Meaning
A Rastafari word of affirmation and greeting meaning 'heights' — spiritual heights, joy, and unity. Used to say 'yes', 'alright', 'respect', or 'all is well', and also naming the colour red (as in the Rasta red-gold-green). Close in feeling to 'irie'.
Examples
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Ites, mi bredren, everyting bless.
Greetings/respect, my brother, everything is blessed.
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Yuh reach safe? Ites!
You arrived safely? Great!
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Di ites, gold, an green a di Rasta colours.
The red, gold, and green are the Rasta colours.
Origin
From 'heights' reshaped in Rastafari 'I-ary' speech, where the 'I' sound is exalted; it carries the sense of spiritual highness and also names the colour red.
How it’s used
A Rastafari greeting/affirmation akin to 'irie'; also the Iyaric word for red. See [[rastafari-iyaric]].