So, there are a couple of examples of the use of the reversive that I think

aren't coherent under the definition of reversive (i.e. the "undoing" of an

action). However, it's also clear that there are some examples that fit it
perfectly. I think there's two of them, beyond the finished/completed/stopped
category noted by Marianne below. There's also some outliers that I think are
interesting (but aren't quite as interesting as the whole system-complexity
marking, unfortunately). Here are some of the choice examples: (A quick
note here-- there are some verbs which might be analyzed as having the
"pick" verb, -ku-, I will need to cross reference them with the other
languages, I think. In some cases, the meaning might be more obvious, but I
still think it will be worth the look. If it is, that's interesting in itself, I think.)
The first category are verbs which are simply an undoing of the event or
action described by the verb.
"Undoing"
fold/unfold (idiomiatically, answer) ne-.-rihwaya'ra(ku)
wind/unwind
give/extract (teeth, roots, intenstine, lye***interesting here because it is not
the source) tuaw(ihsi)
robe/unrobe
bury/unbury (i)hsa'nhnak(u)
tie/untie (i)htrhsi
put on fire (cook)/take off fire kahn(ku)
burden/unburden
travel/correct travel yah-athahakuhsi
fasten/loosen u'nari(ihsi)
/unbar a gate ahkaraw(ihsi)
put up/take down ahra(ku)
put around/take down ahraw(ku)
hook/unhook a'nu'nar(ihsi)
have in mouth/remove from mouth nhT
turn/turn back athrwa(ku)
contribute, share/tear it down, unravel rur(ku)
add/undo r(ku)
transform [change-undid] (RC 15:1)
be in water/take out of water -ucross/echo
The dictionary only mentions the use of the "increase of intensity" of the
event/action described by the word for "flay" in its entry. However, I found
quite a few more that followed this pattern. I have some more in my notes at
the nation house when I first encountered this, and I think the verb was
having to do with destruction or demolition or something like that, which is
the main thing that got me interested. It was the tear/undo pair combined
with the planting/harvesting verb that got me thinking about maybe

something involving the the complexity of a given system acted on by the

verb (OVERTLY). However, it seems to be more along the lines of indicating
that a "destructive verb" verb is doing something which is even more
reductive to the undergoer of the action than the original verb implies-maybe to the point where, ironically, it's irreversable.
"increase intensity"
divide/disunite ne-.-kha(hsi)
bent/more crooked ne-.-a'nukn(ku)
seperate/schism ne-.-a'nekha(hsi)
strip/remove mask atkhsuhi / atkhsuhrku
flay/skin yr(ku) *rudes notes 511 that this "intensifies the meaning"
*/massacre (???)
scratch/really scratch kwehthar(aku)
tear/undo rae(ku)
hang down/luxate ne-.-a'nahra(ku)
I think my original analysis of a notion of systemic complexity does not
necessarily apply in the sense that there's the reversive represents an overt
marking of this category, but I think it is an underlying motivator between
these two. I think it has something to do with the fact that the completion of
the action represents a transformation which is a return to a natural, or unacted upon state of the undergoer (things are naturally unfolded, unknotted,
unextracted, etc.) or a state which cannot be re-undone (division vs.
complete disunity etc.).
Just as a quick note here, Marianne did mention that in Mohawk, it is also
used to indicate that a verb with it can mean "I finished, completed it".
"w:katste I used it, wakatsth-hsi-
I finished using it, wakatk:ronte
I peddled it, sold it, wakatkehront:-ko- I finished selling".
I have some commentary on the outliers,
"Outliers"
cross/expiate 'rihwaya'rakwaT 500 **this verb occurs three times with undo,
with different senses
- the matter has been gone over once, and will be gone over another time
cross/vengeance
- the person has been crossed metaphorically once, and is returning this
action on the offender.
planting/harvest
- similar to the mohawk thing, the completion of the planting/harvesting
process. this was a primary motivator of my initial analysis. if the

planting/harvesting is complete, a field is typically returned to a meadow (i.e.

an unfarmed clearing).
peel/rub hair (RC 28:1)
- the citation is wrong for the JNB Hewitt stories here, might make more
sense in context. maybe taking off grease or something?
cut off/overcome kwana(ku)
- Not really sure about this one.
recieve/**be at peace, be charmed 'tikhru'na(ku)
- this is most likely "pick off", as in to have one's mind taken away.
be in / keep to oneself a'raku
- taking oneself away.
hang down/follow ("") same example in the dictionary, very weird.
hang/allow rihwaraku
- no idea.
So anyway, hope this isn't too much! Would be interesting to hear what
Oneida does.
Ny:w