atawhai
1. (verb) (-ngia,-tia) to show kindness to, care for.
Ka mauria a Ruatara ki tōna kāinga, ā, ka tiakina te tūroro, ā, ka atawhaitia a Ruatara, ora noa (TAH 14:10). / Ruatara was taken to his home where the patient, Ruatara, was looked after and received kind attention until he was well.
See also atawhaitanga
2. (modifier) kindly, kind, generous, benevolent, hospitable.
He tangata atawhai nui ia ki te tāpae kai ki ngā tāngata katoa me ka tae ki tōna kāinga; e kore rawa hoki e tukua e ia te tira manuhiri kia haere ana, āpānoa kia takoto he hākari māna ki ia tangata ki ia tangata o rātou, te iti me te rahi (TWMNT 21/4/1874:95). / He was a generous person who provided food to everybody if they visited his village; he would never ever let a party of visitors leave until he had laid out a feast for each person, whether of lowly status or of importance.
3. (noun) kindness, generosity, liberality, kindheartedness, benevolence.
He pai nōna, he aroha, he atawhai, he hūmārie, he pono nō āna kōrero. Kāore ana kōrero whakapatipati, kāore he kōrero rūpahu ((TTT 1/6/1925:239). / His good qualities were of compassion, generosity, affability and speaking the truth. He did not flatter or tell lies.
Synonyms: tauwhirotanga, ngākau aroha, manaakitanga, ngāwari
