'oyyum' a rare Tamil word

We shall take the word 'oyyum' in Tamil.

Here in this word again we see the connotations varying widely and even to opposites.

'oyyum' may mean 'steer'. Steering small boats or catamarans out into the seas. NaRRiNai 74 talks of such a situation where it uses this word in the sense of steering. - barathavar oyyum siRu vee jnAzhal perung kadal.

Here it is 'oyyum siRu vee jnAzhal'.

'oyyum' can be used in the sense of 'grabbing' also. This is something interesting in the usages of words. It is a feature not rare in the languages in general. That too in languages coming down in time for long and rich in literary wealth, these features should be expected.

Again NaRRiNai 100 uses the word 'oyyum' in the sense of grabbing. - munai Urp pal A nedu nirai villin oyyum.

The meaning range includes not only grabbing but also 'giving'. See the scene where the bird nArai gives its female of the arched beak, the fishes of the sea! - kodu vaayp pEdaikku mudamuthir nArai kadal meen oyyum. (NaRRiNai 263)

The range is not exhausted. The meanings 'pulling' and 'chasing away' and 'falling withered' can all be accomodated in the same word 'oyyum'

In the sense of 'pulling' - kanRu kaal oyyum kadum suzhi neettham (akanAnURu 66)

In the sense of 'chasing away' - marudam saanRa malardalai viLai vayal seyyuL nArai oyyum makaLir - in the lands of marudam, in the fields of paddy grown, the women do chase away the birds nArai.

Here is a scene where in summer the leaves fall withered down. - vAdu pal akal ilai kOdaikku oyyum tEkku amal adukkatthu (akanAnURu 143)

Of course Tamil is one of the very interesting classical languages, in which we see the interactions of mind, language and nature in abundance. Perhaps we must coin a portmanteau word as 'in ellicit abundance' borrowing the part 'el' from Tamil 'el' meaning abumdance.

We are in the riches of 'el' dorado of words in our sweet Tamil.