сембе

This term corresponds to the pronoun ся (sja, “that”) with an element -mp/-mb which is cognate with Finnish -mpi and Hungarian -bb (comparative suffix). Moksha омба (omba, “other”) (> омбоце (omboce, “second”)) is derived the same way, with the element o- of pronominal origin. These are some of the only vestiges of this conjectured -mb suffix in the Mordvinic languages.

Serebrennikov, however, thinks that analytic/periphrastic formation of comparatives of adjectives was the original Uralic way of doing this. On the question what function this suffix served then, he offers Komi-Zyrian [script needed] (-õb), e.g., [script needed] (rez-õb, “lively, perky”), Wichmann, considering -õb a descendant of *-mb, called such formations nomina augmentativa or intensiva, thus this suffix would have served to intensify possession of some characteristic. In Moksha a different suffix (-нга (-nga) added to the ablative) is used as an intensifier,[1] this is apparently how the comparative preposition сядонга (sjadonga) is derived but it is productive with other nominals as well.

Comparatives are otherwise expressed periphrastically in Moksha, see, for example, сире (sire, “old”).

• IPA^(key): /sʲemʲbʲæ/[2]

сембе • (sembe)

1. all
   • O. Je. Poljakov (1995) Učimsja govoritʹ po-mokšanski [Let's learn to speak Moksha], Saransk: Mordovskoje knižnoje izdatelʹstvo, →ISBN, page 19

     Азан спасиба сембонкса!

     Azan spasiba sembonksa!

     I thank you for everything!

   • V. I. Ščankina (2011) Russko-mokšansko-erzjanskij slovarʹ [Russian-Moksha-Erzya Dictionary], Saransk, →ISBN

     сивомс сембонь

     sivoms sembonʹ

     to eat up (lit. "to eat of all")

     сембонь, марнек (совсем)

     sembonʹ, marnek (sovsem)

     entirely, entirely (entirely [in Russian])

     аф сембонди содама

     af sembondi sodama

     hidden, secret (lit. "not knowledge to everyone")

     сембоса

     sembosa

     all around, in entirety

     так или иначе — сембе сяка

     tak ili inače — sembe sjaka

     either way ~ all the same [in Russian] — either way ~ all the same

• сембода (semboda)
• сембе сяка (sembe sjaka)
• сембонь (sembonʹ)
• сембоса (sembosa)