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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

ngāwari

1. (verb) to be affable, easygoing, permissive, simple, soft, easy, tolerant, pliable, kind, obedient, easy, flexible, supple.

Ka ngangautia e ia kia ngāwari, kia pakupaku, ka āta whakapiritia ki te mamae, hāware katoa atu nō te mea he pai tonu hoki te hāware mō te whakaora (HP 1991:23). / She chewed it until it was soft and small and carefully applied it to the sore part. It had saliva throughout because saliva is quite good for healing.

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Synonyms: ngohe, waingōhia, māmā, pai, kano, kātū, tūmomo, ohaoha, tūpore, momo, māngohe, ngohengohe, pīngore, kōngohe, kōpē


2. (modifier) affable, easygoing, permissive, simple, soft, easy, tolerant, pliable, kind, obedient, easy, flexible, gentle, pleasant, compliant.

He tangata ngāwari, ngāwari te reo, ngāwari te tinana, ngāwari ana hanga katoa (TP 9/1907:4). / A gentle person, softly spoken, supple body and easygoing in all his habits.

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Synonyms: ngohengohe, pai, manini, āhuareka, ātaahua, hūmārie, reka, āhumehume, pārekareka, hūmārire, harakoa, matareka, purotu, hūmārika, rēhia, kakato, rawe, rekareka, hāneanea


3. (noun) easiness, softness, kindness, flexibility, tolerance, simplicity.

Koirā te hunga i kite ia i pūmau tonu ki ngā tikanga o te tapu, ahakoa te ngāwari o ētahi o ngā mahi a ētahi atu o ngā peka o te hāhi, ka mau tonu rātau (EM 2002:133). / That was the group that he saw remaining true to the customs of tapu, they continued to hold firm, despite some of other branches of the church relaxing some of the practices.

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Synonyms: atawhai, tauwhirotanga, manaakitanga, ngākau aroha

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