taitama
1. (verb) to be a young man.
Ahakoa anō e taitama tonu ana ia i tērā wā, kore i roa kua uru ki ngā mahi hokohoko whenua. Kua tātāwhāinga ki ōna pakeke, ki tōna tātai anō hoki (TTR 1990:284). / Although he was still a young man, it wasn't long before he became involved in land dealings, in competition both with his elders and with his own generation.
2. (modifier) young (of a man).
Kua rere hoki ngā whakakenakena me ngā whakaipoipo a ngā rangatira taitama (TTR 1994:93). / She was admired and courted by young chiefs.
3. (noun) young man, youth.
Ka whakaauahitia tōna tinana ki roto i tō mātau whare, ko tētahi o ngā taitama tāne i te pupuri whakatūpoutia ki runga ake o te ahi auahi, kia uru te auahi ki roto i ngā pōngāihu me te waha, kia ruakina mai te wai me ngā para rākau ki waho (HP 1991:19). / Her body was hung over smoke in our house and one of the boys held her above the smoky fire so that smoke would enter her nostrils and mouth and the water and bits of plants would be regurgitated.
