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Historical loan words

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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kahurangi

1. (adjective) be blue, precious.

Ko ngā arero e whā, he kōwhai, he whero, he kahurangi, he pango (HM 4/1994:12). / The four tongues are yellow, red, blue and black.

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2. (modifier) blue.

He mate anō tō te kupu kahurangi. Ko tēnei kupu (me te kupu kikorangi) e whakamahia whānuitia ana mō ngā momo kahurangi katoa (HM 3/1992:5). / There's also a problem with the word 'kahurangi' (blue). This word (and the word 'kikorangi') are used generally for all shades of blue.

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3. (modifier) prized, precious, honourable, distinguished.

Taku tau kahurangi ka makere, ē, i ahau (M 2004:324). / My honourable lover has fallen from me.

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Synonyms: matapopore, māpuna, tongarewa, marihi, matahīapo, matenui, mōmōhanga, puipuiaki, puiaki, hokoi, kāmehameha, piripoho, tongarerewa


4. (noun) treasured possession, darling, jewel.

He kahurangi ia, he matahīapo i te iwi (TWMNT 26/1/1875:22). / She was a darling, a treasure of the people.

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Synonyms: tongarerewa


5. (noun) illustrious person, famous person, person of high rank, chieftain, lady of high rank.

KI ngā iwi, ki ngā hapū, me ngā mana e pupuri mai nei i te mana Māori, i ngā marae o Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu, tēnā rā koutou, ngā morehu a Aituā, tūāhuatanga o ēnā o ō tātou rangatira ka riro rā ki Paerau, ki te huinga o te kahurangi, ki te takotoranga tē taea te whakakorikori (TP 8/1912:7). / To the tribes, subtribes and the people of standing retaining Māori status on the marae of the North and South Islands, greetings to you all, who are the survivors of misfortune and stand in place of our leaders who have departed to the meeting place of the dead, to the gathering of the illustrious, to the resting place from which you are not able to move.

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6. (noun) light green, translucent variety of greenstone without flaws or spots - a highly valued variety.

Heoi, whakamanawanui tonu, ka kitea ngā kōwhatu pounamu i konei e Hine-ahu. Nō te tangihanga o Hine-ahu, koia te tangiwai. Nō te nui o tōna rangatiratanga, koia te kahurangi; mō tōna tīparetanga ki te kawakawa koia te kawakawa (JPS 1914:8). / Nevertheless, they went on with stout hearts, and then Hine-ahu discovered some greenstone. Because of her lamentations it was called 'tangiwai'. Because of her rank the kahurangi greenstone was so named; and from her making of headband of kawakawa leaves the kawakawa greenstone variety was named.

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7. (personal noun) Dame (title).

I ngā tau tōmua o te tekau tau 2000 ka eke ētahi tāngata Māori ki mua i te aroaro o te iwi whānui o Aotearoa, kua hau rānei te rongo ki te ao mō ā rātau mahi. Ko ētahi o tēnei hunga ko Kahurangi Kiri Te Kanawa rātou ko te kaiwhakahaere kiriata a Lee Tamahori, te kōtiro whakaari a Keisha Castle-Hughes, te toa haupōro a Michael Campbell, te tohungatā a Ralph Hōtere, ngā kaituhi a Patricia Grace me Witi Ihimaera (Te Ara 2014). / In the early 2000s a number of Māori individuals were regarded as major national figures or had international reputations in their chosen fields. Among them were the opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, film director Lee Tamahori, child actor Keisha Castle-Hughes, golfer Michael Campbell, artist Ralph Hotere, and writers Patricia Grace and Witi Ihimaera (Te Ara 2014).

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