~labu¹ hold ‹s.th.› in o.'s hands; grab, grasp / take ‹s.th., s.o.› in [...]

1. • hold ‹s.th.› in o.'s hands; grab, grasp

   • • Example 1127:
       

       La-labu ma kia.

       Let's shake hands.

2. • take ‹s.th., s.o.› in o.'s arms

   Sense Comment	rare
   (Part of) Synonym (for)	~la

   • • Example 1358:
       

       Nga u-kila ini, kape u-labu u-lui ne moe iono.

       If you marry her, you will carry her all the way to your house.

3. • touch ‹s.o.›, have body contact

   • • Example 1359:
       

       Leka, kape u-labu ebele ini metae. Nga u-romo ini we u-labu ini, kape u-kila.

       With your (opp.-sex) cross-cousin, you are not allowed any body contact. If you ever touched her, you'd have to marry her.

4. • massage

   Sense Comment

   esp

   • • Example 1360:
       

       Ne-labu ebel' ini pe nengele i-meli.

       I'll massage her body because some spots (on her body) are painful.

5. • handle, treat ‹s.th., s.o.› in such and such a way ; handle ‹s.o.› in such and such away

   Sense Comment

   abstr

   • • Example 659:
       

       Pe-labu pi-ejau, pe-somoli etapu!

       Handle it carefully, don't damage it!

     • Example 1361:
       

       ~labu motoro

       [lit. hold s.o. heavy] respect s.o.

6. • hold ‹skills, knowledge+›

   Sense Comment

   fig

   • • Example 1362:
       

       Mwaliko pon i-labu tongolukilo pe i-ejau ñe idi.

       That man knows how to perform magic for people. [lit. he holds medicinal leaves…]

Related entries

• Heterosemes:
  • ~labu² eat, have dinner
• Is Part of:
  • ~labu ngatene eat
• See also:
  • ~la¹ take ‹one thing› (vs. ~loko, ‘take several things’) / take ‹s.th.› physically, grab, carry / take ‹s.th.› in order to use or move it. Serves to introduce a new participant in a situation, often an instrument or a theme, even when no actual ‘grabbing’ event is referred to. / forms causative constructions with motion or posture verbs / give ‹s.th.› / take ‹s.th. abstract›, keep / understand ‹s.o., s.th.› / require, take ‹amount of time› / do, make. Combines with certain objects, to form semantically non-compositional phrases
  • ~loko take ‹several objects›, collect, esp. before displacing them somewhere / take ‹people› somewhere, lead / introduces a plural object, animate or not, before a verb of motion or displacement
  • ~labu¹ hold ‹s.th.› in o.'s hands; grab, grasp / take ‹s.th., s.o.› in o.'s arms / touch ‹s.o.›, have body contact / massage / handle, treat ‹s.th., s.o.› in such and such a way; handle ‹s.o.› in such and such away / hold ‹skills, knowledge+›
  • ~tabe carry ‹child+› above o.'s belt, i.e. in o.'s arms or on o.'s shoulders / carry ‹s.th.› in o.'s arms (opp. ~valangia ‘carry w. stick’) / raise ‹o.'s hand, ma› as a gesture of blessing
  • ~papa carry ‹child+› on o.'s back (vs. ~tabe ‘carry on o.'s chest’)
  • ~akawo wear ‹s.th.› around o.'s neck / hang ‹s.th.› on o.'s back or shoulder, using straps
  • ~valangia carry ‹burden› on o.'s shoulder using a stick
  • ~wo² carry ‹basket, net+› on o.'s back, hanging from a strap put around forehead