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Loan words

Historical loan words

tūpā

1. (verb) to be barren, limited.

He nui ngā kupu Māori motuhenga kua nunumi i te mata o te whenua me te aha anō kua āhua hahore, āhua tūpā te papakupu o te reo (HM 1/1993:3). / There are many authentic Māori words that have disappeared from the face of the earth and as a result the lexicon of the language is somewhat basic, somewhat limited.

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Synonyms: taparere, kōpiri


2. (modifier) dried up, rough, hard, unfruitful, barren.


3. (modifier) flat, level.

Ahakoa titiro ki hea, he koraha, he whenua tūpā, he whenua tītōhea (HM 2/2009:10). / No matter where you looked, there was desert, flat country and barren land.

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Synonyms: kōeketanga, paparanga, paparite, pātiki, kaupae, taumata, tautika, whakatūpā, papatahi, papatairite, whakapaparanga, apaapa, apa, kōeke


4. (noun) chant, song.

He tūpā waka (W 1971:455). / A song for launching a canoe (W 1971:455).

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