nke

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See also: -nke, ṅke, and n**ke

Cypriot Arabic

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Alternative forms

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Interjection

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nke

  1. yes

References

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  • Borg, Alexander (2004) A Comparative Glossary of Cypriot Maronite Arabic (Arabic–English) (Handbook of Oriental Studies; I.70), Leiden and Boston: Brill, page 191

Xhosa

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Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Determiner

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-nke

  1. (in the singular) all; all of
  2. (in the plural) all; every

Zulu

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Etymology

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It is superficially similar to Proto-Bantu *-ncè (all). However, the form of this stem would suggest a Proto-Bantu form *-nkàì, which is in fact a form reconstructed by Meeussen[1] meaning "alone". It is perhaps from this latter form, with a semantic shift from "alone" to "all".

Pronunciation

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IPA(key): /nke/

Determiner

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-nke

  1. (in the singular) all; all of; the whole
  2. (in the plural) all; every; together; jointly

References

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  1. ^ Meeussen, A. E. (1973). Comparative Bantu: Test cases for method. African Language Studies, 14, 6–18.