Verbal affix in single-argument constructions. It signals a prolonged duration or multiplicity of individual sounds or the same state of many items.
Of sounds it signals prolonged duration (like that of a fire burning) or a multiplicity of individual sounds (like coconuts thudding). With other roots it signals that many items are affected in the same way (as things suspended or scattered).
The coconuts keep coming down with a thud because the wind is strong.
What is that constant crackling there? Burning cogon grass.
Kumēsingban a'a dem puweblohin.
The people in town go in many directions.
Iyu' ne hadja me' panyapkun kumengkanat.
My belongings are scattered all over.
Her decorations are hung up all over her house.
SOME VERBS THAT TAKE kumē-
| verb |
English gloss |
verb with kumē- |
| gebbok |
sound hollow |
kumēgebbok |
| lebbuk1 |
thud |
kumēlebbuk |
| lengkong |
swish |
kumēlengkong |
| leppek |
snap, break |
kumēleppek |
| leppok |
crack, creak |
kumēleppok |
| lere' |
crackle |
kumēlere' |
| lese' |
sizzle |
kumēlese' |
| lopok |
crackle |
kumēlopok |
| katak |
drop with thud |
kumēkatak |
| latak |
drop with thud |
kumālatak |
| singban |
go in different directions |
kumēsingban |
SOME VERBS THAT TAKE kumeN-
| verb |
English gloss |
verb with kumeN- |
| (biyul) |
make noise |
kumembiyul |
| kanat |
scattered |
kumengkanat |
| powang |
have holes |
kumempowang |
| bowet |
suspend |
kumembowet |
| toweng |
suspend |
kumentoweng |