Ma-, prefix1

/ma/, /mɑː/
Origin:
SothoShow more Prefix common to the Nguni languages; in the sense ‘mother of’, also Sotho.
Among speakers of the Nguni languages, used as a woman’s title: a. ‘Mrs’; ‘Mother’; ‘Ma’ (prefixed to the woman’s surname or clan name). b. (Also in the Sotho languages.) ‘Mother of’, prefixed to the first name of one of the woman’s children (especially of her first-born son). c. ‘Daughter of’: after the woman’s marriage, prefixed to the first name or clan name of her father, making a name with which to address the woman; used especially in traditional contexts among Zulus. Cf. Mama sense 1 a, Mma-, Mme.
Note:
Usually indicating respect or affection.
1852 R. Speirs Diary. 2 Aug.Left my Kaffers and Pack..at Umdingans and started for Mrs Halley (Mahalley her Kaffer name) a missionary about 30 miles South East of Umdingans.
1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. 126The parents take the name of the child, and often address their children as Ma (mother), or Ra (father). Our eldest boy being named Robert, Mrs Livingstone was, after his birth, always addressed as Ma-Robert, instead of Mary.
1871 J. Mackenzie Ten Yrs N. of Orange River 111So Khosimore was not a little proud that he had succeeded in bringing it close to the waggon road, where, as he said, Ma-Willie (Mrs. Mackenzie) could see it.
1953 P. Lanham Blanket Boy’s Moon 15Why are you worrying? I am worrying about my wife Ma-Libe and my son Libe.
1963 B. Modisane Blame Me on Hist. (1986) 167Because African mothers are known by the names of their first-born children my mother has since — and shall henceforth — come to be known as Ma-Bloke.
1981 Voice 24 June 1Soweto’s prominent Black leader and social worker, Mrs Ellen ‘ma-K’ Kuzwayo — the former actress. Ma-K, as she is fondly called.
1982 M. Mzamane Children of Soweto 80MaVy herself, who ran a spot (which is our eupemism for a drinking joint)..was already there...she was called MaVy after her eldest daughter, Violet.
1983 Drum Oct. 90The unveiling ceremony of the tombstone of the late Lillian Ngoyi...The tombstone will serve as a tribute to MaNgoyi, as she was affectionately known.
1985 W.O. Ka Mtetwa in Staffrider Vol.6 No.2, 45Vuyo had been given a hiding..MaVuyo could see why the boy was crying so bitterly as the belt was still dangling in Mangethe’s hand.
1987 M. Melamu Children of Twilight 278Baba Mkhize..took umbrage at these activities of the devil, as he described them, when he was about God’s work...Ma-Mkhize was also a lovable woman who had never got herself involved in the kind of tongue-wagging that was so much a characteristic of the women of Wanderers.
‘Mrs’; ‘Mother’; ‘Ma’ (prefixed to the woman’s surname or clan name).
(Also in the Sotho languages.) ‘Mother of’, prefixed to the first name of one of the woman’s children (especially of her first-born son).
‘Daughter of’: after the woman’s marriage, prefixed to the first name or clan name of her father, making a name with which to address the woman; used especially in traditional contexts among Zulus.
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Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa
m-, prefixpref.ma-, prefixpref.2
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