moruti

English

Etymology

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

Noun

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

• rim out