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Historical loan words

rotu

1. (verb) (-a) to put to sleep by means of a spell - usually used in the passive form.

Ka rotua te whare e ngā wāhine rā, ka whakamoemoea kia moe (NM 1928:30). / The people in the house were put under a spell that put them to sleep.

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Synonyms: whakaturamoe


2. (verb) (-a) to be overcome by sleep - usually used in the passive form.

Kātahi anō ka tineia te ahi, ka poko, ka rotua te tangata whenua e te moe (JPS 1928:269). / Then the fire was extinguished, and when it was out, the local people were overcome by sleep.

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3. (noun) a spell for putting people or taniwha into a deep sleep.

Heoi, kātahi ka hapainga te karakia e Pitaka, he whakaturamoe (he rotu) (JPS 1909:205). / Then Pitaka proceeded to uplift his ritual chant, which was to put it to sleep (it was a spell for putting it into a deep sleep).

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