whakatauākī
1. (verb) (-tia) to utter a proverb, utter a significant saying, utter a formulaic saying, utter an aphorism.
Ka whāia kia tomohia a Kahupeka ki te mokopuna a te koroua rā nā runga i tana ōhākī, engari kāore i tutuki ka whakatauākītia, ‘He tara whai ka uru ki roto, e kore e taea te whakahokia’ (Te Ara 2014). / Kahupeka was then sought for an arranged marriage with the elderly man's grandson, due to the elderly man's dying request, but this was not fulfilled with the saying, ‘A barb of a stingray, once inserted, cannot be withdrawn'.
2. (noun) proverb, significant saying, formulaic saying, aphorism - particularly those urging a type of behaviour. Like whakataukī and pepeha they are essential ingredients in whaikōrero.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 39;)
Ko te nuinga o ngā whakatauākī nā te tangata whai mana i whakatakoto (Wh4 2004:39). / The majority of whakatauākī have been made by people of status.
Synonyms: pepeha, whakataukī, peha
