iichʼąh

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Etymology

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ʼa- (unspecified person object prefix) + -yi- (semelfactive) + -∅- (3rd person subject prefix) + -∅- (classifier)-chʼąh (semelfactive stem of root -CHʼĄH, “to have seizure”).

From the metaphorical meaning of fall-into-fire.

Verb

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iichʼąh

  1. he/she is falling into fire
  2. he/she is having a seizure

Conjugation

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Paradigm: Semelfactive (yii/si).

IMPERFECTIVE singular duoplural plural
1st person iishchʼąh iichʼąh daʼiichʼąh
2nd person iichʼąh oohchʼąh daʼoohchʼąh
3rd person iichʼąh daʼiichʼąh
4th person ajiichʼąh daʼjiichʼąh
PERFECTIVE singular duoplural plural
1st person ashéchʼąh ashiichʼąh daʼshiichʼąh
2nd person ashíníchʼąh ashoochʼąh daʼshoochʼąh
3rd person azhchʼąh daʼazhchʼąh
4th person ajizhchʼąh daʼjizhchʼąh

Noun

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iichʼąh

  1. a fit, seizure, epileptic seizure
  2. iich'aa, an epileptiform, psychosomatic illness found among the Navajo people, characterised by nervousness, loss of self-control, convulsions, self-destructive behavior, and fits of violence and rage, and often accompanied by the belief that parts of the body are shrinking (associated with violating the taboo against incest and supposedly caused by the growth of a moth in the cranial cavity. The affected person is cured in a ceremony called the "Mothway" (iichʼąhjí, no longer performed), in which he vomits to get rid of the creature.)

Adverb

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iichʼąh

  1. amok