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Glite Dictionary
Rata

Rata

1 9.9
A hero in Maori stories who built a canoe and did brave deeds
  • proper noun
  • Literature
: Rata

Examples

  • Rata duly recited karakia, and all was well.

    Academic text (2016)

  • In this story, one day Rata chopped down a tree to make a waka, but when he returned the next day, the tree had magically grown again.

    Academic text (2016)

  • In Maori mythology, Rata is celebrated for his incredible skills in canoe building.

  • According to the tale, Rata once brought a tree back to life after chopping it down for a canoe.

  • Every child in the village learned the stories of Rata, the hero who performed great feats.

Idioms

pro rata
  • Formal
2 5.8

According to each person's share or time worked

Surface Forms

Rata main

Etymology

Rata comes from Māori and other Polynesian stories and is the name of a hero famous for building a great canoe and doing brave deeds. A helpful way to remember Rata is to think 'canoe builder' who listens to the forest, which explains why the name means a legendary builder and protector in these tales.