True Motu Dictionary

💬 Additive and repetitive particle. Indicates continuation, repetition, or addition. Common in creation narrative: "Dirava ma eto" (God said again/also). Often paired with "lou" (again) for emphasis: "ma e hato lou" (dug again), "ma e hedinarai lou" (appeared again). Used for sequential actions: "ma e dae" (also came up), "ma e eno bou" (knew again). Functions like "and then" in narrative: "ma e mauri" (and lived again). Contrasts with simple "bona" (and) by adding sense of repetition or addition.

💬 Noun meaning "king" or "ruler". Reduplicated form (pavapava). Often preceded by place name: "Asuria pavapavana" (king of Assyria), "Aigupto pavapavana" (king of Egypt), "Israel pavapavana" (king of Israel). Common phrase: "hanua pavapavana" (the king, lit. town-king). Related forms: "pavapava" (king, base), "pavapavadia" (kings, plural). Used in royal contexts: succession, decrees, wars. Often paired with "lohia" (chief/ruler) in hierarchical contexts.

💬 In the Motu Bible corpus, tau functions as a content noun referring to an adult male human. Alignment data consistently maps tau → man / men, with contextual extension to husband in relational or possessive constructions. It contrasts with female terms in kinship contexts and appears freely as subject or object, not as a grammatical marker. Usage aligns with narrative and genealogical passages rather than abstract roles.