marae
- NZ a traditional Māori tribal meeting place, originally one in the open air, now frequently a purpose-built building
- (in Polynesia) an open-air place of worship
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Word Origin
Māori
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Examples from the Web for marae
Historical Examples
I recognised at once the old priest of the marae, but how changed since I last saw him!
The Island HomeRichard Archer
The people sat there on the marae, silently watching the burning of the dead.
The adventures of Kimble BentJames Cowan
They selected a body, and dragged it off to the cooking-place at the rear of the marae.
The adventures of Kimble BentJames Cowan
Bent found a large number of Maoris, about three hundred, assembled on the marae, the village parade ground.
The adventures of Kimble BentJames Cowan
At length a Maori unfastened the door of the whar, and, taking Bent by the hand, led him out on to the marae.
The adventures of Kimble BentJames Cowan