māhaki
1. (verb) to be inoffensive, mild, meek, calm, quiet, placid, humble, tolerant.
He kaiako a Te Mānihera mō te Hāhi Mihinare, ā, māhaki kē atu ia i ngā tāngata o tōna pāriha (TTR 1990:124). / Te Mānihera was a teacher for the Anglican Church and was more tolerant than the people of his parish.
Synonyms: māhuruhuru, mākoha, nguengue, kōratarata, aungāwari, rarata, nohopuku, tōngā, wahangū, whakamārie, whakamāria, whakamārire, hū, rata, hūnguengue, hāngū, mārire, maho, rangimārie, māika
2. (verb) to be reduced, lessened.
Ko te ahi me tupopoto anake, he mea takai ki te aka, ā kia takoto te papakiri mata o te kahikatea hei taupoki mō te ahi tupopoto ina hiahiatia kia māhaki te mahana o roto o taua whare kōwhanga (JPS 1929:258). / Only the 'tupopoto' form of fire was used, being bound with vines, and a piece of green white pine bark lay handy to be used as a cover for the 'tupopoto' fire when it was desired that the warmth within that birthing house be lessened.
Synonyms: taiharahara, mimiti, kohakoha, raungaiti
3. (modifier) inoffensive, mild, meek, calm, quiet, placid, humble, tolerant.
Nā, kua arahina taua herehere māhaki ki te whare whakawā (KO 15/3/1884:14). / So that placid prisoner was led off to the court house.
See also ngākau māhaki
4. (noun) humility, humbleness, modesty, unassuming nature, meekness, tolerance.
Nō te kitenga o ngā Māori i te taumaha o taua ture, ka whakamutua ngā mahi whakararuraru i runga i tō rātou māhaki, whakakorea ana te mana mō ngā rīhi motuhake (TP 3/1910:5). / When the Māori saw the heavy impact of that law, because of their unassuming nature they removed the control of the special leases.
Synonyms: whakapāpaku
