marae

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori marae and Tahitian marae, from Proto-Oceanic *malaqe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /məˈɹaɪ/
• Rhymes: -aɪ

Noun

marae (plural maraes)

1. (archaic) a Polynesian sacred altar or enclosure
   • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN:

     The path ended down by the sea at a crumbling ‘ingot’ of black coral, twenty yards in length & in height two men. ‘A marae, this is called,’ Mr Wagstaff informed me. ‘All over the South Seas you see ’em, I’m told.’

2. The courtyard of a Maori wharenui or meeting-house and the buildings around it.

Alternative forms

• marai, morai

Anagrams

• Ramea, Meara, arame, maare, Amare

Maori

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *malaqe (“cleared space”). Cognate with Rapa Nui marae, Tahitian marae, Samoan malae, Tongan malaʻe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈɾae/

Noun

marae

1. The courtyard of a wharenui or meeting-house and the buildings around it.

See also

• tahua

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *malaqe (“cleared space”). Cognate with Rapa Nui marae, Tahitian marae, Samoan malae, Tongan malaʻe.

Noun

marae

1. A paved plaza in front of an ahu for ancestor worship.