marutuna
1. (stative) be imposing, awe-inspiring, commanding.
He hōiho tōna – he hōiho nui, he mā, ko Niu Tīrene te ingoa – he wehi, he marutuna ki te Māori, ki te Pākehā hoki (TTR 1990:358). / He had a great white horse, called Niu Tīrene (New Zealand), which both Māori and Pākehā held in some awe.
2. (modifier) sophisticated, imposing, awe-inspiring, commanding.
Ko ngā Māori anake kua tae atu ki Ingarangi, e mōhio ki te whakahara, ki te ātaahua o ngā ritenga i meatia rā, hei whakahōnore mō te tama mātāmua o te Kuīni, te Piriniha o Wāra, rāua ko tana tahu marutuna (TKM.MM 18/7/1863:1). / Only Māori who have visited England would know of the vastness and splendour of the ceremonies to honour the Queen's eldest son, the Prince of Wales, and his sophisticated wife.
3. (noun) imposing nature, commanding presence.
Kāore tēnei hanga a Mate i titiro ki te marutuna o Mangonui, kāore i titiro ki te nui o tana mana whatiia noatia iho e Mate (KO 15/8/1884:2). / This thing, Death did not consider the imposing nature of Mangonui, or his great status, Death just snatched him away.
