tereb

tereb

v.; adj. /te.reb/

1. v. To run out of available time before completing an intended task, reaching a destination, or meeting an appointed schedule; to be pressed for time; to have too little time remaining.

2. adj. Bereft of time; short of time; with insufficient time left to accomplish what is intended.

Unlike English late, tereb profiles the insufficiency of the remaining time, regardless of whether the deadline has already been missed. It denotes the realization that the available time has become inadequate.

USAGE

Tereb na sa oras.
“There is no longer enough time.”
“Time is running out.”

Natereb na ako sa oras.
“I am already really running out of time.”

Tereb na ika sa oras, mamawri na ika sa Misa.
“You are running out of time; you’ll be late for Mass.”

SEMANTIC NOTE

Tereb refers to the state of dwindling or insufficient remaining time. It often precedes the consequence expressed by mawri “late.”

Thus:

• tereb = not enough time left
• mawri = arriving or occurring later than expected or required

A person may be tereb without yet being mawri, but continued delay typically results in mawri.

COMPARE

• mawri — last; late; delayed in arrival or occurrence.
• tereb — bereft of time; lacking sufficient remaining time to complete a task or arrive on schedule.

This distinction reflects a subtle temporal contrast in Boie’nen: tereb evaluates the remaining time available, whereas mawri evaluates the timing of the resulting event or arrival.