whakawai
1. (verb) (-a,-tia) to divert, amuse, tempt, beguile, persuade, seduce.
Ka tāmaua a Pīhanga hei wahine mā Tongariro, heoi nā Taranaki a Pīhanga i whakawai (Te Ara 2013). / Pīhanga was betrothed as Tongariro’s wife, but she was seduced by Taranaki.
Synonyms: whakapakepake, whakawaiwai, whakakīkī, whakawherewhere, whakawhere, hīanga
2. (verb) (-a,-tia) to entice, lure.
Kāore hoki tō rātou pā e taea ake; nā, ka whakawaia kia hekeheke iho (M 2004:328). / Their fortified position was impregnable; and thus they had to be enticed by deceit to leave and to descend.
Synonyms: poapoa, tīmori, kohinu, whakapoapoa, whakakonuka, maimoa, poa, pātoi
3. (verb) (-a) to practise, rehearse.
He kaha ki te whakawai, koirā i rerehua ai tana porotiti i te poi (RMR 2017). / It's because she practises so hard that her twirling of the poi is so appealing.
Synonyms: parakitihi, whakaakoako, mahi, akoako, whakaharatau, whakahāngai, haratau
4. (modifier) treacherous, deceitful, double-crossing, perfidious, duplicitous, underhand.
Ka haere nei a Te Maunu me te tamaiti iti; i te moana ka patua a Te Maunu rāua ko te tamaiti. He kōhuru whakawai e Ngā Puhi (JPS 1945:194). / Te Maunu and the little son departed and out at sea Te Maunu and the son were killed. This was a treacherous murder by Ngā Puhi.
5. (modifier) military training.
I muri mai ka whakatūria atu a ia hei kaingārahu kamupene mō te hokowhitu whakawai i te puni hōia i Papakura (TTR 1998:181). / After that he was appointed as a company commander for the training battalion at Papakura Military Camp.
6. (noun) amusement, temptation, distraction.
Nō te ekenga ki te Kaunihera Ture he kōrero kē hoki. Ka tūpato ētahi i a Taiaroa, ka mea ētahi kua riro ia i ngā whakawai a te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:104). / After his appointment to the Legislative Council he was regarded differently. Some became cautious of Taiaroa and some said he had been been taken over by the temptations of the government.
7. (noun) weaponry practice.
Kua uru ia ki ngā whakawai riri (JPS 1911:18). / He had taken part in weaponry practice.
