whakawiri
1. (verb) (-ngia,-a,-hia) to twist, wring, screw, ill-treat.
Kei ētahi wāhi he hōiho mate, he kau mate e takoto noa atu ana i te whenua, ā tērā hoki te wai te riri haere tonu nā me te mānu haere ngā kāta me ngā wākona maha noa atu, āhua kē āhua kē, he mea rure kē i te kaha o te ia o te waipuke nāna i whakawiri (TWMNT 6/10/1894:256-257). / In some places dead horses and cows were lying on the ground, while the still angry rushing waters were carrying many carts and waggons twisted into strange shapes as a result of being tossed about by the strength of the flood's current.
Synonyms: wairori, kōwiri, takawiri, takawiriwiri
2. (modifier) cruel, unkind, nasty, brutal, vicious, ruthless, harsh, callous.
Otirā, e ai ki te kōrero a te kairīpoata nei, a Noel Holmes, ahakoa te huatau o Hare ki te tā whakaahua, he kore ngākau whakawiri nōna, i kore ai ia i eke ki te taumata hei tino tohunga pakiwaituhi (TTR 2000:50). / However, according to journalist Noel Holmes, although Harry could draw elegantly, because he lacked a cruel sense he did not become a great cartoonist.
3. (modifier) twisted.
4. (noun) wriggling, twisting.
Kua kaha te mura o ngā rau maroke rā, kua kaha hoki te whakawiri, te takaokeoke o te toke rā (HKW 1/8/1898:4). / As the blaze of the dry leaves increased the wriggling and writhing of that worm also increased.
