paruparu, v.i., fq. paru1

1. Weak (not vigorous, stiff, taut, firm, determined, or efficacious), feeble, weary, slack, apathetic.

Kua kau rāi ‘aia ē nō te mamao, kua paruparu.
He swam on, getting weaker because it was so far;

Kua paruparu te ‘onu i tō rātou verovero‘anga ki te ‘āuri.
The turtle weakened as they continued to stab it with their spears;

I te karekare‘anga o te moana, kua paruparu te pātete.
When the sea was rough the passengers felt done in;

Kua paruparu te au niuniu o te ‘āua nō tei pē te au poupou.
The fence wires have got slack because the posts are rotten;

Kāre e pu‘apinga kia piri, ‘e pea paruparu tōku.
It’s no good my staying in (the bidding at poker), I’ve only got a low pair;

Kua ‘akamata tōna manako i te paruparu.
His determination began to weaken;

Kua paruparu tōna manako i te ‘oki ki te ‘anga‘anga nō te meangiti i te tūtaki.
He wasn’t very keen about going back to work because of the meagre pay.

2. Soft, supple, tender.

Kua paruparu tēia ‘āpuka, kua para.
This avocado is soft, it’s ripe now;

Nō te paruparu i te ro‘i, nō reira kua varea ‘aia e te moe.
He dozed off, the bed was so soft;

E kōkai kōrua i te one kia paruparu.
You two fork over the soil until it is soft (and workable);

‘e moa paruparu mānea,
a nice tender chicken;

tē pākiri paruparu ‘ua o te pū rākau ‘ōu,
the tender bark of young trees.
[paru1 RR.]