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ABANDON (meaning: throw away).  With both closed hands held at left side near breast, drop them downwards and to rear, at same time opening them as though expelling some article.

ABOARD (meaning; sitting down on).  Hold left hand flat, ten inches from body, palm up.  Place right fist on left palm, with little finger down.

ABOVE (meaning one thing above another).  Both hands backs up in front of body, the right resting on the left.  Then raise the right more or less above the left.

ABSENT.  Make signs for SIT and NO.

ABUSE (meaning: throwing lies against one).  Bring right 2 hand in front of mouth; move the hand sharply outwards or towards person indicated; repeat.

ACCOMPANY.  See WITH.

ACCOST.  Make the sign for QUESTION.

ACCOST (meaning: to question).  When party is at some distance hold right hand well up and wave to right and left two or three times.

ACHE (meaning: the darting sensations of pain).  Push the right index finger over and parallel to the part afflicted; then make the sign for SICK.

ACROSS. The flat left hand, with back up, is held about twelve inches out from body.  Then pass the partially compressed right hand over left on a curve.

ADD.  Place right flat hand on palm of left in front of body, and lift them upwards several times in moves of about 3 inches, to indicate piling up.

ADVANCE.  Point right flat hand forward, palm down, ten inches from body.  Bring left hand in same position but between right hand and body.   Then move both hands forward in slight jerks.

ADVANCE GUARD (The person in front).  Left flat hand ten inches from center of body.  Right 1 hand in front of left pointing upwards, then change to 2 hand, and move around to indicate LOOKING.

AFRAID (meaning: shrinks back from).  Bring both 1 hands well out in front of breast; bring hands back a few inches and slightly downwards, while curving index fingers.  Usually only right hand is used in making this sign.

AFRAID OF NO ONE.  Point right index in several directions; then make signs for AFRAID and NO.

AFTER, (or FUTURE TIME.) Make sign for TIME, then advance the right 1 hand past and beyond the left hand.

AFTERNOON.  Form an incomplete circle with thumb and index of right hand.  Then raise toward a point directly overhead, and sweep down towards the horizon.

AGE.  Indicate by showing number of winters.  (See WINTER.)

AGENT (meaning: Indian Agent).  Make signs for WHITE MAN, CHIEF, GIVE, and FOOD.

AGREEMENT. See TREATY.

AHEAD.  Make the sign for BEFORE.

AID.  Make signs for WORK and WITH.

AIM (meaning: "From the manner of using weapon").   If with rifle-aim accordingly; if with bow and arrow--bring hands up before breast with motion of drawing bow string.

AIRPLANE.  Extend both arms straight out to each side, sway body imitating motion of plane; then swing hand in a curve from waist towards the sky.  Then sign BIRD and EQUAL (a flexible modern sign, understood by Indians).

ALIGHT (to).  Indicate whether from horse, wagon, etc.   Then sweep 2 hand towards the ground.

ALIKE (meaning: that 2 people look alike).  Make the signs for FACE and SAME.

ALIVE (meaning: walking about).  Bring right 1 hand 10 inches from breast, then by wrist action make 3 zigzags.

ALL.  Move right flat hand in horizontal circle from right to left, breast high.

ALL GONE.  Point both extended hands at each other in front of breast.  Then loosely wipe ends of fingers of right hand across palm and fingers of left, and vice versa.

ALLIANCE.  Make sign for PEACE, and if for war purposes add signs GOING, WAR, WITH.

ALL RIGHT.  Make sign for ALL and sign for GOOD.

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ALONE.  Hold right 1 hand upwards in front of neck.   Then move outwards in sinuous motion.

ALWAYS.  Make the sign for FOREVER.

AMBITIOUS.  Make sign for the person and sign for PUSH.

AMONG.  Bring extended left 5 hand ten inches from breast, then weave right index through fingers of left.

ANCESTORS.  Most Indians usually make sign for OLD PEOPLE.  Some add LONG TIME.

AND.  Make the sign for WITH.

ANGRY (meaning: mind twisted).  Place closed right hand close to forehead, with back of thumb touching same; move hand slightly outwards and by wrist action give small twisting motion.

ANNIHILATE.  See EXTERMINATE.

ANNOY (meaning: fluttering heart).  Make the sign for HEART.  Then flutter the 5 hand over the heart.

ANNUITIES.  Make the sign for BLANKET, for FOOD and for DISTRIBUTE.

ANOTHER. Place compressed right hand over left breast, sweep hand upwards, outwards to right and downwards ending with back down.

ANTELOPE (meaning: pronged horns of animals).  Hold both 4 hands beside head, palms forward.

APACHE--Indian (meaning: Elk horn fiddlers).  Make the sign for Indian, then with right index rub the left index from end of finger to wrist and back again--2 or 3 times.

APPAREL.  Pass both 4 hands over such position of body as is necessary to explain the clothing.

ARAPAHOE--Indian (meaning: MOTHER of all Tribes).  First make sign for Indian, then with compressed right hand tap left breast two or three times, which is the MOTHER sign.

ARISE (meaning: to get up).  Right 1 hand with back down, pointed to front, raise mostly by wrist action until back is outwards and index points upwards.

ARRANGE.  Make signs for WORK and FIX.

ARREST (meaning: to seize hold of and tie at wrist).   With both hands in front of body make as though seizing hold of a person.   Then cross the wrists, hands closed.

ARRIVE HERE. Place flat left hand against left breast with back out. Hold right hand one foot from body, then bring same briskly against back of left.

ARRIVE THERE. This is the reverse of previous sign.  The left flat hand is held out in front; the right 1 hand held against breast, strikes out to palm of left.

ARROW (meaning: drawing an arrow from left hand).  Near left breast, hold left cupped hand, then indicate drawing an arrow from same.

ARTILLERY MAN.  Make sign for WHITE MAN, for SOLDIER, for WITH, and for CANNON.

ASCEND.  Indicate in what way and what was ascended; for instance, a mountain, sign same with left hand, place right 1 hand with index on left wrist and gradually move same upward.

ASHAMED (meaning: drawing blanket over face).  Both flat hands-opposite either cheek, backs outward.  Cross right hand to left and left hand to right.

ASTONISH.  Palm of left hand held over mouth.  Many Indians also raise right hand.  This gesture denotes great surprise, great pleasure, or great disappointment.

ASTRAY.  Make the sign for HIDE.

ASTRIDE.  Separate first and second fingers of right hand and set them astride of upright flat left hand.

ATTACK.  Make sign for CHARGE.

ATTEMPT.  Make the signs for WORK and PUSH.

ATTENTION.  See QUESTION.

AUNT.  Make signs for FATHER and SISTER, or MOTHER and SISTER.

AUTOMOBILE. Make the sign for WAGON and then imitate holding steering wheel.  (Another modern sign understood by Indians.)  A Cheyenne Indian used the signs WAGON, BY ITSELF, GO.