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Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

mōwai

1. (verb) to be smooth, calm, solitary, desolate.

Kua pau ngā kāinga i te ahi, kua mōwai te whenua, kua mate kai ngā mōrehu (TTR 1990:294). / The homes were burnt, the land had been laid desolate and the survivors were starving.

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2. (verb) to be solitary, desolate, deserted, uninhabited, devasted.

Kua pau ngā kāinga i te ahi, kua mōwai te whenua, kua mate kai ngā mōrehu (TTR 1990:294). / The villages had been razed by fire, the land devastated, and the survivers were starving.

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3. (verb) to became moist.

Ka mōwai tōku waha (W 1971:212). / My mouth became moist.

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4. (modifier) smooth, calm, solitary, desolate.

Ahiahi mōwai, ata roki (TP 10/1908:7). / A calm evening is followed by a settled morning.

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