whakamīharo
1. (verb) (-tia) to admire, wonder at.
Ko te wahine tēnei i whakamīharotia nuitia e ngā Pākehā katoa o te tāone, he ngāwari nōna, he pai, he aroha ki te hunga rawa kore (TWM 10/6/1865:1). / This woman was admired greatly by all the Pākehā of the town because she was pleasant, kind and compassionate to the poor.
2. (modifier) be amazing, astonishing, wonderful, surprising.
He kararehe whakamīharo te raiona, te arewhana, te ēkara (TTT 1/8/1925:272). / The lion, elephant and eagle are amazing animals.
3. (noun) admiration, wonderment.
I te karangatanga o tētehi hui i Te Kūiti hei whiriwhiri i te tautohenga o Ngāti Maniapoto me tētehi mana whakahaere ā-rohe mō ngā rēti, nui ana te whakamīharo o Āpirana Ngata ki te pai o te āhua o Pei (TTR 1998:70). / At a meeting at Te Kuiti called to discuss a rating dispute that had arisen between Ngāti Maniapoto and a local body, Pei Te Hurinui made a considerable impression on Āpirana Ngata.
rere ana te [whakamīharo]
1. an idiom used to show that one is overwhelmed or filled with a particular emotion, which is the subject of the expression.
I te ata o te Rātapu nāku i kawe ngā Māori ki te whare karakia o Hana Pāora, rere ana te whakamīharo ki te nui o te pai, ki te tiketike o tērā tū whare (TKM.MM 30/8/1863:3). / I took the Māori to St. Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday morning, they marvelled at the magnificence and height of the building.
