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Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

matua

1. (verb) to be adult, grown-up.

Tēnā kia matua ia, he tangata mātau rawa ia, he tangata kaha ki te mahi (TWM 24/10/1871:7). / Now when he is grown-up he will be a clever, industrious person.

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2. (stative) main, chief, important, primary.

Whai muri i te hainatanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi, ka whakatūria e Kāwana Hopihana tana kāwanatanga ki Okiato, ka tapaina e ia te tāone matua hōu, ko Russell (Te Ara 2011). / After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Governor Hobson established his seat of government at Okiato. He named the new capital Russell.

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Synonyms: tino, aporei


3. (noun) father, parent, uncle.

Kei te tino hari tōku ngākau kua tū nei koe i te tūranga o tō matua, o Te Wiremu (TTT 1/10/1929:1078). / I am overjoyed that you have taken up the position of your father, the Rev. Williams.

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See also pāpā

Synonyms: hākorokoro, hākoro, heinga


4. (noun) division (of an army), company, contingent, the body of the kapa haka.

E kīia ana i te wā e haka ana tētahi o aua matua, ngarue ana te whenua (TKO 30/6/1920:5). / It is said that at the time that one of those groups was performing the haka, the ground shook.

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See also mātua

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