M
ma
1.[preposition, accompaniment] with. A Sina ma Puna ni olo ki te puina, ‘Sina and Puna went to the puina‘.
2.[preposition, separation] from. Sikaiana e mmao ma Luaniua, ‘Sikaiana is far away from Luaniua’.
3.[preposition, comparison] than. Te hale nei e naniu ake ma te hale laa, ‘this house is larger than that house’.
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maa #1
[nf] a fish species.
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maa #2
(from? PPN ^maa ‘shame’).
[no] a person’s same generation in‑laws; everyone spouse calls taina or kave; anyone who is a married to a taina or kave. (A respect relationship). Some speakers generalize this term to include all in‑laws, regardless of generation.
sa: hunaona.
do: haimaa <in the relationship of same generation in‑law>.
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maa #3
(from PPN ^ma’a).
[vs] white; te tama maa, ‘white person or European’.
ca: hakamaa,
pl: mmaa.
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mmae #1 (mamae)
(from PPN ^mae).
[vs] to shrivel and wither, as the dying leaves of a plant.
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mmae #2 (mamae)
[n] an urinary tract infection.
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mae ko
[conjunction] because.
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maea
[no] very heavy rope.
sa: luhaluha, tupe #1.
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maeva
[vs] to be cracked or split, of earth. Unsuitable for planting.
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mahaa
(from haa ‘split’).
[vs] to be chopped, split, broken.
tr: haa,
ps: vaasia.
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mahaa te ata
[n, time] a stage in the sequence of the sunrise when the sun’s light reappears after a temporary darkness.
wh: ata #1.
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mmaha (mamaha)
(from PPN ^mamafa).
[vs] to be heavy, of weight.
opp: maamaa #2.
tr: hakammaha <to add on weight; to weigh>,
ps: mahatia <to be made heavy by another object>.
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mahaahaa
[vi] to hatch, of eggs.
ot: mahaa.
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mahaki
[vs] to be broken off, as the branches from a tree or the handle from a cup.
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mahamaha
[n] a prayer form sung during the teika lle when parts of the fish were carried to the ritual house {hale aitu} for burning, and sung later when the head of the fish was carried from Talaniu to a ceremonial house {Te Laoa, Talihaki}. (PCR).
sa: teika lle.
ca: hakamahamaha <to recite the mahamaha>,
do: tau mahamaha <to recite the mahamaha>.
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mahana
(from hhana ‘separate’).
1.[vs] to be pulled out.
2.[vs] to be separated in time or distance. Maatou e too na tama te laa e mahhana ma kimaatou, ‘we adopt children from relatives who are distant from us’.
For both senses:
tr: hhana,
pl: mahhana.
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maahana
(from PPN ^mafana).
[vs] to be warm, of a liquid.
tr: hakamaahana.
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maahani (maasani)
1.[vi] to rise up, to stand up.
tr: hakamaahani <to raise up, to cause to stand up>,
cp: hakamaahanilia.
2.[vs] a curve in the shape of a canoe that rises up too sharply; a pandanus mat {vasa} that does not lie down flat, but is curved upwards, considered defective.
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mahetua
[vi] to sneeze.
ps: mahetualia <to be forced out of the nose by sneezing, of something caught in the nose>.
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mahi
1.[no] strength, power, authority; te misoni e isi tona mahi, ‘the mission (Christianity) has its power’.
do: haimahi.
2.[vq] very; te tama laa ku loto mahi, ‘that person is very angry’.
sa: haeko #2.
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maahia
1.[vi] to breathe.
\n
2.[no] breath.
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maahiti
[v] to have a feeling or compulsion to do something or see someone. Te hakateletele ni maahiti i toku manava ki hano ki Honiara, ‘I felt compelled to go to Honiara’.
rt: ?hitiake.
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mahitihiti
[vs] to be inclined or inspired; to be active.
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mahoa
[vi] to come directly, of speech; te talatala naa ni mahoa i tona pukua, ‘that narrative came straight from his mouth’.
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maahoa
[vs] to be bald headed. (Often demeaning).
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mahola
(from PPN ^mafola).
1.[vs] to be flattened; to be smooth, without wrinkles.
tr: hhola,
pl: mahhola.
\n
2.[vs] to be true or insightful, of speech.
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maahuu
[vs] to be a halo of light, as a light source that shines around another object.
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mahuike
[np] an earthquake.
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mahuta
[vi] to spread out, disperse, flee.
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mai
(from PPN ^mai).
1. [direction marker, follows verb] hither, towards the speaker; haele mai, ‘walk towards me’; haimai, ‘tell me’; kaumai, ‘bring me’.
sa: iho, atu#1, ake.
2.[exclamation] come!
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mai ia
1.[conjunction] because, on account of.
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maaila
[vs] to be starting to ripen, but not quite ripe; of pandanus {hala, paku} and papaya {papai}.
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maile
(from PPN ^maile).
[nf] a type of fern (Polypodiaceae?), used for fertilizing the cultivated swamp gardens {taluano} and for fragrance.
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maile vai
[nf] a species of fern that only grows in swamps.
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mailiili
(from ili ‘to fan’).
[vi] to be a soft breeze; of an area, to have a soft breeze.
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maaina
[vs] to glow around an object, to illuminate indirectly as when some obstacle blocks the source of light, but reflected light shines from the light source.
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maka
(from PPN ^maka).
[na] a sling, for a sling shot.
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makka (makaka)
[vs] to be tight, taut, strained, as a fishing line that is being pulled in.
tr: hakamakka,
ps: makkatia.
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makalli
(from PPN ^makalili).
[vs] to be shivering, to have a fever with chills as from malaria or influenza.
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makalili
[vs] to be cold, of humans, as when at sea for too long.
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makalo
[vi] for something to pass quickly in and out of sight. Heaa ni makalo mai?, ‘what passed in and out of sight quickly?’.
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makkatau (makakatau)
[vs] to be hard, to be very firm.
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makemakeaa
[vp] to maliciously harm another person or project through speech or action.
ps: makemakeaalia.
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maketi
(from Eng ‘market’).
[np] a market.
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maki
(from PPN ^maki).
[no] a disease or sickness.
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maki namu
(from namu ‘mosquito’).
[no] malaria.
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maki unu
(from? unu, ‘drink’).
[no] a generic term for several chronic dehabilitating diseases:
tuberculosis, diabetes.
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makila
(from PPN ^kila).
[vs] to sparkle, reflect, as a fish under water when seen from the surface.
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mako
(from PPN ^mako).
[nao] a song with dancing actions. Types of songs with actions are: siva, naha, tuki#1, sau#2, sua`mele, mako hakatahhao, mako o te henua. Sometimes extended to mean any song that is sung.
sa: mako hatu.
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mako hakatahhao
[na] a group of songs that are sung simply for fun, have little meaning and are highly repetitious.
ge: mako.
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mako hakatanitani
[nao] a love song.
ge: mako hatu.
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mako hatu
[nao] composed or written songs, as opposed to other songs that have been taught by tradition. Composed song types include: siva, sau, tuki, tani, olioli, saka, mako kitaa, mako hakatanitani. Most traditional song composition includes the following kinds of verses: mua, akoako, liaki, tutalua, tualua, hhati, haopuku, puku.
sa: mako.
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mako kitaa
[nao] songs composed for the guitar which generally use western or contempary neo‑Polynesian tunes.
ge: mako.
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mako o te henua
[n] a group of songs that are not from Sikaiana but were brought from other Polynesian speaking islands including Taumako and Pileni. Most words of these songs are not understood.
Listen to 3 mako o te henua.
ge: mako.
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makolu
(from kkolu ‘bend’).
[vs] to be bent from pressure or weight; to be curved, of a hard substance such as steel.
tr: kkolu,
st: makkolu.
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maakona #1
(from PPN ^kona).
[vs] to be completely full of food, satiated.
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maakona #2
[nf] a fish species, a very large skipjack tuna {atu}.
sa: atu #1.
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makutukutu
[vs] to be wrinkled.
tr: hakamakutukutu.
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mala peto
[nf] a shell species.
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mmala #1 (mamala)
[vs] to be powerful, effective, especially in supernatural matters.
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mmala #2
[np] charcoal, coals of a fire.
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Malae
(from PPN ^mala’e).
1.[pln] a ceremonial center near the ritual house {hale aitu}. No longer maintained.
2.[np] an area in front of a house that is set off with stone work.
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malama #1
1.[no] the moon.
sa: poo, sseni.
2.[no] a month. Names of the months are borrowed from English; starting from January: Tienuali, Fepuluali, Masi,Apelele, Mee, Tiuni, Tiulai, Okosi, Septepa, Oktopa, Novepa, Tisepa.
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malama #2
[vs] to be spread about, as when clothes are spread around a room.
tr: hakamalama <to spread things about>.
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maalama
1.[vs] to be lit up, to have light; te kiona ku maalama, ‘the place is lit up’.
tr: hakamaalama <to make light, to light up some area>.
2.[no] the dawn, when it is first light in the morning.
syn: ata #1.
3.[vs] to become dawn; taaua poo nei ku maalama, ‘our night together is turning into dawn (MS)’.
do: hakamaalama te poo <to stay awake all night until dawn>,
ps: maalamatia.
4.[vs] to be attractive to the thing one is trying to catch and therefore successful; to be lucky, to be fortunate, successful, especially at catching fish or birds; in courtship, to be successful with women; to be attractive to ancestor spirits {aitu mate} who are seeking a person to possess {vaka}.
ca: hakamaalama <to make oneself successful at the above endeavors through ritual>.
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malamala #1
[np] the wood scraps and shavings from a canoe that is being made.
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malamala #2
[np] the sparks of a shooting star.
syn: hhiti #1.
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malaamana
[n] the world, the universe, the cosmos: malaamana i aluna, malaamana ki muli, ‘heaven’; malaamana nei, ‘earth’.
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maalamatia
(from maalama ‘dawn’).
[ps] to be engaged in some action when the dawn begins; to sleep late; to be caught stealing in the early light of the morning.
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malana
(from llana ‘pry up’).
[vs] to be pried up, to be peeling, as paint peels.
tr: llana,
ps: lanaatia,
pl: mallana.
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maalano
[vs] to be bland tasting, as rice without any salt; to be sweet, of fermented coconut toddy {kaleve} that has not properly fermented; kaleve maalano, ‘kaleve that is not yet sour’.
do: malallano <a little salty, but still bland tasting>.
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malau hatu
\n
[nf] a fish species similar to red squirrel fish {malau kulu}, but withsharper teeth.
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malau kulu
[nf] red squirrel fish.
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malau seli
[nf] a species of trevally. (Also generic for all varieties of trevally). The growth cycle of this type of trevally from smallest to largest is: lupo, alala kai pao, malau seli, ika tapu, ulua.
sa: matapuku.
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male
1.[no] the name of a person; koai tona male?, ‘what is his name?’.
2.[vi] to be named; Te tama laa e male ki a Puna, ‘he is named Puna’.
ps: malea, malelia <to be given the name of a previously living person (on Sikaiana, many names are associated with specific clans and lineages and passed down in descent lines)>.
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malemo
(from llemo ‘drown’).
[vs] to be drowned.
tr: llemo,
ps: lemosia,
pl: mallemo.
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malena
[nf] a double headed parrot fish.
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malepulepu
[vs] to be scattered; to be mashed up, as taro in preparation for making a pudding.
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malli #1 (malili)
1.[vs] tofall off a tree due to disease, of fruits.
2.[vs] to be balding. (Figurative).
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malli #2 (malili)
[vi] to salivate for some food.
tr: hakamalli <for food, to make a person salivate in hunger>.
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maaliki
[vs] to be cool, to be cold: te vai e maaliki, ‘the water is cold’; noho i te maluana o te laakau, ku maaliki, ‘sit down in the shade of the tree, it is cool’.
ca: hakamaaliki <[vt, vi] to make cool; to cool off>.
ps: maalikitia <of food, to be spoiled by cooling or
being placed next to something cold>.
do: sau maalikitau <the cold season, cold weather>.
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maliko
[vs] to sparkle, to glitter.
malikoliko.
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malini
(from llini ‘pour’).
[vs] to be spilled.
tr: llini,
ps: linia.
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malino
(from PPN ^malino).
[vs] to be a calm, of the sea or wind.
opp: peau.
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maliu
(from PPN ^maliu).
[vt] to change direction in movement or to mislead in speech in order to deceive someone.
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malo #1
(from PPN ^malo).
[vs] to blossom, of the breadfruit tree {kulu}. (Archaic).
ge: see.
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malo #2
[no] a loincloth folded around the hips.
ca: hakamalo <to put on the malo; to prepare to fight (today, used figuratively); to put diapers on a baby>.
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malooloo
[vs] to be energetic, willing, keen, in work or some other endeavor.
opp: naenae.
ca: hakamalooloo.
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malu
(from PPN ^malu).
[vs] to be shaded, of an area protected from the sun and rain.
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maluu
[vs] to be soft.
tr: hakamaluu <to make soft; to let out fishing line>.
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maalu
[vi] to toilet, to defecate. (Mildly restricted).
ps: maalulia <to be defecated upon>.
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mmalu (mamalu)
1.[vs] to be an area protected from the elements: kalemata mmalu, ‘to have sunken eyes’; lua mmalu, ‘a cave’.
2.[n] a cave.
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maluku
[vs] for a ripe fruit to fall.
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Malumaimua
[pln] a clan house {hale henua} associated with the Saapei clan.
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malumalu
[np] an area shaded from the sun’s direct light, as under the leaves of a tree.
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mama
(from? Mota)
[n] a Christian priest.
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mmamma #1
[na] masticated food.
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mmamma #2
[vs] to leak, of an enclosed area such as a canoe or a pipe; te manaui nei ku mmamma, ‘this canoe is leaking’.
cn: ttulu.
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maamaa #1
[no] the lung organ.
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maamaa #2
[vs] to be light in weight, to be easy to lift.
opp: mmaha.
tr: hakamaamaa <to lift, or to make light>,
pl: maammaa.
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maamaa #3
[vt] to chew.
do: mmamma.
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maamata
[na] a funnel used for pouring coconut toddy.
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mana #1
[n] thunder. Te mana ku tammu, ‘the thunder crashes’.
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mana #2
[np] the part of a bonito hook {paa} onto which the hook is hafted, made from turtle {masana} shell {una}.
wh: paa #1.
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mmana (mamana)
1.[vs] to be spread apart, as a fork in a branch; noho mmana, ‘to sit with legs apart’.
tr: hakammana <to spread apart>,
rp: manamana <to be branching, divided into many parts.Te kanohale ku manamana,’the family divides into many branches’>,
do: kaimanamana.
2.[np] the area in the sea, either inside or outside the lagoon, where one can still see the bottom of the ocean floor but is deep.
sa: vaea.
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manako
(from PPN ^manako).
[vp] to desire, especially for certain foods and in courtship.
ps: manakotia <to be desired>,
do: he manako <to be undecided, especially in courtship>.
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manaalou
[np] the part of a bird net {seu manu} where the rim {kaullie} is extended to overhang. This part can be used for hanging the net.
wh: seu manu.
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manani
[vp] to depend upon, to constantly go to the same place or person for resources, especially money.
ca: hakamanani.
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mannata (malinata)
[nf] a fish species, goatfish.
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maanatu
1.[vp] to think back, to remember.
2.[vp] to give food to a person to show that he is being remembered by the giver of the food.
For both senses:
ps: manatua.
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manaui
1.[no] a dinghy. Seen on whaling and trading vessels.
2.[no] a dugout canoe with no outrigger. During my stays, the only type of sea travelling vessel made on Sikaiana. See pictures of people making manaui.
sa: vaka hai ama.
\*
manava
(from PPN ^manawa).
1.[no] the stomach, or belly.
2.[no] the center of emotions, thought and motivation: te hakateletele i toku manava, ‘the thinking in my heart’; te lihutia i toku manava, ‘the sadness in my heart’.
sa: hatu manava, kautae, manava pupu, manava mmau, manava haeko.
3.[no] a blood relationship. Toku manava e isi i tona kanohale, ‘I am related to his family’.
sa: uso.
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maanava
[vs] for earth to be disturbed by something moving underneath it, as when a rat is burrowing underground and a mound appears on the surface. Te kelekele ku maanava i te kiole, ‘the ground is being disturbed by the rat’.
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manava haeko
[vi] to be cruel, unkind, to be always causing trouble. (Usually demeaning).
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manava mmau
[vi] to be bold, unafraid of danger; also unashamed by one’s shameful behavior, indifferent to the opinion of others.
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manava pupu
[vi] to be confused, mixed up, forgetful.
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manavali
[np] a group of fish when seen inside the lagoon.
sa: inaho, kunaaika, tau.
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Manea
[n] a ceremony in which the ritual house {Hale Aitu} was rebuilt, or the statues of spirits {aitu} were replaced. (PCR).
See a re-enactment of the Manea.
sa: kaha, hakapili te niu, tino mate.
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manemaneo
[nf] a jellyfish species.
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mannenene
(from PPN ^ma’ene).
1.[vs] to feel ticklish.
2.[vs] to be feeling pleasurable sensations.
tr: hakamannenene.
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maneo
[vs] to be itchy.
ps: maneotia.
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manni (manini)
[nf] a fish species, sturgeon fish.
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mania
1.[vs] to be smooth, to shine.
tr: hakamania <to make shine>.
2.[vi] to grit, of teeth as at a shrill sound.
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maanihi
(from PPN ^manifi).
[vs] to be thin, of flat objects.
cn: tualliki,
opp: maatolu.
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maanihitau
[vs] to be very thin.
opp: matolutuu.
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mano
(from PPN ^mano ‘many’).
[cardinal number] one thousand in counting birds and coconuts.
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manoo
[nf] generic term for shark. This term appears only in fairy stories {tala}. (Rare).
syn: pakeo.
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manoni
[vs] to be sweet smelling, fragrant. Idiom: talatala manoni, lit., ‘talk fragrant; flattery’.
tr: hakamanoni <to make fragrant>,
ps: manonilia <to be made fragrant by a nearby substance>.
\*
manu #1
(from PPN ^manu).
1.[nf] a generic term for any animal of the air or on land, including large insects.
cn: ika.
2.[nf] a generic term for all birds.
cn: ika.
do: seu manu <to catch birds>.
3.[na] a kite made from the leaf of the pandanus tree {hala}.
4.[n] a beast, as might be seen in a film or in a dream.
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manu #2
1.[no] one of the three aspects of the human spirit. This one most commonly refers to the spirit in day to day living. A fall from a tree or being startled may separate a person from his manu and the manu must be brought back to the body. See a picture of this.
cn: aitu mate, anaana#1.
2.[no] the soul in Christian teachings.
3.[no] a lover or desired love. (Poetic).
\*
manu #3
[np] a place for sitting in the outrigger canoes {vaka hai ama}.
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manu #4
1.[np] the planks of the floor of a house.
2.[np] the lines of pandanus that are dyed different colors in a mat {vasa}.
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manu #5
[vs, followed by noun] a smell: manu kulii, ‘smell like a dog’; manu paipu,’smell like a pipe’; manu kuku, ‘fishy smell’; manu peka, ‘body odor’; manumanu tama, ‘smell of humans (only appears in fairy tales, tala)’; manu kava, ‘urinary smell’.
\*
Manu
[psn] a star constellation. Its position in the sky signals the arrival of strong wind and a time when large coral trout {natala} go to lay eggs outside the passage near the island, Matuiloto {Ava Likiliki}.
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mannu
[vi] to be up to mischief.
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mmao (mamao)
(from PPN ^mama’o).
[vs] to be distant, far away in time or space.
opp: taupili.
ca: hakammao <[vt vi] to move apart, to separate out>.
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maaoa
[vi] to yawn.
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maoha
(from oha ‘pull apart’)
[vs] to be disintegrated, shredded, fallen apart.
tr: oha,
ps: ohalia.
\*
maaoni
(from PPN ^ma’oni).
[vs] to be true, real, genuine: talatala maaoni, ‘speech that is true’; hiihai maaoni, ‘true love’.
opp: pio, hakaleelesi.
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maapu
[no] a habit or characteristic trait of an individual, such as a person who twitches or always looks down when talking.
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masa
(from PPN ^masa).
[vs] to be empty of liquid.
tr: hakamasa <to make empty>.
\*
masae
(from ssae ‘tear’).
[vs] to be torn or ripped, of cloth or paper.
tr: ssae,
ps: saaea,
rp: masaesae,
pl: massae.
\*
masaala
[vs] to know, to understand, to be clear about something. A koe ku masaala, ‘do you understand?’.
tr: hakamasaala <to explain, to make clear>.
\*
masalo
[vp] to be surprised. A nau e masalo i a nau, ‘I am surprised at myself’.
ps: masaloa.
\*
massassa
1.[vp] to try to control something that belongs to another person.
ps: massassalia.
2.[vp] to be stingy with one’s possessions, to hoard something. (Recent).
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masau
[vp] to deceive in order to gain advantage. Toku hina e masau i te talatala, ‘my secret lover is clever at deceiving in his speech (TS)’.
syn: liu.
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maselesele
[vs] to be scratched.
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masikesike
[vi] to fidgit, to be unable to sit still, to be disturbed.
ca: hakamasikesike <to make another person fidgit>.
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masimasi
[nf] a fish species.
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maasina
1.[vs] for a fruit or plant to be doubled, as in two breadfruit fruits growing from a single stem.
2.[vs] to have six fingers, a recurring genetic trait on Sikaiana.
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masiva
[n] a person who is constantly in the company of the opposite sex. Te masiva ku taka i haahine, ‘the man is in the company of women’. (Teasing, mostly to children).
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masolo
(from ssolo ‘wash’).
[vs] to be washed out, bleached out, as a brass ring that is worn or clothes that are old.
tr: ssolo,
ps: soolona,
pl: massolo.
\*
mata #1
[no] the end or edge of an object: te mata o te laakau, ‘the end of the stick’; te mata o te kaiana, ‘the end of the table’; mata henua, ‘a point or promontory of an island’.
ca: hakamata.
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mata #2
(from PPN ^mata).
[nq, vq] uncooked food: kai mata, ‘to eat raw food’; te ika mata, ‘raw fish’; kunu mata, ‘raw oyster’; alli mata, ‘raw snail’.
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mata #3
(from PPN ^mata).
[no] eyes, face. (Archaic).
syn: kalemata,
sa: mmata.
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mata #4
[vs] to have grown flesh inside, of a green coconut {niu}.
sa: niu.
\*
mata‑
[prefix for cardinal numbers] counting fish by tens: matalua,
‘twenty’; matatolu, ‘thirty’; matahaa, ‘forty’; matalima, ‘fifty’; mataono, ‘sixty’; matahitu, ‘seventy’; matavalu, ‘eighty’; matasivo, ‘ninety’.
\*
mata hanauna
[no] a descent line starting from a founding ancestor.
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mata henua
(from henua ‘island’).
[n, location] the point or tip of the island, promontory.
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mata lupe
[np] an overhang at the front or rear of a house that provides shade.
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mmata (mamata)
(from PPN ^mata).
[vp] to look, examine, inspect.
tr: hakammata,
ps: mataalia,
do: kalemata, mata #3.
\*
mataa huahua
1.[no] pimple.
2.[np] the white buds that grow on sea grass {limu}.
\*
mataa hale
(from hale ‘house’).
[n] the area outside a house.
\*
matahia
[vs] to be capable, skilled, adept, especially at physical work.
\*
matahili (matasili)
[vs] to be hard inside, of a green coconut {niu}.
sa: niu.
\*
mattai
[no] a temporary eye infection caused by salt spray.
\*
matakkai (matakakai)
1.[vs] to have a sharp point; to be pointed, as a European’s nose.
sa: kaa,
opp: matapuu.
2.[np] the tip or point of an island, promontory.
syn: usu, utua.
\*
mataku
(from PPN ^mataku).
[vs] to be frightened, to be afraid.
ca: hakamataku <[nq] frightening>.
\*
matala
(from ttala ‘untie’).
[vs] to be undone, to be untied, of string or a knot.
tr: ttala,
ps: talaaina,
pl: mattala.
\*
Mataliki
[psn] a star constellation, Pleiades.
\*
matalliki
[vs] to be small or narrow, of spacing, as the spacing in nets.
opp: matamata.
\*
mataaliki
(from? aliki ‘chief’)
[prn] the clans that are eligible to succeed to the office of aliki having descended from Tehui Atahu or Tehui Luaniua. These clans are: Saalupe, Saatui and Vaka Avusu, although there is controversy about which descent groups have legitimate rights and true ancestry.
sa: heto aliki, tanta vale.
\*
matamaalo
[vs] to be almost hard inside, of a green coconut {niu}.
sa: niu.
[vs] to be energetic, of a child. (Figurative).
\*
matamata
[vs] to be wide or large, of space in openings as the mesh of a net. (Archaic).
opp: matalliki.
\*
matamea
[nf] a fish species, trevally.
sa: matapuku.
\*
matamolo
[vs] to have a large prepuce. (Restricted).
\*
matanasau (nasau)
[np] the arrow of a bow and arrow. Idiom: \s te nasau ku llihu, ‘the arrow is painful’ (said when a man has heard critical but untrue gossip about himself; also believed to have been said by the men of Taumako just before they killed the Tongans under Vaeoma in Sikaiana legends).
\*
matani
(from PPN ^matangi).
1. [n] the wind.
2.[no] a person’s presence, fragrance, the breeze from his body as he passes. Tona matani ni sahio mai, ‘the breeze of her body came to us’. (Poetic).
3.[n] misfortune, adversity, gossip. (Figurative, mostly poetic).
\*
matani pala
[no] an ornament made from the back of a cone shell that is polished and worn around the neck.
\*
Mataosina
[pln] a ritual house site, associated with the Saakava clan.
ge: hale henua.
\*
matappa (matapapa)
[n] a rock formation, where the ground consists of flat hard rocks.
\*
matapona
1.[vs] of a coconut that has been tampered with and does not grow well.
2.[vs] of a child that is prematurely born or a child that does not grow properly. (Figurative).
\*
matapuu
[vs] blunt, as of a knife.
opp: matakkai, kaa.
\*
matapuku
[nf] a fish species, trevally. The growth cycle of the matapuku is: lupo, taahaki, matamea, matapuku.
sa: malau seli.
\*
matapulea
(from Mota).
[vt] to recite, or learn by heart.
\*
matattila (matatitila)
[vp] to be supernaturally powerful, especially of ancestral spirits {aitu mate}.
\*
maatau
(from PPN ^mata’u ‘fish hook’).
1.[nv] to fish with a hand held line. Types of line fishing include: hakasolo, kura, teveaki, tau namo, tala hatu, maatau ssave, taupouli, tala hatu, tau palu, taullo, maatau halepouli.
ge: haanota.
sa: mau, eea#2, laoina, mounu, leli, siisii.
2.[na] a fish hook. (Archaic).
3.[n] the right‑hand side. (Archaic).
\*
maatau halepouli (taupouli)
[nv] a line fishing technique. A person drops his line down to some ridges which are found in the lagoon.
ge: maatau,
syn: taupouli.
\*
maatau ssave (maatau sasave)
[nv] a line fishing technique for catching flying fish {ssave} in which several different floats made of coconut shell {puputau} with lines attached are placed in the sea.
ge: maatau.
\*
mate #1
1.[vs] to die, to be dead.
ca: hakamate,
pl: mmate.
2.[vs] to fall into a deep sleep after a tiring experience or drinking. (Figurative).
3.[vs] to be extinguished or to have lost power; of coconut toddy {kaleve} that has fermented too long and gone flat. Te ahi ku mate; ‘the fire has died out’; na viki ku mmate, ‘the batteries have gone flat’; te sikaa ku mate, ‘the cigarette has gone out’; te kaleve ku mate, ‘the toddy has over‑fermented and gone flat’.
4.[vs] to lose in a card game or a board game.
5.[vs] to fall in love, including as a result of love magic.
\*
mate #2
[vt] to recognize a person.
ps: matea <to be recognized>.
\*
matele
[vs] to be cracked, as glass cracks.
\*
matemate
[vp] to pretend, to deceive through pretending, to trick.
ps: matematelia <to be tricked>.
\*
matikia naa
[conjunction] by luck, by chance, as fate would have it! Tau tamahine e tautali i ooku muli, matikia naa, te tahi te paa o te misoni e pupui o puke mai, ‘your daughter follows behind me, but as fate would have it, the church prevents me (from having an affair with her) (TS)’.
\*
maatino
[vs] to be marked in a way that can be identified; tona ahi hhiti ku maatino, ‘his cigarette lighter is marked (with his name)’.
tr: hakamaatino.
2.[vs] to be clear, easy to read or see.
3.[vs] to be obvious, certain; toku halona he ki maatino, ‘my journey is not yet certain’; taaua he ki maatino, ‘our relationship is not yet certain’.
\*
matohi
[vs] to be broken into pieces, to be shattered as glass breaks.
\*
maatolu
[vs] to be thick.
opp: maanihi.
\*
maatolutuu
[vs] to be very thick.
opp: maanihitau.
\*
maatou
[personal pronoun, 1st person plural exclusive] we.
\*
matua
1.[vs] to be ripe, of fruit and vegetables.
tr: hakamatua <to make ready for harvest, to make ripe>.
2.[vs] to be mature, of humans; te tanata laa ku matua, ‘that male is grown up’.
cn: maatua.
\*
maatua
(from PPN ^matu’a).
1.[vs] to be aged, old.
2.[n] an old person.
3.[no] genetic parents, classifactory parents; 1st ascending generation lineal and collateral relatives.
sa: matua.
do: haimaatua <in the relationship of parents to children>.
\*
Matuavi
[pln] one of the three eastern islands inside the reef of Sikaiana, the southern one.
sa: Muli Akau.
\*
Matuiloto
[pln] one of the three eastern islands inside the reef of Sikaiana, the central one.
sa: Muli Akau.
\*
matuku
[nf] bird species,reef heron.
\*
mau
(from? mmau ‘firm, tight’)
[vs] to have caught a fish when fishing with a line, often said when the line tenses.
cn: tau #5.
pl: mmau.
\*
mmau (mamau)
(from PPN ^ma’u ‘fixed, constant’).
[vs] to be firm, tight.
tr: hakammau.
\*
maaua
[personal pronoun, 1st person dual exclusive] we (of two people).
\*
mauhu
(from uhu ‘pull out’).
[vs] to be pulled out, separated from: te uka ku mauhu, ‘the fishing line has come out’, oona niho ku mauhu, ‘his teeth are pulled out’.
\*
maui
[n, nq, direction] left side, left‑handed. (Archaic).
ca: hakamaaui.
\*
maumau
[vt, vs] to waste, to be wasted. Te pia e maumau te moni, ‘beer wastes money’.
\*
mautolotolo
[n] a ceremony brought from Kiribati (Gilberts), probably in the late 19th century. A group goes disguised to the house of someone who has recently adopted a child and demands gifts and services. The adoptive parents are obliged to fulfill these requests to prove their love for their adopted child. A Kiribati/Gilbertese song of the same name is sung during the ceremony.
See a picture of the mautolotolo.
sa: nono kai.
\*
mee
[v followed by ki and a verb phrase] to plan to do something: te tama laa e mee ki hano, ‘he is planning to go’.
\*
mea
(from PPN ^me’a).
1.[vt] to do, to make, to cause. Taaua nei ki mea muli pe hea? ‘what are we to do?’
ps: meina.
2.[vp] to have intercourse.
do: hiimea.
3.[na] material possessions; te tama laa e isi aana mea; ‘that person has his things; he is wealthy’.
4.[na] thing; he mea, ‘anything’, ‘something’.
5.[no] sexual organs.
6.[personal pronoun] in speech when a person’s name is temporarily forgotten, the term a mea is substituted.
\*
mea hau
see mea tau.
\*
mea ppili
[na] coconut sap candy. Made from coconut sap {kaleve} that is collected at any time of the day.
cn: kapeni.
\*
mea ppoa
[n] food from the sea.
\*
mea pukupuku
(from pukupuku ’round’).
[na] a large round glass container used for fermenting toddy. Capable of holding two or three gallons of liquid. These are commercial fishnet floats that drift to Sikaiana.
\*
mea ppuku
[no] the kidney organ.
\*
mea tau (mea hau)
(from tau ‘to weave on a loom’).
1.[na] a piece of material woven on the loom.
2.[na] the traditional back strap loom. It was used for making clothing, maternity belts {taakai} and mosquito nets {tae namu}. (Rarely used today). The parts of the loom mat include: sika, papa, tuu, llana, palonu, nnauka, atu, kaavei, kapi. The material is made from the inside of the bark of the hau tree which is placed in salt water; after dryingthe strands are tied together to form a long string and then woven on the loom.
See an illustration of the mea tau.
See photos of people making a mea tau.
sa: tau#6, hau#1.
\*
mea vvale
(from mea ‘thing’ and vvale ‘crazy’).
[na] European alcoholic beverages such as wine, spirits and whisky.
\*
mmea
[vs] red, the color.
syn: ula.
\*
meana
[no] a group of people.
syn: kaavena.
\*
Meilapa
[psn] a star constellation.
\*
meimei
[vp] to be hesitant through fear or shame.
ca: hakameimei <to cause to hesitate>,
cp: hakameimeilia.
\*
meina
(from mea ‘to make’).
1.[ps] to be teased, to be criticized by joking.
2.[ps] to be injured, to be harmed, to be spoiled, usually in reputation; in courtship, to be the victim of love magic or, of a female who has a love affair with a male under the assumption that they will marry and the male refuses to marry her. Te hahine ni meina e te lapu, ‘the woman was harmed by black magic’.
\*
mmele (memele)
[vs] to be injured, damaged, cut, dented: te kapu ku mmele, ‘thecu p has a scar or dent’; tona vae ku mmele, ‘his leg is injured’.
ps: melenia <to be injured by a trap>.
\*
meleke
(from Eng ‘milk’).
[na] milk.
\*
meme ake
[v] to be feeling better, as after a sickness.
\*
memehaeko
(from haeko ‘cruel’).
1.[vp] to be cruel, mean, nasty.
ca: hakamemehaeko <to verbally criticize>,
ps: memehaekolia,
cp: hakamemehaekolia.
2.[vi] to be close to dying, in death throes.
\*
memelaoi
(from laoi ‘kind’).
[vp] to be kind, helpful.
ca: hakamemelaoi <to speak well of someone, to praise>,
ps: memelaoilia,
cp: hakamemelaoilia.
\*
memepuamu
1.[vp] to be cruel, destructive, to vandalize or destroy property, especially without reason or justification.
2.[vp] to have intercourse with a female without any intention of marrying her.
For both senses:
ps: memepuamulia.
3.[vi] of a child, to be undisciplined and destructive.
\*
mili #1
[vt] to hold.
ps: milia <to be spoiled through constant touching, as when a child plays too roughly with a kitten; te pusi ku milia, ‘the cat is harmed by constant handling’>.
\*
mili #2
[vs] to bear plentifully, to be fruitful; te kulu ku mili, ‘the breadfruit is very fruitful’.
pl: mmili.
\*
mili #3
1.[vt] to drill.
2.[na] a drill for drilling holes.
3.[np] the top lashing of the bonito hook {paa} to its haft.
wh: paa 1.
4.[na] a spinning top (a children’s toy).
\*
mmili (mimili)
1.[vt] to turn, twist. Mmili ake te teipi!, ‘turn up the tape cassette!’.
ps: miilia.
\*
milimili
[vt] to repeat something constantly to oneself, as when preoccupied or disturbed by something.
\*
mimi
(from PPN ^mimi).
1.[vi] to urinate.
ps: mimilia <to be urinated upon>.
2.[no] genitals, the penis, the vulva. (Polite form).
\*
mmio (mimio)
1.[n] a circular current or whirlpool.
2.[vs] to turn in a whirlpool; te tahe ku mmio, ‘the current is going in a whirlpool’.
\*
misa
1.[vi] to make ripples or small waves in the surface of water; na ika ku misa mai, ‘the fish are making ripples in the surface of the water’.
rp: misamisa.
2.[no] the ripples made by swimming fish.
\*
mmiti (mimiti)
[vt] to suck.
ps: mitimitilia,
rp: mitimiti.
\*
mitimiti
(from ^mmiti ‘suck’).
[vt] to smoke tobacco in a pipe or cigarette.
\*
miitini
(from Eng ‘meeting’).
[na] a meeting of people, normally for some western institution.
[vi] to hold or attend a meeting.
\*
moa #1
(from PPN ^moa).
[na] a domesticated fowl, chicken: punua moa, ‘chick’; moa tanata, ‘rooster’; moa hahine, ‘hen’; hua moa, tama moa, ‘hen eggs’.
\*
moa #2
[vs] to be cooked.
tr: hakamoa <to cook>,
pl: mmoa,
do: moaikaika.
\*
moa #3
[no] the bud on the shoot of a banana tree.
sa: hakasina.
\*
moaikaika
[vs] to be half cooked, of food.
\*
moana #1
(from PPN ^moana).
[np] the ocean, including both the open sea and the deep part of the lagoon; moana aatea, ‘the open sea, no land in sight’. Idiom: noho o te moana, ‘living abroad, away from Sikaiana’; te lautama e noho o te moana heai mana he kete haahaa ki kauakelia, ‘the generation living abroad from Sikaiana does not receive any basket of taro (MS)’.
\*
moana #2
[nf] a fish species, goatfish species.
\*
moe
(from PPN ^mohe).
1.[vi] to sleep: moe ohooho, ‘to sleep restlessly, to be a light sleep’; moe mate, ‘to be a very deep sleeper’; moe selono, ‘to sleep deeply’; hano taku moe, ‘to dream’; aaku moe e hano tasi ki a koe, ‘I always dream of you’; mooea e nau pe laa a nau ku noho i Sikaiana, ‘I dreamed that I was living on Sikaiana’.
tr: hakamoe <to put to sleep, as with children>,
ps: mooea <to be slept upon, as bedding>.
2.[vi] to exist, to be at a certain place; aaku tupeka e moe i toku
hale, ‘my tobacco is in my house’.
syn: takoto.
tr: hakamoe <to place, to put>.
For both senses:
pl: mmoe.
\*
mooea
1. see moe.
2.[vs] to be lucky at catching flying fish {tae ssave}.
sa: laiona, leia, maalama,
opp: haekotia.
\*
moemoe vvale
(from vvale ‘insane’)
[vs?,vi] to have a nightmare.
\*
moena #1
[no] bedding material.
\*
moena #2
[np] a group of flying fish {ssave}.
\*
Mohoulani
[psn] a group of legendary semi‑human beings who are believed to have made the shell tools {kautoki} that are no longer used but are found on Sikaiana. (Note: an older women told me these tools were made by Sikaiana’s ancestors).
\*
moisuki
1.[no] the tail of an animal.
2.[no] the smallest of the outrigger canoes {vaka hai ama} measuring about 9 feet long.
ge: vaka hai ama.
\*
moisuki kiole
[np] the string tied on the end of a bonito hook {paa}.
wh: paa #1.
\*
moko
[nf] a lizard, generic term.
\*
moko ppili
[nf] a lizard species, gecko.
\*
mokotolo
[nf] crocodile; not indigenous to Sikaiana, but does inhabit other areas of the Solomon Islands.
\*
mokoaa #1
[no] a specific point of time: i te mokoaa laa, a Mautikitiki ni noho i Hale, ‘at that moment, Mautikitiki was staying at the main island’; i te mokoaa hea, ‘at what precise time?’.
cn: tulana #1.
\*
mokoaa #2
[vs] to have a gap, as in between walling slats.
sa: avaava.
\*
mokopusi
[nf] a fish species, small.
\*
mokupuna
[no] genetic and classificatory grandchild; adopted child.
do: haimokupuna <to be in the relationships described above>.
\*
mmole (momole)
(from PPN ^mole).
[vs] to be smooth. Idiom: pohoulu mmole, ‘a bald head’.
tr: hakammole <to make smooth>.
\*
molo
[nf] a fish species, garfish.
\*
molokautai
[nf] a phosphorescent sea animal.
\*
moomona
(from PPN ^momona).
[vs] to be greasy, savoury, fatty, of food. (A valued quality on Sikaiana).
\*
monamona
[nf] a cockroach, all varieties.
\*
moni
(from Eng ‘money’).
[na] money.
\*
mmono (momono)
[vs] to be turned in towards the center.
ps: monolia <to be shrunk in by something>.
\*
mosana
[n, time] a time when there is no fruit on coconut trees. (Archaic and rare).
syn: motu#2.
\*
mosia
[vs] to be pulled apart, shredded.
\*
mmoti (momoti)
[vp] to sneak up upon someone; to secretly listen in on a conversation.
\*
motikao
[no] finger: motikao matua, ‘the thumb’, ‘the big toe’; motikao suki, ‘the little finger’, ‘the little toe’; motikao loloa, ‘middle finger’, ‘long toe’.
\*
moto
[vs] to be unripe, of fruit.
opp: leu.
pl: momoto, mmoto.
\*
motokaa
(from Eng ‘motorcar’).
1.[no] motorcar, automobile.
2.[na] a toy motorcar.
\*
motu #1
(from PPN ^motu).
1.[vt, vs] to sever, to snap, to be snapped; of thin material only such as string or fishing line.
ps: motusia, mossia,
rp: motumotu,
ca: hakamotumotu <[vq] to stutter, to be broken, of speech>.
2.[vs] for a canoe, to have a sharp break in its body from improper shaping.
3.[vs] to break, end, of a social relationship; o laaua vaisoa ni he motu mai, ‘their friendship did not end’.
4.[np] the small islands found inside a reef.
cn: henua.
\*
motu #2
[vs] to be a time when there are no fruits on coconut trees.
syn: mosana.
\*
motuna
\n
[no] the tip of the penis where there is no foreskin; glans penis.
\*
mouakena
[nf] a bird species, seagull.
\*
moualuna
[vs] to be raised, of a mound or a hill.
\*
mouli
[no] the senses or wits; ooku mouli ni sopo i te talatala laa, ‘I lost my senses upon hearing that news’.
do: hakaohomouli.
\*
moumou
[n] a spook or goblin; a term for a class of spirits that is not believed to exist, but is invoked to scare children.
\*
mouna
[np] a hill or mountain.
\*
mounu
(from PPN ^mounu).
[na] the bait used in fishing.
\*
muu #1
[vi] to play any card or board game, such as cards, draughts or checkers.
ps: muulia <to be played, of card game or a board game>.
\*
muu #2
(from PPN ^mu).
[nf] a fish species.
\*
mmu (mumu)
[vi] to run very fast.
\*
mua
(from PPN ^mu’a).
1.[n, time, place] in front, before: i mua, maatou i Sikaiana ni nnoho pouli, ‘before, we on Sikaiana were pagan’; i mua o te laakau, ‘in front of the tree’.
2.[vq, nq] first, before: maatou ka olo mua ki te ata, ‘first we will go the movie’.
opp: muli.
3.[np] a type of verse in composed songs {mako hatu} that is sung at the beginning of the song before the akoako, but not repeated again.
wh: mako hatu.
\*
muaisu
1.[np] lips of a person.
2.[np] mustache; hakatuu ona muaisu, ‘grow a mustache’.
\*
muaisutau
[vi] to converse, to talk informally, to chat.
pl: muaisuttau.
\*
mmui (mumui)
(from PPN ^mui).
[vi] to collect, to come together.
ps: muuia <to be brought together for a reason>.
\*
muka
[vs] to be weak, rotting, of cloth, string and ropes: taku luhaluha e muka laa ki hau ai ko te vaka nei, ‘my rope is weak for lashing the canoe (TS)’.
\*
mukamuka
[na] a green coconut with juice inside but no kernal.
ge: niu.
\*
muko
(from PPN ^muka).
[np] a shoot growing from a sprouted coconut {kamatuu}.
\*
mukolua
[np] a doubled coconut sprout from a single sprouted coconut {kamatuu}.
\*
muli
(from PPN ^muri).
1.[n, time, place] after, behind: i muli o te tulana laa, ‘after that time’; i muli o te hale, ‘behind the house’, tiaki ki muli, ‘leave it until later’.
2.[nq] after, behind: te lautama muli nei, ‘this latter generation, the present generation’.
For first two senses:
opp: mua.
ca: hakamuli.
3.[vq] back, return. Maatou ni olo muli, ‘we went back’.
4.[nq, reflexive] self; te tama laa ni hakapuupuu ki a ia muli,
‘that person praised himself’.
\*
Muli Akau
(from? akau ‘reef’).
[pln] the three smaller and most westward islands of Sikaiana (from north to south): Tehaolei, Matuiloto and Matuavi.
cn: Hale.
\*
mulikutu
[no] the back of the head.
\*
mulimea
[na] firewood.
\*
mulivae
[no] the heel of the foot.
\*
mumuu
[vi] to make a constant buzzing noise, as the sound of a fly.
\*
mmummu
[vt] to whisper.
\*
mumulu (mmulu)
[vt] to wipe, usually to wipe a wet substance; wipe away tears.
ca: hakamulumulu <to put powder on a person>,
ps: muluna.
\*
mumusu
1.[vi] of voices that are heard, but the words are indistinct.
2.[vp] to gossip; te henua ku mmusu i te talatala, ‘the island is gossiping about something’.
ps: muusuia <to be gossiped about>.
3.[vp] to whisper. (Recent).
ps: mumusulia <to be whispered, of speech>.
\*
mumutalina (mumutanna)
[nf] hammerhead shark.
\*
muna
[vp] to swear, to insult, to criticize directly to the face.
ps: munaia,
do: munamuna.
\*
munamuna
[vi] to mutter.
\*