mākutu Play
1. (verb) (-ria,-tia) to inflict physical and psychological harm and even death through spiritual powers, bewitch, cast spells.
E 200 pea ngā tāngata Māori e noho ana i reira i kī, he mea mākutu e tētahi tangata e karangatia ana ko Tango (KO 22/2/1887:6). / Approximately 200 Māori living there claimed that he was bewitched by somebody called Tango.
2. (modifier) bewitching, magical, supernatural.
I herea e rātou a Tango mō ngā rā e rua kāhore he kai, kāhore he wai-inu i hoatu e rātou ki a ia, i whakapaea anō e rātou nā Tango i paihana a Toko ki tōna mahi mākutu (KO 22/2/1887:6). / They tied up Tango for two days without food and drinking water, and they accused Tango of poisoning Toko with his sorcery.
3. (noun) witchcraft, magic, sorcery, spell.
Ka mahi anō te kātipa kia wetekina a Tango nō te mea ko tēnā mea ko te mākutu kāhore he hara e mōhiotia ai e te ture, otirā nōhea e rongo ngā Māori (KO 22/2/1887:6). / The officer attempted to free Tango because mākutu is not an offence recognised by the law, but there is no way that the Māori would listen.
