Whāngai. 1. v.t. Feed. Ka puta atu a Rongo-rongo ki waho, ki te whangai i a Taneroroa (T. 108). A, whangaia ana e Maui ki te paru (T. 26).
2. Nourish, bring up. Whangaia ta taua tuahine hei tangi i a taua (P. 95). Matua whangai, foster-parent. Tamaiti whangai, foster-child.
3. Offer as food. Homai te hiku o taku tawatawa, whangaitia mai kia pau (J. xx, 23). I whangaia atu nga kuku hei kai ma tana manuhiri.
4. Propitiate, invoke an atua, by offering or incantation. Katahi a Hakawau ka whangai i ona atua ki nga atua o Puarata, ko etehi o nga atua o Hakawau i whangaia, ko etehi i haere atu i muri. Otiia ko te tikanga o te karakia i haere ai enei atua, he whangai (T. 176).
5. Offer ceremonial food to an atua; merely a ceremonial use of sense 3, above; the expression generally being whangai i te hau. Waiho kia tae au ki te kawe atu i te hau o tenei tanga ika, a kia tae atu au ki te tohunga kia whangaia ki te atua (T. 22). Ka whangaia te hau mo ana mahi (T. 17). ‖ hau (v).
6. v.i. Increase in size, swell.
whāngaingai, n. Food sent to meet visitors on their way.
whangawhāngai, n. A charm. ‖ T. 154.
Williams Dictionary
