2. (modifier) within a little, nearly, almost.
Kotahi te Pākehā, ko te Kōra tōna ingoa, i haere atu i runga i te tāhuna paruparu ki te kawe atu i te pātara waipiro ki ngā tāngata i runga i taua poti, i te hokinga mai tōtahi ka mate i te pōharuharu, nā te mea i ngōki mai i runga i te paru i tae mai ai ki uta, tae rawa mai kua ruwha noa iho (TWMNT 11/7/1876:172). / A Pākehā named Cole went over the mud flat with a bottle of alcohol to the people on that boat, and on returning in a little while he had difficulties with the quagmire because he had to crawl over the mud to reach the shore. When he finally arrived he was exhausted.
Synonyms: tata, tata, whakatata, whano, kua [mutu] tonu, whano tae
