mere
1. (noun) a short, flat weapon of stone, often of greenstone.
Heoi tukua mai ana te tahā kōhatu, me ngā kākahu, me ngā mere, ā i tēnei rā ka hoatu e au ki a Te Mākarini aua taonga (TWMNT 30/10/1872:144). / And so the stone calabashes, cloaks and mere were sent to me and on this day I gave those treasures to Mr McLean.
See also meremere
Mere
1. (loan) (personal name) Mary.
Whāia ka mate a Rīpeka i te tau 1863, ka moe a Hirini i a Mere Mete, he tamāhine nā tētahi kaiwhai tohorā o Te Māhia, nā Hachem Schmidt (TTR 1994:204). / Following that Rebecca died in 1863 and Hirini married Mere Mete, a daughter of a Māhia whaler Hachem Schmidt.
Synonyms: Meri
Mere Kirihimete
1. (loan) (noun) Merry Christmas.
…otiia ki tāku titiro, ko te kīnakinakitanga o ngā mahi i pēnā me tētahi Mere Kirihimete paramu purini, ā, ka āpiti atu hoki te Hapi Nuia hei whakakoa i ngā ngākau (TP 12/1904:8). / …but the way I saw it, the embellishment of the activities was like a Merry Christmas plum pudding, with a Happy New Year added to gladden the heart.
Synonyms: Meri Kirihimete
kau
1. (particle) alone, by oneself, solitarily, bare, empty, naked, without hindrance, unreservedly, to no purpose, purely and simply, solely, exclusively, only, merely, just, idle, inactive, for no particular reason, in vain, to no avail, helplessly, none at all, very, seriously, totally - a manner particle indicating the absence of other factors. Where kau follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia. In this situation the passive ending may be dropped from the verb, but not from kau. As with other manner particles in Māori, while having a general overall meaning, kau can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 91-92;)
Rapu kau ana a Tāwhiri-mātea, kua hunaia e Papa-tū-ā-nuku ana tamariki. / Tāwhiri-mātea searched everywhere, but Papa-tū-ā-nuku had hidden her children.
Ka whaowhia te kūmara ki roto, kī tonu, kore rawa he wāhi i āputa, arā i takoto kau noa iho, kī tonu (JPS 1926:95). / The kūmara were put in it, and filled it up, there was no open space remaining, that is it was absolutely full.
Synonyms: nahe, tata, tika, tou, noa, noa iho, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, ia, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, kāhore kau, anake, anahe, ake, pakiwhara, kiri kau, kirikau, tahanga, hahake
2. (particle) as soon as, no sooner had - a slight variation from the general meaning above where kau is used to indicate immediacy.
Utua kautia te moni tuatahi ki a Te Teira me tōna iwi, tukuna atu ana e te kāwanatanga ngā kairūri (TTR 1990:291). / As soon as the first payment was made to Te Teira and his people, the government sent in the surveyors.
noa iho
1. only, just, merely, quite, that and no more, that and nothing better, completely, totally - often has the sense of treating the things or activities it modifies as being of little importance. The iho following noa can also intensify the free from limitations meanings of noa.
I titiro noa iho mai ia ki a au. / She just looked at me.
Pūrikiriki noa iho te maihi o taua whare (White 2 1889:73). / The bargeboard of that house was completely shattered.
Synonyms: anake, anahe, nahe, tika, tou, noa, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, ia, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, kau, ake, tata, koia, rawa, āhua, anō, tino, kere, āta, hangehange, hengahenga, kāhua, (ko) tōna ... (nei)
2. long ago, long before, for a long time.
Mahue noa ake ana ngā tekoteko ki te whenua, pirau ai (TTR 2000:26). / For a long time the tekoteko were left on the ground to rot.
Tae rawa atu he āwhina ki a rāua, kua mate noa ake i te mākinakina (HJ 2015:44). / When help eventually reached them they had died long before from the intense cold.
ngutu kau
1. (modifier) hypocritical, two-faced.
Ka unga ia e ahau ki te iwi ngutu kau (PT Ihaia 10:6). / I will send him against an hypocritical nation.
See also noho ngutu kau
2. (noun) mere talk, just talk, empty promise, one who makes an empty promise.
Nā, mō te taha ki a Tā Hōri Kerei. Kua maha noa ngā mea pai i kīia e ia kia tukua ki ngā Māori, engari kāore anō i mana noa tētahi o ana kupu, arā tētahi o ngā mea i whakaae ai ia; nō konei ko ngā Māori i āhua whakapono ki a ia i mua ai kua mōhio ināianei he ngutu kau āna kōrero, kāore he tinanatanga, he wairua kau (TWMNT 25/1/1879:257). / With regard to Sir George Grey, he has said many good things would be given to the Māori but not one of his promises have been fulfilled; even the Māori who were inclined to believe him, now know that his words are mere talk, nothing tangible can be expected.
Synonyms: kai ā-waha
mārie
1. (particle) exactly, absolutely, unequivocally, positively, seriously, essentially, indubitably, for the most part, in the main, deliberately, intentionally, carefully, really, gently, quietly, silently, completely, thoroughly, well and truly, actually, in fact, quietly, peaceably, peacefully, just, merely, very - a word to intensify and add emphasis, often translated by one of the above. Where mārie follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia.
Ko te whenua ka takoto mārie, taihoa ka tupuria e te otaota, e te māheuheu (HJ 2015:101). / Land just left will in time be overgrown by weeds and scrub.
Synonyms: māika, mārire, mārika, mōhū, kōmuhu, tino, kau, ake, tata, tika, tou, noa, noa iho, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, ia, ia rā, heipū, kē, koia, koia, tinana, koa, katoa, rawa, i neki, inā, ata, rā anō, rā pea, rānō, rukaruka, hāwerewere, piropiro, puru, pohapoha, mōrukaruka, tahi, te mutunga (kē) mai (nei) o te ..., moruka, anō, pū, ehara ehara
2. (verb) to be peaceful, friendly, harmonious, amicable, composed, abate.
I whakahoahoa rātou ki ngā Pākehā i runga i te wawata ka mārie tā rātou noho tahi (TTR 1990:77). / They were friendly towards the Pākehā in the hope that their existence together would be peaceful.
3. (verb) fortunately, it was fortunate, luckily.
Ka mea atu ngā tama, "Mārie anō kia haere mai koe!" Ka mea atu te koroheke, "Ki te aha?" Ka mea atu rāua, "Ki te karakia i ā māua māra." (NM 1928:170). / The boys said, "It was fortunate that you have come!" The elderly man said, "What for?" They said, "To recite ritual chants for our gardens."
Synonyms: mokori, māringanui, marenganui, maringanui, mokori anō
4. (modifier) peaceful, friendly, harmonious, amicable, composed.
He tangata mārie, whakamōwai a Rāni Erihana, i ngākau pono nui ki tana kamupene me tōna whānau (TTR 2000:59). / Rāni Ellison was a quiet, unassuming man who was devoted to his company and his family.
Synonyms: whakaaio, hūmārire, mārire, rangimārie, ukiuki, whakamārie, whakamāria, whakamārire, ngehe, āio, houkura, hūmārie, aumārire, tō
5. (noun) peace, calm, tranquility, calmness, peacefulness, serenity, composure, harmony, geniality.
Ko te mātau, ko te mārie nui i kitea ki tōna mata (MM.TKM 1/12/1855:13). / Intelligence and geniality could be seen in his countenance.
Synonyms: marino, whakamārietanga, rongo, rangimārie, maungārongo, rongomau, waikanaetanga, whakaaio, āio, houkura, hūmārie, houhanga a rongo, aumārire, māriri, hūmārire
arero kau
1. (intransitive verb) to pay lip service.
Ko tō tātou āhua e pēnei ana, ko te whakahē ki te hoko a te Kāwanatanga kei te arero kau, ko ngā ringaringa e hiahia noa ana ki te kaute i ngā moni mō tōna whenua (TWMNT 21/3/1876:73). / Our nature is that with our tongues only we condemn the purchases by the Government, while our hands itch to count the money we receive in payment for the land.
2. (noun) empty words, mere words, one who throws around empty words.
He arero kau, he nui te kōrero, ko te mahi ia, korekore nei (HJ 2017:18). / He’s one who throws around empty words, but there’s no action.
mārika
1. (particle) exactly, absolutely, unequivocally, positively, seriously, essentially, indubitably, for the most part, in the main, deliberately, intentionally, carefully, really, gently, quietly, silently, completely, thoroughly, well and truly, actually, in fact, quietly, peaceably, peacefully, just, merely, very - used following the word it relates to, to intensify qualities, including bad ones, or to follow āe. It can be used to show approval or disapproval.
Tō tere mārika! / Gee you're quick!
I takoto mārika ia ki te whatitoka o tōna whare (HP 1991:19). / She lay right by the doorway of her house.
Engari te tīma tāne nāku mārika i whiriwhiri (HP 1991:250). / But the men's team I selected myself.
Ehara mārika i a Mahuta ake aua kaupapa o 1894 me 1895 nei (TTR 1996:86). / The plans of 1894 and 1895 were not Mahuta's personal work.
See also āe mārika
Synonyms: mārire, mōhū, mārie, māika, kōmuhu, pohapoha, puru, piropiro, hāwerewere, rukaruka, pū, anō, ehara ehara, moruka, te mutunga (kē) mai (nei) o te ..., tahi, mōrukaruka, koa, katoa, rawa, i neki, inā, ata, rā anō, rā pea, rānō, tino, kau, ake, tata, tika, tou, noa, noa iho, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, ia, ia rā, heipū, kē, koia, koia, tinana
mārire
1. (particle) exactly, absolutely, unequivocally, positively, seriously, essentially, indubitably, for the most part, in the main, deliberately, intentionally, carefully, really, gently, quietly, silently, completely, thoroughly, well and truly, actually, in fact, quietly, peaceably, peacefully, just, merely, very - a word to intensify and add emphasis, often translated by one of the above. Where mārire follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia.
Te reka mārire o te merengi nei. / This melon is really sweet.
Ka kimikimi te Whare ki ngā tikanga e pā ana ki te taha Māori, he tika kia āta whakaarohia mariretia aua tikanga (TWMNT 13/2/1877:27). / The House is considering matters affecting Māori, and it is only right that those matters be considered very carefully.
Synonyms: mārika, mārie, mōhū, kōmuhu, māika, tahi, mōrukaruka, pohapoha, ehara ehara, piropiro, hāwerewere, rukaruka, puru, pū, anō, moruka, te mutunga (kē) mai (nei) o te ..., rawa, i neki, inā, ata, rā anō, rā pea, rānō, tino, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, ia, ia rā, heipū, kē, noa, koia, koia, tinana, koa, katoa, tou, tika, tata, ake, kau, noa iho
2. (verb) to be peaceful, quiet, fortunate, appeased.
Ko te kōhuru mā te pāwera, mā te hae, mā te ohorere o te ngākau, mā te mamae, tēnā ko te tāhae whenua he mea āta whakaaro mārire, he mea āta rūnanga rawa he kōrero parau, ehara i te hara ohorere nā te ohonga o te ngākau, kāhorehore, engari he hara he mea āta waihanga mārire, i whakamahia e te tangata tōna hinengaro ki te āta whakatakoto, kāhore i mahia i runga i te pāweratanga o te ngākau, engari i te ngākau anō e mārire ana (TP 3/1909:2). / Murder is done because of passion, jealousy, impulsively, or because of pain, but stealing land is something that is carefully planned and thought out with deception, it's not an impetuous sin, no, but it is a sin that is carefully devised and planned, not done on the spur of the moment, but when one's emotions are calm.
Synonyms: ukiuki, rangimārie, whakamārie, whakamāria, whakamārire, ngehe, āio, houkura, hūmārie, aumārire, tō, mārie, hūmārire, whakaaio, maho, māhaki, māika, nohopuku, tōngā, wahangū, nguengue, hū, rata, hūnguengue, hāngū, rarata
3. (noun) softness (of sound).
Ko te kahaoro te tīwerawera, te mārire rānei o te oro (RTP 2015:59). / The volume is the loudness or softness of the sound.
noa
1. (particle) only, solely, just, merely, quite, until, at random, idly, fruitlessly, in vain, as soon as, without restraint, freely, unimpeded, unbridled, casually, easily, without any fuss, suddenly, unexpectedly, spontaneously, instinctively, intuitively, by accident, unintentionally, without restriction, without conditions, randomly, without knowing why, to no avail, for no good reason, very, exceedingly, absolutely, already, right up until - a manner particle following immediately after the word it relates to. Denotes an absence of limitations or conditions. Often occurs in combination with other particles, e.g. noa iho. Where noa follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia. As with other manner particles in Māori, while having a general overall meaning, noa can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 91-92;)
Tekau mita noa pea hei omanga māku. / I probably had only 10 metres to run.
He nui ngā whenua i tukua noatia, i hokona rānei e Kahutia ki ngā tāngata whai me te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:33). / Kahutia had given and sold considerable areas of land to settlers and the government.
Tēnei hoki tētahi minita Pākehā kei konei, i mate tana mokopuna, kawea ana ki te nehu, ā, i tīmata anō ia i te karakia nehu. Nō te tukunga iho ki te poka oma ana ia, kīhai i mutu tana karakia nehu, ā, tanumia noatia iho e ngā tāngata hāpai (TWMNT 13/3/1877:76). / And then there was a Pākehā minister here whose grandchild died and when she was taken to the burial he began the burial service. When she was being lowered into the grave he fled without finishing his burial service and she was just buried by the pallbearers without ceremony.
See also noa ake, noa atu, noa iho
Synonyms: ā, anake, anahe, nahe, matapōkere, ia, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, hengahenga, kāhua, (ko) tōna ... (nei), kau, koia, rawa, āhua, anō, tino, kere, āta, hangehange, ake, tata, tika, noa iho, tou, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu
2. (verb) to be free from the extensions of tapu, ordinary, unrestricted, void.
(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 237-240; Te Kōhure Video Tapes (Ed. 1): 6;)
Puta mai ai te tangata i te urupā, me tāuhi ia i ōna ringaringa me tōna upoko ki te wai kia noa ai ia. / When a person comes out of a cemetery he/she should sprinkle water on his/her hands and head so that she/he is freed from tapu.
See also tapu, rāhui, whakanoa
Synonyms: māori, kai parāoa, kaipaipa, kai paipa
mā
1. (particle) and others, and company, and the rest - a word used after names of people, wai and mea, and terms of address, to indicate the inclusion of others whom it is not necessary to specify. With terms of address it merely indicates the plural. It is incorrect to use it after nouns, except when they are being used as a term of address.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 2, 13;)
ehara nā/nō
1. (negative) does not belong to, did not belong to - the usual word to negate affirmative sentences beginning with nā or nō is ehara. This is merely placed before the affirmative sentence. Although this is a common form in modern Māori, the alternative ehara i a ... was the more usual negative for nā and nō in classical Māori.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29-30;)
Ehara nā Te Tiwha tēnei whakaahua. / This photograph does not belong to Te Tiwha.
See also ehara i a
2. (negative) if the subject is a pronoun it can be placed immediately after ehara.
3. (negative) did not - with sentences where the emphasis is on the actor to form the negative ehara merely precedes the affirmative sentence.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29-30;)
2. (particle) at, in - to show the place where an event occurs, especially if there is movement to where the event takes place or it is in the future.
(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 32;)
Nō te tau 2004 ka tū te hui ki Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau. / The conference was held in 2004 at the University of Auckland.
3. (particle) according to, in the opinion of - used to introduce an opinion or point of view.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 85-86;)
Synonyms: hei tā ..., e ai ki, e ai ki a [ia] ..., kīhai ki
4. (particle) Used with hei to show relationships.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 54;)
5. (particle) with, by means of.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 24-26;)
Tapahia te mīti ki te naihi koi. / Cut the meat with a sharp knife please.
6. (particle) Sometimes ki merely connects the verb to its object, especially when experience verbs are used (e.g. pīrangi, hiahia, mōhio, mahara, tūmanako).
7. (particle) if.
iho
1. (particle) down, downwards, from above, in a downwards direction - indicates direction downwards towards the speaker, away from the speaker, away from a group, or from someone other than the speaker. Like the other three directional particles, mai, atu and ake, it always follows manner particles (i.e. kau, kē, noa, rawa and tonu) if they are present in the phrase.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 127, 120;)
Heke iho! / Get down!
Nā ka tū iho a Karihi, ka tangi rāua mō te oraititanga o tōna teina (NM 1928:41). / Karihi stood down there and they both wept for the narrow escape of his (Tāwhaki's) younger brother.
2. (particle) after that, following that - used in time expressions, seemingly for emphasis. It often occurs with muri to indicate time after that just mentioned, in the past or future. In these time phrases rawa may be included to indicate a fairly long time after that mentioned, or tonu and tata may be included to indicate a time shortly after that just mentioned.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 121;)
I muri iho i ēnei mea kua kōrerotia ake nei, ka hoki a Mānia ki Hokianga. / After these events spoken about above, Mānia returned to Hokianga.
I muri tata tonu iho i te pōhiri, ka kai rātou. / Immediately after the welcome ceremony they ate.
Nō mua iho anō te mana o te reo o te wahine (Te Ara 2017). / The mana of a woman’s voice is ancient.
Nā, tēnei te tikanga mō ngā kaipuke pākaru. Ka paea tētahi ki uta ka eke, ko te mea mātāmua e whakaaroa e koutou ko ngā tāngata kia whakaorangia; muri iho ngā taonga; muri rawa iho ngā papa, ngā haika, ngā hēra, ngā aha o te kaipuke (TK 1/12/1843:47). / Now, this is the process for wrecked ships. When one runs aground, board it and the first thing that you should consider is the people to be saved; after that it's the cargo; and eventually after that it's the timber, anchors, sails and other parts of the ship.
3. (particle) below, under - emphasises distance with location words, especially raro.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 45;)
See also raro iho
4. (particle) less, worse, shorter, lower - used with some words (e.g. kino, iti, poto and raro) when comparing things, especially when it is a lesser quality or expresses smallness, scarceness, badness, etc. This also applies to verbs created by prefixing whaka- to adjectives such as these.
He iti iho te utu mō te tamariki i te pakeke. / The price for children is less than adults.
Kua kino iho ngā marangai, ngā tauraki, ngā waipuke i ō ngā wā o mua (HJ 2015:184). / Storms, droughts and floods are worse than in former times.
Kua whakaitia iho e au te utu o aku pūtu me aku hū (TWMNT 21/5/1879:420). / The price of my boots and shoes has been reduced.
Synonyms: iti iho, whakaheke, whakamahuru, whakararo
5. (particle) straight away - used to show an immediate sequence of events.
I taku taenga ki runga, ka kite iho au kua motu te tupehau o taku waewae. / When I reached the top I saw straight away that the calf of my leg was cut.
6. (particle) Used to indicated a time approaching in the future, especially following heke.
Me tāpiri atu he kōrero whakamārama kia kore ai e pōrahurahu ā tātou tamariki, ā tātou mokopuna ā ngā tau e heke iho nei (RK 1994:113). / Some explanations should be added so that our children and grandchildren in the coming years are not confounded.
7. (particle) Used to reinforce words with negative connotations, such as darkness, sadness, troubles and death. Actions that involve considerable time and effort, or are weightier or have a solemn connotation may also use iho.
Kātahi rātau ka pakanga, ka hinga te hoariri i a rātau, ā, mate iho te kaiwhakahaere o te hoariri (TPH 15/1/1900:6). / Then they fought, they defeated the enemy and the enemy's leader died.
Ka puta ake he paoa i te poka, ānō he paoa nō tētahi kāpura nui; ā pōuri iho te rā me te rangi i te paoa o te poka (PT Whakakitenga 9:2). / There arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Koutou ngā tāngata kai paipa, me whakaaro iho ki ngā mea kino o taua mahi. / You people who smoke should consider the detrimental things about that activity.
8. (particle) only, just, merely, quite - when immediately following noa.
See also noa iho
2. (negative) will not - with sentences where the emphasis is on the actor, to form the negative ehara merely precedes the affirmative sentence.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)
Ehara mā tōku matua tēnā nama e utu / It is not for my father to pay that bill.
