mahira
1. (verb) to pry.
Synonyms: mahi huna
2. (adjective) be inquisitive, curious, inquiring, nosy, prying, interfering.
He mahira te manu nei te weka (Te Ara 2011). / Weka are inquisitive birds.
Synonyms: whawhewhawhe, māhirahira
3. (modifier) inquisitive, inquiring.
Mihi rawa atu ia i tōna whiwhi i a Ruka, he tamaiti mahira hei hoa mōna (TTR 2000:30). / He appreciated obtaining Ruka, an inquisitive boy, as a companion.
pākiki
1. (verb) (-tia) to question frequently, inquire, probe.
He kūaretanga nō te tangata, ana, ka pākiki a ia, "He aha te pai o te keha, o te ngaro, o te waeroa, me te toke i hangā ai e Te Atua?" (KO 14/9/1882:10). / It's because a person is ignorant that he asks continually, "What is the value of fleas, blowflies, mosquitoes and worms made by God?"
Synonyms: toromoka, tūhuratanga, hurahura, haurapa, toro
2. (verb) to beg, plead for, petition, petition.
Ināianei kua rawakore, kua hemo i te kai, ka haere noa ki te Kāwanatanga pākiki noa ai i tētahi kai hei oranga (TWMNT 5/10/1875:219). / Now they are impoverished and starving, and have to go to the Government to petition for food for their well-being.
Synonyms: pitihana, pukapuka, petihana, pukapuka inoi
3. (modifier) inquisitive, inquiring, curious, questioning, analytical, probing.
Tirohia ko te taha matatau ki te reo, matatau ki te whakaako i te tangata, āhei hoki ki te whakaoho i te wairua pākiki o te tamaiti (HM 3/1995). / Look at the fluency in the language, knowledge of how to teach people and the ability to stimulate the child's inquisitive nature.
Synonyms: uiui, uiuinga, pātaitaitanga, patapatai, pātaitai
māhirahira
1. (modifier) inquisitive, curious, inquiring, nosy.
He ui makihoi noa pea tā ētahi o te hunga māhirahira nei, he hiahia tika tonu pea tā ētahi kia mōhio (WT 2013:63). / There were probably many questions that some of the inquisitive ones asked because they wanted to know.
Synonyms: mahira
