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Loan words

Historical loan words

reka

1. (verb) to be pleasant, pleasing, agreeable.

He iwi mōhio te Māori ki te hanga ingoa kia reka ai te whakarongo a te taringa, ina koa a Te Herewini, a Te Wiremu, a Te Harawira me te nuinga atu (TKO 6/1914:8). / The Māori are a clever people at creating names so that they are pleasant to the ear, such as Te Herewini (Selwyn), Te Wiremu (Williams), Te Harawira (Hadfield) and many others.

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


2. (modifier) sweet, tasty, palatable.

He aha te painga o ngā kai reka a te Pākehā - o te rare, o te keke, o te purini, o te winika, o te pepa, o te waipiro? (TKO 31/5/1921:9). / What benefit is there in the sweet food of the Pākehā - lollies, cakes, puddings, vinegar, pepper and alcohol?

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Synonyms: apuapu, kakato


3. (noun) sweetness, tastiness, flavour.

Ka rongo te tangata ki te reka o ana rohi e kore rawa ia e hiahia ki ngā rohi a tētahi atu peka (TWMNT 16/10/1878:79). / When a person experiences the flavour of his bread she will never want the bread of another baker.

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