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  1. Topics
  2. Old Indonesian / Malay
  3. maoe

Maoe

/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).
Indonesian•1 meaning found
1
Verified
A person on the ibahasa team has reviewed and approved this definition. Entries still awaiting review are marked as such, and their meanings are withheld.
casualTone: casual. Indicates the emotional nuance or social context of the word.Old Indonesian / MalayTopic: Old Indonesian / Malay. The category or sphere of life where this word is used.nationalRegion: national. Specifies the geographical origin or local dialect area.
Verified
A person on the ibahasa team has reviewed and approved this definition. Entries still awaiting review are marked as such, and their meanings are withheld.

Definition & Context

Verb

Verb

A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence.

Archaic form of the word mau, meaning to want, to intend, or to have the desire to do something. Used as a modal verb expressing the will or intention of a subject toward an action. The spelling “maoe” is the official orthographic representation of the 'u' sound under the old spelling system.

Synonyms & Variants

hendak

hendak

Expressing a desire, will, or intention to do something.

Synonym
ingin

ingin

To have a strong desire or longing for something.

Synonym
kepingin

kepingin

An informal or casual form of 'ingin', often used in daily conversation to express a stronger or more urgent desire.

Register Variant
maoe

maoe

The old or archaic spelling of the word 'mau', used before Indonesian spelling reforms. It has the same meaning as the modern 'mau'.

Archaic
mau

mau

The will or desire to perform an action.

Synonym

Usage Notes or Etymology

The word “maoe” is an older spelling variant of “mau,” commonly used during the “tempo doeloe” (olden times) era, especially in publications written in Low Malay or Bazaar Malay prevalent in the Dutch East Indies. This spelling adheres to the Van Ophuijsen system, which was in effect from 1901 to 1947, where the 'oe' diphthong represented the 'u' sound. The usage of “maoe” reflects the linguistic and orthographic context of the colonial period, which is now considered archaic but can still be found in historical documents, old newspapers, or literary works from that era.

Real-world Usage

Sabelomnja kita moelai, kita maoe kasi njata. (Sebelumnya kita mulai, kita mau kasih nyata.)

English Translation
Before we start, we want to make it clear.

Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.

Verified Evidence1

  • Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch)
    Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch)

    Boekoe Soerat-Soerat (TH. A. Du Mosch)

    Imageliterature
    Verify Context
Reviewed 6 months ago
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