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Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakahēhē

1. (verb) to confuse, confound, foil perplex.

Ko Taumata whakahēhē kōrero (W 1971:43). / Taumata of confusing conversation. (A whakataukī applied to someone who lacks clarity when they speak.)

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2. (verb) (-ngia,-tia) to find fault with, condemn, object to, criticise.

He āroharoha nō te iwi Māori i ēnei rā kua kore rawa e pērā rawa te tū mārō me te whakahēhē i ngā hapa o tētahi kē (Rewi 2005:337). / It's sad for the Māori people today that they can no longer stand firm and criticise the mistakes of others.

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Synonyms: whakahē, whakaepaepa

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