karis

English: Translation
To level off grain, flour, rice, sugar, or another loose substance contained in a vessel used for measuring volume by drawing a straight-edged object across the vessel’s rim and removing everything above the prescribed level.
verb
Notes

karis

v.

Used especially with traditional and household measures such as a cup, otsaba, or similar container.

Semantic note

The semantic components are:

  1. a recognized measuring container;
  2. a quantity initially exceeding its rim;
  3. a straight edge serving as the standard;
  4. removal of the excess;
  5. a final quantity level with the prescribed boundary.

Unlike general scraping, karis is an act of standardization and fair measurement.

Justice-related extension

Among the words in this cluster, karis offers one of the clearest material models of justice:

no hidden mound, no favored excess, and no arbitrary shortage—the quantity is brought exactly to the accepted measure.

Compare

  • karos — scrape material from a surface generally.
  • paryo — level or equal in relation to something else.
  • osay — restore proper order.
Boie’nenConcrete schemaAbstract implication
rigayleaning from the uprightbias; departure from right order
towawtilting under unequal loadingone-sidedness; disproportion
olayactively counterbalancing loadsequity; compensatory balance
karisremoving excess to a fixed measurefair and standardized measurement
paryoequal or levelequality and parity
angayappropriate or fittingproportionality; what is due
osayrestoring proper orderrectification
taxaytayorderly alignmentsystemic order
e-taytension maintained between supportsequilibrium within opposing forces