     

    “Go!”
     
    Takanuva faced forward now, steeling his nerves, eyes wide against the terrible light of what loomed before him.
     
    The portal gaped.
     
    He stepped forward.


     
     

    Windows Through the Void


     

    - A serial -


     


    Main Topic : Review Topic

     
    Okay, after a brief delay caused by the awesomeness of LEGO LotR, here is an official blog entry for this epic. This story is meant to mirror the Bioniclestory.com serials of the past, taking especial inspiration from "Takanuva's Blog," in which the various travels of Takanuva on his way to Karda Nui were described.
     
    Each entry will be posted in the main topic, but I will also add a corresponding update to this blog, featuring a portion of the entry (not the whole thing, of course) and a link to the new post. Why is this? Visibility, mainly. And also so that a record of the serial is preserved as a category in this blog. At the time of writing this, I have enough material for every-other-week updates for the next couple of months, meaning that this'll last a while.
     
    As always, your comments and criticism are very welcome, but, above all, your readership is most appreciated. Stay tuned.
     
    JRRT
  13. JRRT
    I know I'm late on the draw, but I just wanted to post an entry expressing my thanks to BZP Reporter Senjo for the complimentary news article on Despair, as well as to the people who consequently went to read the story and gave their thoughtful responses. It's all been very encouraging.
     
    JRRT
  14. JRRT
    A side project. The sprite on the right is the old one (I hope you could kind of tell ) and the left one is a revamp. I'm glad to know that I've improved a little from the olden days. Oh, and hue-shifting is very fun.

    On another note, last college final was Wednesday! It was linguistics, so it wasn't all that hyper-stressful. And now I'm free to do what I will for the three+ weeks of Christmas break. We're planning to take a trip up to the Grand Canyon with some relatives around New Years. There will be snow (you know--that white stuff that falls out of the sky? It's like so weird!). I've been to the Grand Canyon once before when I was around seven years old. My only memory is a long rusty railing and a concrete observation point. I'm told this is because I was restricted from *cough* "exploring" after trying to climb over said railing and giving my parents gray hair.

    Ah, memories.

    JRRT
  15. JRRT
    Taking a look at one of the names for the Matoran Language that I've come up with:
     
    Matoranoro, cmpnd. the Words of Those Who Speak [Derived from the two elements matoran, literally "Word-Master Beings, Speakers", and oro "word(s)"]
    Matoran, n. lit. word-master being(s), generalized as "speakers", “those who speak” [From older matoroan; formed from the older compound mator(o) “word master” and the suffix -an “being, individual”]
    mator(o), cmpnd. word-master, a master of words [From the two elements ma(t) "master (of)" and oro "word(s)"]
    ma(t), n. user of, master of [Complete etymology uncertain; it is believed that mat first originated as *maa but this is not definitively attested; also appears as man]
    oro, n. word(s) [Complete etymology uncertain; possibly descended from a stem *hro]
     
    And in other news, I'm thinking of putting up a "sponsored kits" content block to help encourage some better spriting in AII...it's really gone drastically downhill for too long now.
     
    JRRT
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