Taking a new look at Cornish grammar 33 (reflexive verbs)

We have looked at transitive verbs (take a direct object) and intransitive verbs (do not have a direct object). Reflexive verbs are a special case where the object is the same as the subject. In Cornish there are two ways of dealing with them.

The first way is to put the reflexive prefix –om on the front of a transitive verb. (This sometimes causes a soft mutation.) There are many examples. Here are a few of them (SWFM given where different).

As you can see, some of them have multiple meanings, according to context, (and some of the root verbs can be intransitive as well as transitive):

assaya or saya	try, test, attempt	omassaya	test oneself, exercise, rehearse
chersya	cherish, comfort, pet	omjersya	be at ease, make oneself comfortable
clowes SWFM klewes	sense, perceive, hear	omglowes SWFM omglewes	feel
degy SWFM degi	carry, bear, wear	omdhegy SWFM omdhegi	behave, carry/bear oneself
golhy SWFM golhi	wash, bathe	omwolhy SWFM omwolhi	wash oneself, bathe oneself
gweles	see	omweles (war)	visit
gwitha	keep, (safe)guard, preserve, protect	omwitha	keep oneself, preserve oneself, protect oneself
hedhy SWFM hedhi	cancel, cease, halt, pause	omhedhy SWFM omhedhi	abstain
obery SWFM oberi	work	omobery SWFM omoberi	exercise (physically)
profya	offer, propose, suggest	ombrofya	apply (for a job)
rei SWFM ri	give, grant, present	omrei SWFM omri	surrender, apply
sevel	stand, raise, get up	omsevel	rise up, rebel, revolt
tedna SWFM tenna	draw, pull, tug	omdedna SWFM omdenna	withdraw, retire, shrink, log off/out
towla	throw	omdowla	wrestle, struggle

Here are some examples of their use:

Me a omdednas warlena. My a omdennas warlena.	I retired (withdrew myself) last year.
Ev a wra ombrofya rag whel. Ev a wra ombrofya rag hwel.	He will apply (offer himself) for work.
Mowns (owth) omdowla e’n sportva. Ymons i owth omdowla y’n sportva.	They are wrestling (throwing themselves) in the stadium.
Ma hei (owth) omglowes clàv. Yma hi owth omglewes klav.	She feels (senses herself) ill.