English

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Etymology

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From Sotho moruti, Northern Sotho moruti, Tswana moruti, from ruta (to teach).

Noun

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moruti (plural morutis)

  1. (South Africa) A teacher or preacher. [from 19th c.]
    • 1891, Sofia Bompiani, Italian Explorers in Africa, The Religious Tract Society, page 138:
      One of the chiefs on his return said, 'Know, O Moruti (missionary), that I have not killed any man, and I ordered my son to let a woman go free whom he had captured.'
    • 1978, André Brink, Rumours of Rain, Vintage, published 2000, page 97:
      “It's my husband, Baas!” she repeated blindly. “We were married by the moruti.”
    • 2011, Es'kia Mphahlele, In Corner B:
      The Thursday past I saw Moruti KK. I laughed until I dropped on the ground.

Anagrams

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