On-line Te Reo Māori Dictionary

Tai (i). 1. I.n. (‖ F.L. § 8.) The sea; generally antithetical to uta. He wha tawhara ki uta, he kiko tamure ki tai (P. 130). He waka tuku ki tai, tururu ana nga tangata o runga; he waka toko, tau ana te kohakoha (P.). Wai tai, sea water. Tai tamatane, the sea on the west coast; tai tamawahine, the sea on the east coast (Ngi.).

2. The coast; as opposed to uta, inland. Kei uta te pakanga, kei tai te whiunga (P. 49). = tātahi (i).

3. n. Tide. Mou te tai ata, moku te tai po (J. xi, 131). Ka whati te tai, ka pao te torea (P.). Kia pari te tai ka hoe matou (T. 191). Ka hura te mata o te tai, the tide has begun to flow. Ka ara te upoko o te tai, the tide has begun to flow. Ka ara pa te upoko o te tai, the tide is at its highest. Nga tai a Kupe, exceptionally high tides. Ka whawhai atu koe ki nga tai a Kupe, ki nga tai whiti rua (S.). Nga tai o Ruatapu or nga tai o Maihirangi, heavy sea, high boisterous winds. Ka tu nga tai o Maihirangi (P.). Tai whawhati rua, a figurative expression for error in reciting a spell. Tai whakaea, a term for a withdrawal from attack in order to rally for a fresh assault.

4. Wave.

5. Anger, rage, violence. Kei ara mai nga tai o Ngawhatu ra, e (S.). Kei te tai na ano koe, i te tai o to atua (M. 218). Nga tai o te atua, hei tiaki i te tangata, hei patu i te tangata.

taitai, n. Tide; apparently only in the expressions taitai nunui, spring tides, and taitai ririki, neap tides. Ka rere a Rangawhenua (a star) ko nga taitai nunui o te moana, ka küa nei ko nga tai o Rangawhenua.

Williams Dictionary

Tai (ii), n. Used only as a term of address to males or females: E tai. Ka karanga atu ia ki tona taokete, “E tai, e kore ranei koe e pai kia haere hei hoa moku?” (T. 120). With some tribes its use is restricted to addressing a woman who has borne children. Ka patai ki te whaea, ka mea, “E tai, kei whea te pae ki toku matua?” (T. 136).

Williams Dictionary

Tai (iii), 1.n. (‖ F.L. § 8). The other side. Tere te wahine ki tai o te moana (M. 152). Kei tai mai, on this side.

Williams Dictionary

Tai (iv).—

taitai. 1. v.t. Dash, strike. I tukitukia ai koe, i taitaia ai nga haupapa kohatu i waho o Totorewa (M. 225). To kiri i taitaia ki te ahi manuka (M. 347). Ahua, e te iwi, te rangahau o te hoe, a taitaia te ia ki Mahurangi (M. 161).

2. Knock, brush. Ka taitaia nga kai ki te rau rakau, kia kore atu te pānga wera.

3. Perform certain ceremonies to remove tapu, etc.; the ceremony apparently originally involving striking the object with a twig. Katahi ka taitai, ka tu te tohunga, me te rakau i tona ringa, ka karakia, “Taitai, taitai, taitai, te kau nunui, te kau roroa.” Ko te karakia taitai tenei.—Katahi ka taitaia, kia, ora ai nga kai, nga kakano, nga manu.—Ka taitaia te waka (T. 112). In the case of a canoe the ceremony was accompanied with the slaughter of a slave; hence, “He taitainga waka koe noku” is equivalent to “You are my slave." Ahi taitai, a sacred fire in connection with various rites. Ka tahuna te ahi taitai, ka hoatu te rau huka o te ti.

4. n. Firstfruits, of birds, fish, etc.; used in certain sacred rites at the ahi taitai.

Williams Dictionary

Tai (v), prefix. Sometimes with a qualifying force, as in taikaumatua, taitamariki, etc.; sometimes having no apparent effect on the meaning, as in taihinga, taiwhenua, etc.

taitai? = tai. In the expression taitai huānga, relatives. (Ar.)

Williams Dictionary