§ 24.

By doubling the di-syllabic root, or sometimes only the first syllable of the root, of an adjective, the intensity of its signification is diminished, thus:

• Wera, hot.

• Werawera, somewhat hot, warm.

• Maroke, dry.

• Mārokeroke, somewhat dry.

• Pango, black.

• Papango, somewhat black, dark.

In the case of a few adjectives a plural is formed by doubling the first syllable of the root, thus:

• He rakau nui, a large tree.

• He rakau nunui, large trees.

• He tangata roa, a tall man.

• He tāngata roroa, tall men.

The simple form is, however, often used for the plural as well as the singular.