whakapaipai
1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to decorate, ornament, beautify, tidy up, adorn, embellish, enhance, elaborate.
He mea puhi ngā makawe ki ngā huia hei whakapaipai i a ia. / The hair was adorned with huia feathers to make her look beautiful.
Synonyms: whakanikoniko, whakaniko, whakarei, tāraro, whakanakonako, whakapīwari, pōria, nakonako
2. (modifier) beautiful, ornamental.
Te haka tuatahi ki ngā ope whakaeke nā te wāhine, i whakakākahuria mai ki ngā kākahu whakapaipai, me te rau rākau ki te mau mai i ngā ringaringa. Ko Kiwa rāua ko Mereana ngā kaikākāriki (TP 1/5/1901:9). / The first haka to the group coming on was by the women who were dressed in beautiful clothes and carried leaves in their hands. Kiwa and Mereana were the leaders.
Synonyms: whakarākai, whakarākei
3. (noun) jewels, finery, make-up.
Arā a ia, i roto i ōna whakapaipai katoa (Ng 1993:153). / There she is in all her finery.
