ā‘ea, cplx (prep. + loc.n.), sometimes spelled as two words, ā ‘ea, in

1. and

2. below.

1. When (with future reference).

Ā‘ea te pa‘ī e tae mai ei?
When will the ship get in?

2. Where?, At what place?;

Ko ā‘ea tēia ngā‘i?
Whereabouts would this be? Ko te…ā‘ea, ka…ā‘ea, lest, in case.

‘Akarapurapu mai, ko te ‘aere ā‘ea te torōka!
Hurry up in case the truck goes!;

E ārai i te tangata i te ‘aere nā konei, kā topa ā‘ea ki raro i tērā rua.
Stop people coming this way in case they fall down that pit there.
[ā¹ 4, ‘ea.]