tawhito
1. (verb) to be old, ancient, primeval, out of date - not used for people in classical Māori.
Kotahi te whare rākau e tū ana i reira, engari kua tawhito, e rua tekau ngā tau e tū tangata kore ana (TWMNT 30/7/1873:86). / There was one house standing there, but it was old having been vacant for twenty years.
Synonyms: tahito
2. (modifier) old, ancient, primeval - not used to describe people in classical Māori.
Ka haupū te kupenga tawhito ki uta, ki ngā parenga o ngā wai tauraki ai ki te rā, ka maroke, ka pakapaka (TP 1/1/1901:6). / The old net lies in a heap on the shore and on the banks of streams to dry in the sun. It dries out and is baked.
Synonyms: tuaukiuki, koroua, mātāpuputu, waikauere, korokoroua, pūkeko, tahito, tūpakeke, kaumātua, tūārangi, aweko, ahungarua
3. (noun) wise person, expert, experienced person, authority.
4. (noun) age, antiquity, ancientness, oldness.
I te kaha anō o te tawhito o tō māua whare i Taumarunui, ka uru mai te mahi a te kiore ki roto i te rūma o aku pukapuka (HP 1991:267). / Because of the age of our house in Taumarunui, lots of mice had infested the room where my books were.
Synonyms: tahito
