tautitotito
1. (verb) (-a,-ngia) to sing songs in response to one another, reciprocate with songs, recite alternatively (verses or parts of a song).
Ko tēnei pātere, ko ngā pātere e rua e whai tata i muri iho i tēnei, he mea tautitotito i waenganui i a Titoko, o te Whakatōhea, i a te Waiu-rangi o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. He mea nui tera ki neherā, te tautitotito (M 2006:138). / This pātere, and the two which immediately follow on, were composed as competing verses between Titoko of te Whakatōhea and Te Waiu-rangi of Te Whānau-a-Apanui. It was an outstanding achievement in olden days to be able to compose competing verses.
2. (verb) (-a,-ngia) to compose, make up, invent (stories).
Kei te J. 3/31 ētahi kōrero nā Hoani Nahe e rereke ana te kaupapa o te waiata nei me te tangata nāna i tautitotito (M 2004:164). / In J. 3/31 there are comments by Hoani Nahe that give a different origin for this song and the person who composed it.
3. (noun) song-in-reply.
Ko tētahi tēnei o ngā waiata tautitotito a Tokoahu i tāia ki te pukapuka a Hōne Waiti W 5/98 (Māori) (M 2007:98). / This is one of the songs-in-reply published in John White's book W. 5/98 (Māori).
