kaha
1. (verb) to be strong, able, capable, courageous, intense, energetic.
Kia kaha te mahi! / Work energetically!
Kua tino kaha kē tana hokohoko i waenganui i ngā kaipuke o ngā Pākehā; i kaha anō tana hiahia kia noho mai ngā Pākehā ki tōna takiwā (TTR 1990:116). / He was already heavily involved in trading with the ships of the Pākehā, and had a strong desire for Pākehā to settle in his area.
2. (verb) to be loud.
Kei te whakamoemiti atu te manu meroiti nei ki ētahi o ana kaitautoko e whiu mai nei i ngā hua kāramuramu hei oranga mōna kia kaha ai tana korokī i runga i tōna pae (KO 15/5/1885:4). / This small bird is thanking some of its sponsers who have tossed some karamū berries as sustenance so that its call on its perch will be loud.
Synonyms: tīwerawera, pākinakina, rarahi, tiori, hoihoi
3. (adjective) be strong, able, capable, courageous, intense, energetic.
He wahine ātaahua, he kaha ki te mahi (HP 1991:24). / She was a beautiful woman, who worked hard.
4. (modifier) sheer, utter, constant, overwhelming - used to intensify or add emphasis to the quality or action when it is placed before another base, usually a verb or adjective. Does not usually follow immediately after a verb.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 65-66;)
I te kaha mamae o tōna waewae, ka totitoti haere te kuia ki te rata. / Because her leg was so sore, the elderly lady limped off to the doctor.
Synonyms: pōngerengere, taparere, hūkere
5. (noun) ability, power, strength, energy, stamina, intensity, volume (sound), magnitude.
I tino whakamihi a Te Taute ki a Ngāti Porou mō tō rātou kaha ki te whakapai i ō rātou whenua, ki te whakatupu hipi, mō te papai o ā rātou teihana hipi, o ā rātou wūruheti (TP 12/1907:11). / Mr Stout gave great praise to Ngāti Porou for their energy in improving their land, raising sheep and for the good state of their sheep stations and woolsheds.
Synonyms: āheitanga, āhei, āheinga, mana whakahaere, kōmārohi, tino rangatiratanga, marohi, mārohirohi, mana, maru, awe, hiko, ihi, awenga, pū
