Where does “aʼmata-mata” come from?

aʼmata-mata (Makasar) comes from Makasar aʼ-, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maʀ-.

aʼmata-mata (Makasar): to only have eyes for

Definitions

  1. to only have eyes for

Ancestry of “aʼmata-mata”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Makasaraʼ-derivational prefix forming intransitive verbs from nouns and other roots
2Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*maʀ-—
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maʀ- →Every word from Makasar aʼ- →
aʼmata-mata — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer