~botongo1 interpose (s.th., oneself) between A and B, so as to prevent A [...]

Part of Speech verb, transitive
Phonetic Form (i·)ᵐbotoŋo
Tanema Equivalent ~baonga
Lovono Equivalent ~belonga
    • interpose (s.th., oneself) between A and B, so as to prevent A (typically an agentive participant in motion) from reaching B (typically a static target)
      • Typical Subject s.o.
      Encyclopedic Info Synt.: The grammatical object is sometimes A (yielding meanings such as ‘stop, prevent’), sometimes B (yielding meanings such as ‘protect, take care’).
    • block, shut ‹s.th.›
      • Example 430:
        U-botongo ero etapu, u-sali!
        Stop blocking the water (with your hands), let it go!
      • Example 431:
        Jokoro pon, tevie i-ko, tevie li-botongo.
        On bamboo drums, one side is open, the other side is shut.
    • stop, prevent ‹s.o.› from doing s.th. (me or nara +Irr.); forbid
      • (Part of) Synonym (for)
      • Example 432:
        Li-botongo ene me ne-le.
        They're preventing me from going there.
      • Example 433:
        U-botongo ini nara kape i-koie ne moe.
        Make sure he doesn't come inside the house.
    • separate ‹people› from each other
      • Syntactic Restriction object non-sg
      • Example 434:
        Ka ni-aiu ni-vio ni-botongo da.
        So I rose and separated them.
        Example Comment
        two men fighting
    • impede access to ‹s.th.›
      • Example 435:
        Vilisao i-botongo se mataiko ponu.
        The tornado was blocking the passage.
    • be in a position that blocks access to ‹s.th.›, whether deliberately or not, to impede access to ‹s.o., s.th.›; hence (sit+) on ‹s.th.›; (sit+) besides or with ‹s.o., s.th.› as a way to protect
      • Syntactic Restriction serialised after posture V
      • Example 318:
        Bara ba-te ba-botongo okoro ponu.
        I'm afraid you may be sitting on my knife.
        Example Comment
        realis interpretation
      • Example 436:
        Van' ni-wene ni-botongo nara kape le-punuo ñi.
        [I lie I block it] I sleep on (my money) so nobody can steal it.
      • Example 437:
        I-te i-botongo menu.
        She’s sitting with the baby (to look after him).
    • protect ‹s.o., s.th.› from a potential danger
      • Example 154:
        Noma, idi wopine li-akawo kolokolo me i-botongo dapa.
        In ancient times, great men used to wear ‘kolokolo’ breast plates as a protection.
      • Example 438:
        Mwoe iape, waiero peini vono i-somoli tae pe i-botongo ñe tepapa.
        His house was not destroyed by the tidal wave, because he had protected it with planks.
        Example URL
        https://doi.org/10.24397/pangloss-0003352#S121
      • Example 439:
        Dapa li-woi nuduro ne touro, me i-botongo temaka (ñe/mina idi).
        They put up taboo signs on the seashore, to protect the area (from poachers).
    • take care of, look after ‹s.o., s.th.›
      • Sense Comment hence
      • Example 440:
        Dapa Paiu li-botongo dapa France.
        The villagers of Paiou were looking after the French.
      • Example 441:
        Kupa pi-kamai monone ne pe-ko me u-botongo.
        We brought this chest for you to look after.
        Example URL
        https://doi.org/10.24397/pangloss-0003269#S8
      • Example 442:
        Ni-la piene ono me ne-botongo ne-mini kaipa.
        I’m recording your language so I can take care of it for you.
      • Example 443:
        U-botongo men' one!
        Take care of my kid!
    • do s.th. in favour of ‹s.o.›
      • Syntactic Restriction serialised after action V
      • Example 444:
        Ni-vet' piene ni-botongo eo.
        I stood up for you. [lit. I spoke I protected you]

Related entries

  • Heterosemes:
    • ~botongo2 take care of ‹o.s.›, hence be careful
  • See also:
    • etapu1 sacred, endowed with spiritual powers / holy / unapproachable; meant to be paid the highest respect / forbidden, taboo