whakamomori
1. (verb) (-tia) to pine for, mope, fret, grieve for.
Ko te kōrero nō te takiwā ki Hauraki tēnei waiata; engari kua huri i te motu, ā kua waiho hei waiata mā ngā wāhine e whakamomori ana ki ā rātau whaiāipo (TTT 1/12/1928:97). / It is said that this song is from the Hauraki area; but it has spread throughout the country and it has become a song for women who are grieving for their lovers.
Synonyms: pūkōnohinohi, kōhau, konau, hiangongo, pūkōnohinohi
2. (verb) (-tia) to desire desperately, aspire.
Ko ngā mea e rapu ana i ngā tikanga whakapono, ka whakamomori kia tae ki ērā tū hui (TTT 1/10/1930:2170). / The ones seeking the religious rituals were desperate to be at those types of gatherings.
3. (verb) to commit a desperate act, act in desperation, commit suicide - in traditional Māori society spouses or close relations would express their grief with women lacerating their breasts and cutting their hair. Sometimes the profound grief would result in the spouse taking her own life. Intense grief over the death of a close relative or friend could also lead someone to attempt suicide.
Ki te mate whakamomori te tangata, arā ki te patu i a ia anō, ka uiuia e te ture te āhua o tōna matenga (TP 7/1909:7). / If a person commits suicide, that is she kills herself, there is a post-mortem.
4. (modifier) dangerous, desperate, greatly desired.
Ko tōna reo he reo whakamomori, he reo whakamoemoeā, he reo tangi hotuhotu nei (TWK 41:10). / Its voice is a sound of desire, a dreamy sound, a sobbing sound.
5. (noun) suicide, suicide attempt.
E kīia ana, ko te toru tēnei o ngā whakamomori a Te Peka i a ia anō (TW 30/3/1878:140). / It is said that this is Te Peka's third suicide attempt.
6. (noun) desperate desire.
Kāti, e tātou mā, kia ora anō tātou katoa i roto i tā tātou whai, i tā tātou whakamomori kia mau, kia ora tonu tō tātou reo haere ake nei, haere ake nei (HM 1997:8). / Well, everybody, greetings to everybody involved in our pursuit and our desperate desire to retain and save our language for the future.
