taunu
1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to jeer, scoff at, revile, mock, ridicule, sneer, taunt, criticise.
Ka pūhaehae tērā ki te matea nuitia o Te Hika-puhi e ngā hapū o Te Arawa, ka taunu, ka whakaiti hoki i a Te Hika-puhi (M 2006:56). / That woman was jealous because of the regard and attention being given to Te Hika-puhi by the sub-tribe of Te Arawa, and she spoke jeeringly and belittled Te Hika-puhi.
Synonyms: whakahī, tāwai, whakatoi, tītoi, pāengaenga, whakahīhī, whakareko, whakarōriki, aniani, whakaiti, whakamanumanu, whakahahani, whakaparahako
2. (modifier) unfavourable, disparaging, derogatory, critical.
I te hurahuratanga o te tau 1934 i te Tari Māori ka rīhaina rā a Āpirana, i puta anō hoki ngā kōrero taunu i a Te Raumoa (TTR 1998:6). / During the 1934 investigation into the Native Department, when Āpirana Ngata resigned, Te Raumoa also received some criticism.
3. (noun) criticism, jeering, disapproval, fault-finding, disparagement.
Rere! E hoa kātahi au nei ka utu i ngā taunu a te motu katoa nei mōku, a te Pākehā, a te Māori, e kīia nei ko au anake te iwi kino o te motu nei, ko Waikato (TWMNT 5/2/1873:24). / Heavens! My friend I am finally responding to the criticisms of the whole country against me, both Pākehā and Māori, who are saying that we, Waikato, are the only evil people in this land.
