tāwai
1. (verb) (-a,-tia) to jeer at, taunt, ridicule, tease, mock, scoff, deride, beguile, deceive, bribe.
Ka tahuri taua tarāwara nei ki te tāwai i tana whakapono (TTR 1996:117). / That tramp set about deriding his religion.
Synonyms: pehapehatū, pepehatū, hāupaupa, kaihorohoro, tītoi, whakatoi, taunu, whakahīhī, pāengaenga, whakareko, whakarōriki, aniani, whakaiti, whakamanumanu, whakahahani, whakaparahako
2. (verb) (-tia) to cut or clear (undergrowth, etc.).
Ka tāwaitia te whenua kia taea ai te whakatū whare (PK 2008:904). / The land is cleared to enable the erection of buildings.
3. (modifier) mocking, derisive, scathing, sarcastic, scornful, disdainful, derisory, contemptuous.
Kai taku whakaruruhau i ngā hau kino o te wā, i ngā tao tāwai, i ngā tao rangirangi, i ngā tao whakarōriki, tīraha rā! (HM 4/2009:3). / My protector from the evil winds of the time, from the verbal barbs, from the annoying criticisms, lie there in state!
Synonyms: kino, hahani, hangareka, whakarōriki, whakatakē, pūhohe, whakaparahako, kanone, whakahāwea, hanihani
4. (noun) taunt, jeer, insult, ridicule, teasing, provocation, sarcasim, derision, gibe, criticism.
Nō muri iho ēnei tāwai i tō rāua mau hereheretanga e kīia ana mō te whakatutū i te puehu te take (TTR 1994:183). / These criticisms followed their detention for allegedly disturbing the peace.
Synonyms: whakahī, taunu, pākani, whakatumatuma, whakapātaritari, whakahorohoro, whakariri, whakapātari, whakataratara
5. (noun) slasher.
