ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives take two forms, to agree with the animate or inanimate nouns to which they belong.
Comparison of adjectives is made by other words: O-ne-zhe-she (inanimate o-ne-zhe-shin), good; Maw-maw-me (or ne-go-ne) o-ne-zhe (or -shin), better; Au-pe-tchi o-ne-zhe-she (or -shin), best. A fourth degree is sometimes used: Maw-mo-me o-ne-zhe-she (or -shin), very best.
The words "Me-no" and "Maw-tchi" or "Mau-tchi," do not change when used with other words, and they are the most common adjectives in the Ottawa and Chippewa languages; they are used as adverbs, as well as adjectives.
"Me-no," is equivalent to good, right, and well; and "Man-tchi," is equivalent to bad, wicked, evil; as Me-no au-ne-ne, good man; Me-no au- quay, good woman; Me-no au-way-sin, good animal; Me-no au-ky, good land; Me-no waw-bo-yon, good blanket; Me-no e-zhe-wa-be-sy, good behavior, or kind; Me-no au-no-ky, he works well, or doing good business; Me-no pe-maw-de-sy, he is well; Me-no au-yaw, he is getting well, or convalescent from sickness; Me-no au-no-kaw-so-win, good utensil, or handy instrument; Me-no wau-gaw-quat, good ax; Me-no ke- zhi-gut, good day, or pleasant weather; Me-no au-no-kaw-tchi-gon, good goods, or nice goods; Me-no e-zhe-wa-be-sy, he or she is kind or good; Me-no maw-tchaw maw-got, it goes well, etc.
The word "Mau-tchi" is equally useful; as, Mau-tchi an-ne-ne, bad man; Mau-tchi au-quay, bad woman; Mau-tchi e-zhe-wa-be-sy, bad behavior, or wicked person; Mau-tchi mau-ne-to, evil spirit, or the devil; Mau-tchi ke-ge-to, wicked language, or profanity; Mau-tchi wau-gaw-quat, bad ax; Mau-tchi ke-zhwa, vulgar speaker; Man-tchi no-din, bad wind; Mau-tchi au-naw-quot, bad cloud; Mau-tchi ke-zhe-got, bad day, or rough weather; Mau-tchi wig-wom, bad house, or wicked house; Mau-tchi au-no-ke-win, bad business, etc.
Another adjective equally comprehensive is Kwaw-notch: Kwaw-notch au- ne-ne, well-behaved man; Kwaw-notch au-quay, pretty woman; Kwaw-notch au-no-ke-win, good business; Kwaw-notch au-no-kaw-tchi-gon, nice goods; Kwaw-notchi-won, pretty or nice (inanimate); Kwaw-notchi-we, pretty (animate); Au-pe-tchi kwaw-notchi-we au-quay, very pretty woman.
The following illustrate the changes of form in adjectives for animate and inanimate:
Animate. Inanimate.
Me-no-e-zhe-wa-be-sy, Me-no-e-zhe-wa-bawt, Kind, mild.
Ke-no-sy, Ke-nwa, Long, tall.
Ke-zhe-we-sy, Ke-zhe-waw, Hard.
Mush-kaw-we-sy, Mush-kaw-waw, Strong.
Ke-zhe-kaw, or ke-zhe-be-so, Ke-zhe-be-ta, Swift, fleet.
Ko-se-gwan-ny, Ko-se-gwan, Heavy.
Maw-tchi-e-zhe-wa-be-sy, Maw-tchi-e-zhe-wa-bot, Bad.
Ma-tchaw-yaw-au-wish, Ma-tchaw-yaw-e-wish, Wicked.
We-saw-ge-sy, We-saw-gun, Bitter.
Wish-ko-be-sy, Wish-ko-bun, Sweet.
Sou-ge-sy, Sou-gun, Tough.
Se-we-sy, Se-won, Sour.
Maw-kaw-te-we-sy, Maw-kaw-te-waw Black.
Ozaw-we-sy, Ozaw-waw, Yellow.
Ozhaw-wash-ko-sy, Ozhaw-wash-kwaw, Green.
Mis-ko-sy, Mis-kwa, Red
We-bin-go-sy, We-bin-gwaw, Blue.
O-zaw won-so O-zaw won-day, Yellow color.
Maw-kaw-te won-so Maw-kaw-te won-day Black color.
Maw-kaw-te-au-ne-ne, black man Maw-kaw-te-mo-kok, Black box.
Mis-ko au-ne, red man Mis-ko wau-bo-yon, Red blanket.
It will be observed that the last one or two syllables of the adjective are dropped when in connection with a noun.