Contionary:tain

Meskangela

Alternative form

• táin (Old and Eastern Meskangela)

Etymology

From Proto-Meskangela *tai-/*taHi (“big”). The Eastern varieties of Meskangela have marked tone in the root, while Western and Classical Meskangela do not, which may imply an irregular development in either branch.

Pronunciation

• (Classical): IPA: [taɪn]
• (Eastern): IPA: [taɪn˥˧]

Verb

tain v intransitive

1. to be big

   dalsëlas-tau tai – this pair of trousers is big.

2. greatly, a lot

   ryakënyí-ta bisphā tai – it was snowing a lot yesterday

Conjugation

Conjugation of tain
Non-finite forms
Infinitive		affirmative		negative
		tain		matain
Participle		Adjectival		Adverbial
		affirmative	negative	affirmative	negative
		taid	mataid	taisē	mataisē
Affirmative
Non-preterit
	person marker	1excl.	1incl.	2	3An.	3In.
	singular	taiŋa		taina	taika	tai
	dual	taici	taice	tainsi	taiŋki	taiswe
	plural	taiŋi	taiŋe	taini	taikyi	taiwai
Preterit
	person marker	1excl.	1incl.	2	3An.	3In.
	singular	tajiŋka		tajinta	tajikka	tajitā
	dual	tajisti	tajicce	tajissyi	tajiski	tajistwe
	plural	tajinkyi	tajinkye	tajincyi	tajikkyi	tajitwai
Negative
Non-preterit
	person marker	1excl.	1incl.	2	3An.	3In.
	singular	mataiŋa		mataina	mataika	matai
	dual	mataici	mataice	matainsi	mataiŋki	mataiswe
	plural	mataiŋi	mataiŋe	mataini	mataikyi	matajai
Preterit
	person marker	1excl.	1incl.	2	3An.	3In.
	singular	matajiŋka		matajinta	matajikka	matajitā
	dual	matajisti	matajicce	matajissyi	matajiski	matajistwe
	plural	matajinkyi	matajinkye	matajincyi	matajikkyi	matajitwai

Derived terms

• thai – excessively
• stain – increase
• staisan – become big, grow