kōtonga
1. (verb) to be in misery, distress, depression.
Kua whakataua e ia me haere kē ia ki rāwāhi, he wāhi e tino pīrangitia ana te kaimahi Pākehā, ā, e kore te tangata e kōtonga i te kore whai moni (TTR 1994:21). / He had decided to go abroad to a place where European labour was in high demand, and where one was not in misery because of no finances.
Synonyms: tiwhatiwha, whakapāwera, mōkinokino, auhi, whakapōuri, poautinitini
2. (noun) adversity, misery, suffering.
Mā te kōtonga e whakamōhio te tangata ki a ia anō (Milroy 2016). / Adversity introduces a man to himself (Milroy 2016).
3. (noun) cold southerly wind.
Mā te tūpararā o roto o te kōtonga e whiu, kia haumiri haere i runga i ngā mānia papatairite o te Taiwhakararo (TP 11/1912:7). / The strong winds of the southerly will strike to caress the flat plains of the North.
