0NOTES
1ON
2IRISH WORDS AND USAGES
3BY
4AN T-ATHAIR PEADAR UA LAOGHAIRE

BROWNE AND NOLAN LIMITED

DUBLIN: BELFAST: CORK: WATERFORD
9

PREFACE

THE information contained in this book is derived
13exclusively from the notes which the late Canon O'Leary
14published in the Cork Weekly Examiner in the years
151910-15.

In the course of these five or six years several of his
18works — Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill, Beatha
19Bhrighde, Táin Bó Cuailgne, Sgéalaidheachta as an
20mBíobla Naomhtha, An Cleasaidhe — appeared in serial
21form from week to week, and, with rare exceptions, no
22week passed without some notes from the author ex-
23plaining the meaning of words or constructions occurring
24in the text.

Canon O'Leary often went farther in his explanations
27than the actual text required. He also often took advantage
28of the opportunity to convey to the public at large in-
29formation which he had already given to private corre-
30spondents who had sought his advice.

People used to write to him from all parts of Ireland
33asking for explanations of idioms, etc. Knowing that
34there must have been many others confronted with the
35same difficulties, he often incorporated the substance
36of his replies to correspondents in his notes in the Cork
37Weekly Examiner. To this fortunate circumstance we
38owe the fuller explanations of details of usage and syntax
39given herein.
40

Some of the points dealt with will be new to many
42readers; others are an elaboration of explanations which
43are to be found elsewhere. They will all help us to a better
44understanding of the living speech of the people.

To the Rev Richard Fleming, Adm., we owe the
47publication of these notes in book form, He handed
48all the material to me, and asked me to collate it and
49prepare it for the press.

Out of that large body of material I have endeavoured
52to select primarily those words and phrases which seemed
53to me either not to be readily available, or to be less
54adequately dealt with, in the ordinary vocabularies.

D. O'M.
57

NOTES

Abair, has two senses. It means "say," i.e., "speak
61these words." It also means "bid." Abair leis
62teacht, bid him come, or tell him to come. There is
63a very common expression, "Abair é!" which means
64"You may say that!" "Not a doubt about it!"

Tá abartha agam (Sg. II. 2). I have made an assertion.
67Whereas tá ráidhte agam means merely that I have
68said what I wished to say.

Adhal, a large three-pronged fork, used for the purpose
71of lifting pieces of meat out of a boiler.

Adhart, a bolster.

Ádhbharach, advantageous, profitable, beneficial.

Adhlacaim, bury. Áit adhlactha a burial-place.

Aerach. Not at all the same as the English "airy." It
80means unstable of character; prone to the pursuit
81of vain enjoyments.

Ag, with the verbal is quite commonly used to express
84a purpose, especially after verbs of motion. Chun
85teacht ag ceannach tuille arbhair (Sg. I. 100). Thánadar
86'ghá iarraidh orainn dul, for the purpose of asking
87us to go.

Aghaidh. Tímpal na bliana 830, nuair a bhí aghaidh na
90Lochlannach ar Cill Dara, etc. The "attention" of
91the Danes.

Agairt, revenge. Gur 'ghá agairt sin uirthi a bhí an Tigh-
94earna (Sg. III. 315), visiting that upon her, punishing
95her for that. Nár agaraidh Dia air é! May God
96forgive him!

Agam'. Tá grádh thar barr agam' mhac Sicem do'n inghín
99seo agaibh-se (Sg. I. 69). This is pronounced as if
100written "agam bac." The aspirated m is sounded like
101a b.
102

Agus. Seacht ndiasa agus iad go breágh agus go lán.
104Seven ears which were very fine and very full. Note
105how simply the English relative construction may
106be turned into Irish by means of agus. Bhí fear
107ann agus 1. ab ainm do, whose name was I.

The English words "notwithstanding the fact that"
110may frequently be expressed in Irish by the single
111word agus; e.g., Sg. IV. 393-4: Ní'l aon truagh ag
112aoinne agaibh dom agus mé i n-a leithéid de chás.

Aibidh, ripe. Applied to the eyes means "wide awake."

Aicíd, a disease.

Aicionta, natural. Namhaid a., a natural enemy; such
119for example, as the wolf-dog was to the wolf.

Aicme, a class of people. The word is often, not always,
122used in a disparaging sense. Plu. aicmeacha.

Aidhm, an object in view, a pursuit, a purpose.

Aigne, droch-a., malice, evilmindedness.

Aighsáideach, "handy."

Áil. Ní h-áil leis (Sg. II. 9), he does not like to; he
131will not; he is determined not to. It is stronger
132than ní maith leis and than ní toil leis. It is like
133the English "It is against his grain."

Dá mb'áil leat, if you will; in the sense, "I
136wish you would."

Cad ab áil leat díomsa? What do you want
139of me? i.e., What business have you of me? (cf.
140Cad tá uait ormsa? What do you want from me?)

B'áil le gach fear acu gur aige féin ba cheart an
143tighearnas a bheith. Each man of them insisted.

B'áil leis gur mise chaithfadh é dhéanamh. The force
146is… Nothing would satisfy him but that I should
147do it.

Ailteóireacht, any sort of rough play ("horse-play"),
150especially if it involves a degree of ingenuity.

Aimhréidh, disordered, entangled. One trying to unravel
153a tangled skein of thread might say Tá sé i n-aimh-
154réidh orm.
155

Aimsighim. D'aimsigh sí tarainne, she got a nail
157(Sg. III. 267). The idea of "procuring" is in both
158the Irish and the English words. Do fuair would
159not express the meaning here. Aimsighim means
160the procuring of something by design.

Ainbhfiosach, ignorant. The word is used in the sense
163of being deficient in the knowledge of social duties,
164or in common politeness.

Fear th'ainbhiosa, a man of your ignorance.

Aincheart, injustice. "Is cuma nú aincheart lomcheart."

But, ana cheart, very just. This ana is a separate
171word, not a prefix. Ana shligh le faid, a great way
172for length, i.e., a very long way.

Ainm. Asot ainm na catharach. The omission of the
175verb in such sentences as this is quite common.
176It is a great convenience.

Airchinneach, the manager of a piece of church property.

Áird, a point of the compass. As gach áird, from all
181quarters.

Airfideacht, a musical performance. It seems to have
184being something like "opera."

Airighim, hear. An airighean tú? is the usual mode of
187asking for a person's attention.

Or, a leithéid seo, when one wishes to tell
190another that he has some communication to make
191to him.

Airiú. This expression indicates that the statement
194which it introduces is spoken with great energy
195and with intense conviction.

Áirnéis, chattels; a person's belongings.

Aisge, a free gift; a present. Plu. aisgeacha.

Rud do leogaint i n-aisge, to let a thing go
202unpunished.

Ait, curious, comical, absurd.

Áit. Ní raibh an áit… ní raibh sé (Sg. I. 68). Here,
207although "áit" is a fem. noun, the pronoun "sé"
208which represents it is masculine, because it refers,

not to the word "place," but to the thing, that is,
210to the place itself.

Is maith an áit 'n-a rabhais (Sg. III. 345). This
213is the equivalent of the English "Well done!"
214or, "Bravo!" The phrase is applied not only
215to a well-timed remark, but also to a well-timed
216action of any description, an adroit move in a
217game, for example.

Sometimes, maith an áit i rabhais, or go rabhais.
220The expression is used in a bitterly satirical way
221when a person attempts to be clever and only
222succeeds in making a blunder.

Aiteas, intense delight. Áthas is merely pleasure.

Aithis, a disgrace; a deformity, moral or physical.

Aithne. (I) Knowledge — Chuir sí aithne ortha, she came
229to know them. (2) A commandment. Ubhall na
230h-a., "the forbidden fruit."

The form aithin is also in use: Dob aithin dom
233duine, etc. Aithin is a substantive; it means "a
234known person."

Ní'l d'eólas ná d'aithne agam air. Eólus,
237knowledge about him, i.e., concerning him. Aithne,
238knowledge of him, the knowledge which a personal
239acquaintance with him would give.

Aithreachas. Regret plus self-reproach. Remorse.

Aithrighe, repentance. A. dhéanam sa choir. Note pre-
244position. Ré aithrighe, a time for repentance. The
245phrase has come to mean "respite" in a general
246sense.

Aithris, narrate, tell. It does not mean "recite." When
249followed by ar it means "imitate."

Ál, a brood; a litter; a number of young brought forth
252at a birth.

Amach. Note the strength of as an dtír amach as com-
255pared with amach as an dtír.

Amanarthar, the day after to-morrow. Amainniris, the
258day after that
259

Ambasa. The exact meaning varies with the context.
261It is sometimes adversative, e.g. Guaire 171: Ar
262ball, ambasa, bhí an crónánuidhe d'á thuirsiú, might
263be rendered by… after a time, though, notwith-
264standing all his skill, the work began to tell on the
265crooner.

Sometimes it is not, e.g. the mouse jumped out
268and, ambasa, the cat caught him.

The idea in this word can almost always be ex-
271pressed by "really and truly."

Amhra, remarkable, illustrious, admirable.

Amhras. Gan a., very often = "of course."

Amhsgarnach, the very first dawn, the grey dawn.

Amus, an aim; a hitting. Chaith sé an camán ar amus
280mo chinn, aimed at.

Amhus. A member of such a body as were called in
283England "men at arms" or "household troops."
284The disorders and cruelties which they were often
285guilty of in later times caused the word amhus to
286acquire a very evil meaning.

Rígh-amhus, a military prince; a mercenary.

An. Chonaic sé an duine agá chosaibh (Sg. III. 321).

This use of the definite article is peculiar to Irish
293speech. Its effect here is to intensify the idea of the
294presence of a person in the place. It makes for vivid-
295ness of description, as if to express that the person, at
296that moment, was a very "definite" thing for him.

Anachainn, any sort of calamitous accident.

"Is gearr ó'n inchinn a bhíonn an anachainn" —
301Not far from the brain is the fatal accident.

Anacair is a far stronger expression than "uneven."

I once heard an English speaker translate áit anacair
306by "a cut-throat place."

Ciscéim anacair is a step on a stone, for example,
309which tends to cause a fall or a sprain.

Anacal, quarter given to a foe in battle.

Anaithe a deadly fright.
314

Anál, breath. The word is used figuratively to express
316"influence." It means the influence, whether for
317good or evil, of mere presence, apart altogether from
318words or actions.

Anál fhóghanta, influence for good; droch anál,
321evil influence.

Luigh sé siar agus tharraig sé an anál (Sg. I. 114).
324He drew the (last) breath; he breathed his last.

Anam, life; that which distinguishes a living man from
327a dead man. Beatha, life; the position as regards
328wealth or poverty, comfort or discomfort, a good or
329a bad course of conduct, social surroundings, etc.,
330of a person in the world. Saoghal, life; the length
331or shortness of one's days.

Beatha and saoghal are sometimes used one for the
334other, but anam cannot be used in the sense of either.

Do thuit an t-anam as, he dropped dead.

Bainfad an t-anam as, I will kill him.

cf. "Bhíos-sa ag raidealaigh
341Le mac Sasanaigh
342D'eirigh eadrainn
343Do scríobas an t-anam as."

Anamchara, a "soul-friend," a confessor.

Anbhas (Pron. anabhás). A violent death. Tug sé a
348dó féin, he committed suicide. There is no such
349Irish word as féinmharbhadh. Féin without a sub-
350stantive connected with it is not a thing that can
351be killed.

Anchor, an evil turn, a maiming, a permanent injury
354to life or limb.

Anfhlaith, a usurper. (Pron. aun-lah.)

Aniar-adtuaidh, from the north-west, has also the meaning
359of "unexpectedly."

Annamh. Is annamh le fághail iad. "Few and far be-
362tween," exactly.

Annsmacht, tyranny, oppression. Smacht carried too
365far abused.
366

Anntráth. I n-anntráth, late, behind time.

Anoir. Tháinig sí anoir ó thír Mhóab (Sg. III. 318).

When there is a question of motion, the direction,
372i.e., north, south, east or west is always expressed
373in Irish.

Anonn. Do lámhadar uatha anonn, they fired shots
376which took effect at a distance from them.

D'aithnigheas uaim é means I recognised him while
379he was at a distance from me; "I knew him from
380me."

Annródh, the sufferings entailed by hard work in bad
383weather.

Annsgian. Literally, an evil knife. A merciless tyrant;
386a "scourge."

Annspianta, outrageously unreasonable. It can be used
389generally as Irish for the word "exaggerated." Obair
390a., unreasonable conduct. Cíos a., absurdly ex-
391cessive rent. Annspiantacht, exaggeration.

Anuas. Chómh fada anuas le, as recently as.

Anuas. Chómh fada siar le, as long ago as.

Anuas. Chómh fada anonn le, as far into the future as.

Aoidheadh: Teach a., a guest house.

Aoine. The fundamental meaning of the word is
402"oneness," i.e. simplicity. It means simplicity
403in dress, in habits, in manners, as well as in food. In
404regard to food it expresses abstemiousness in general
405as well as fasting.

Aoir, a satire, lampoon.

Nom. Aoir, with r broad.

Gen. aoir, with r slender.

Nom. plu. aoir, with r slender.

Gen. plu. na n-aoir, with r broad.

Aontú, the act of agreeing to something.

Aos óg, young people, children.

The word aos is a collective noun, and can be used
422either as a singular or as a plural. One can say an
423t-aos óg, the children, or ag múineadh na n-aos óg,

teaching the children. I have never heard ag
425múineadh an aois óig, or ag muineadh na h-aoise óige.

Ar. D'iarr sé ar a athair, ar an rí (Sg. I. 69).

In cases of this kind the preposition should be
430repeated. "D'iarr sé ar a athair an rí" would be
431very bad Irish.

Pé rud atá uait orm-sa (Sg. III. 322), whatever
434you want from me. Cad tá uait orm-sa? What
435do you want from me?

Gach duine fireann d'á bhfuil oraibh (Sg. I. 69),
438of all that are among you. Note oraibh.

Ní'l do chaora ortha so, your sheep is not among
441these. Ní'l do chaora eatartha so would be horrible
442Irish.

Ar a sliocht féin, amongst her own descendants.

Ar has a different meaning in another idiom: Bhí
447sé ar an bhfear ba ghiorra do'n rí (Sg. I. 106) means
448that he was in the position of next man to the king.

Ar does not aspirate the initial of a word beginning
451a definite place name.

Tá Seán Ó Gríobhtha 'n-a chómhnuidhe thuaidh annsan
454ar Cathair Druinne (Mo Sgéal Féin, p. 180).
455Similarly, ar Cnoc Áine; ar Carraig na Madraí,
456etc. Cnoc, etc., in these expressions is part of the
457proper name. Hence it is not aspirated.

Compare the expression céad bó ar cnoc, not
460ar chnoc. The phrase céad bó ar cnoc does not say
461that the cows are on any particular mountain. The
462cnoc is not individualised, and hence it is not
463aspirated.

Aradhnaibh. I n-a. báis. in the throes of death.

Aragul, an inner chamber; a private apartment.

Araige. Cloch a., a stone for casting as a test for strength.

Árd-aidhmeanach, ambitious.

Árdoireachtas, a monster meeting.

Árdsgéal, an epic story; the life story of a hero.

Argain, to ravage with fire and sword.
478

Arm. A. cosanta, defensive, and a. cómhraic, offensive
480armour.

Atharach, a change. Sin atharach sgéil ar fad, that's
483quite a different matter; "a horse of another colour."

Athnasc. Ag a. air, mimicking him; repeating a word
486after another person in an angry or contemptuous
487manner.

Athtruaghach, merciful, compassionate. Applied when
490speaking of men. Trócaireach is the word used of God.

Bac. Ná bac san, don't let that trouble you.

Ní'l bac ort ann, you can if you like.

Bacán, a linch-pin, or any similar sort of pin.

Bacla, the space between the arms; an armful. Bhí
499leanbh ar a baclainn aici, on her arm. Bacla mhóna,
500an armful of turf.

Bachlach, a sturdy beggar; a tramp; a boor.

Báidh. This is the Irish word for the English "prejudice
505in favour of." A prejudice against a person is mios-
506cais. When mioscais would be too strong an ex-
507pression for the feeling, the speaker would say ní'l
508sé geal dom, he is prejudiced against me.

Bailbhe, dumbness, stuttering.

Baic an mhuinéil, the nape of the neck. Baic is the
513prominent little bone at the lower end of the neck,
514behind. It has nothing to do with the English word
515"back."

Bail. This word has no direct representative in English.
518It means some circumstance which works for a
519person's good or evil. When such a circumstance
520is providential it is Bail ó Dhia. When it works against
521one's good, people say is olc an bhail air é, and then
522the circumstance is mentioned. The é is often omitted.

Is olc an bhail ar Éirinn é má leigtar an Ghaoluing
525ar lár.

Baileach, thorough. Frequently in the emphasised form,
528baileach glan.
529

Bailiú, gathering. Ag bailiú leo, gathering away with
531them; i.e, gathering themselves away.

Seo, bailigh leat! Come, make yourself scarce.

Bainim ó; nár bhaineadar ó shaoirse a thoile. Lit. That
536they did not take from the freedom of his will, i.e.,
537that they did not lessen it.

Bain uait féin is a common expression = restrain
540yourself; behave yourself; be less overbearing; "come
541off your high horse."

Ball. Ar ball, by and by. It does not mean "at once,"
544in Munster.

Bantionchair, the command or rule of a woman. Ar bh.,
547"under petticoat government."

Baoghal. Ní baoghal ná gur thugadar, "no danger but
550that they gave"; i.e., they did not fail to give.

Ní baoghal duit, it is not a danger to you.

Ní'l baoghal ort, there is no danger of you.

("Seachain an droch dhuine agus ní baoghal duit
557an duine macánta.")

Baoithreacht, nonsense; vain speech.

Barróg, a grip round the body; an embrace.

Bárthan, an injury which has a disabling effect. Tiubaist
564is a great calamity, whether it disables or not. Tiubais-
565teach, disastrous.

Baschrann, a wooden knocker. Bhuaileadar buille de'n
568bh. ar an ndoras.

Basgadh, not merely hurt, but maim.

Báth, drown, The verbal noun is báth, not báthadh.

Beacht, complete; thorough.

Beag. Ba bheag ná go ndubhairt sé, "it was little but
577that he said" — i.e., he almost said.

Is beag agam é, I think little of it.

Béal. Do thugais an gheallamhaint dó ód' bhéal agus
582féd' láimh. Both verbally and in writing.

Beárna, a gap. Plu. beárthnacha.

Beartú, the act of poising something to try the
587weight of it. Hence the act of building up in the

mind the details of a plan. Thar na beartaibh, i.e.,
589Níos mó 'ná mar fhéadfadh aoinne a bheartú, more
590than anyone could form an idea of. "Beyond the
591conceptions."

Béilteach, a big, bright, glowing fire. It does not exactly
594mean a blazing fire.

Beir. Cad a bhéarfadh go 'neósfinn d'aoinne beó é!
597(Sg. III. 306) What would cause me to tell it to any
598living person! What would produce such an effect
599as that I should tell it, etc. The same sense is in
600the words Cad 'n-a thaobh go 'neósfinn, but the former
601is the stronger expression.

Sin é do bheir an gnó déanta, that is what produced
604the effect.

Beireatas, the resulting advantage of a course of action.

When the thing gained is a disadvantage people
609say Is olc an beireatas é, it is a "white elephant."

Beirim ar, catch hold of. Bheirinn ar sgórnaigh air
612(Sg. III. 372); not Bheirinn ar a sgórnaigh.

Beirt. Usually followed by the gen. But one may
615say, for instance, beirt d'fhearaibh óga. Native Irish
616speakers will do anything for smoothness except violate
617the syntax.

Usually aspirates: beirt fhear; beirt bhan; beirt
620chailíní; beirt bhuachaillí. But beirt dritháir; beirt
621saighdiúirí; beirt seirbhíseach; beirt sagart.

Beó. Raghaidh do bheó nú do mharbh ann, your living (body)
624or your dead (body) shall go there.

Beóil, lips. Puisíní means "little cats!"

Binib, evil-mindedness, maliciousness.

Bíthinn, the fact of a thing's or a person's existence
631(é bheith ar bith). Tré bhíthinn na mná (Sg. 1. 2), by
632means of the woman (as distinguished from a designed
633result).

Tré n-a bhíthinn féin, through the instrumentality
636of himself; i.e. by a direct action of his own, as

distinguished from the use or application of any out-
638side means.

Bior-leighe, or bior-a-leighe, an iron bar used for the
641purpose of melting tallow, in order to make wicks
642for lighting.

When an action, or a course of action, has a dis-
645integrating effect, whether morally or physically,
646upon what it comes into contact with, it is called
647a bior-a-leighe.

Some people seem to have a talent for ruining
650anything they put their hands to. That talent is
651known as bior-a-leighe.

Bladaireacht, any sort of idle talk. B. éithigh (Sg. II. 7).

Bliain. Bliain na Bealtaine seo a ghaibh thorainn…
656bhíos ar mo ghlúinibh, etc. (Guaire, p. 43). "The year
657of this May," i.e. the year which this May had com-
658pleted, i.e. a year ago this May.

Bogaim. Expresses the very beginning of motion.

Nuair a bhog an long chun gluaiste ("softened to
663move"). Ar bogadh, loose; also, steeping.

Borb, as applied to plants, signifies "full of sap."

Brabúsaidhe, a hypercritical fault finder; one who has
668a talent for "picking holes."

Bráca, a harrow. Fé bhráca an donais, under the harrow
671of misfortune, is a common expression.

Braiceal, the poll and back of the head.

Braid, prisoners. A collective noun.

Braighe, a captive; plu. braighde.

Braisle, a group. B. neóiníní, a group of daisies.

B. ubhall ag bun crainn, i.e. blown down by the
682wind and lying pretty close to one another. B. daoine,
683a group of people (men, boys and children).

Brath. Ag brath air go neósfadh sé dhóibh, expecting (it)
686that he would tell them. The pronoun in air re-
687presents the thing expected. The omission of air
688would render the sentence utterly unintelligible to
689a native Irish speaker.
690

Brat-chinn, any sort of head-dress; a veil.

Breacadh an lae, the breaking of the day.

Bréanaim. Do bhréan an abha, the river became evil-
696smelling. Do bhréan is a verb. Bréantas, stench.

Bréige. Déithe b., false gods.

Breith, a judgment. Beir do bhreith, pronounce your
701judgment. Cad ann? In what? A judgment is given
702in a subject matter, but on a personal object.

Breith báis, a death sentence.

Breitheamhnas, judgment. B. do leagadh ar rud, to pass
707judgment on it.

Breithniú, to consider; to judge.

This word is eminently suitable for all the purposes
712for which the word "criticism" is used in English.
713Both words are founded on the idea of exercising
714judgment.

Brígh. Gan puinn bríghe, not of much importance.

Ní dheinim-se ró bhrígh de sin, I don't attach much
719importance to that.

Bhrille bhreaille, nonsensical drivel; trash.

Briosc, brittle.

Briosga, a biscuit; plu. briosgaí. Briosgóid is also used.

Brise catha, a defeat in battle.

Brise is the term used to express the training or
730"breaking-in" of horses.

Bró. Bhí an lámh 'n-a bróin lobhra aige, a mass of leprosy.

Bró fola, a mass of coagulated blood.

Bró leac-oidhrach, a flat mass of ice.

Brobh, a rush; plu. brobhnacha ("brown-acha").

Bród, excitement; enthusiasm. Flosg is a synonym.

Bronntanas (bronntas), a free gift; an offering; plu.
743bronntaisí.

Bruach. Ar b. na h-abhann, on the river-brink.

Ar bh. na h-abhann has a different meaning; the
748aspiration has the effect of specialising the bruach;
749e.g. Ní h-istigh sa n-abhainn a bhí sé ach ar bhruach na
750h-abhann.
751

Bruighean chaorthainn, a murderous fight; a disastrous row.

Brúth, a crush; congestion. Ní raibh brúth ná righneas
755i n-obair na gcúiseanna do bhreithniú.

Buac the best advantage; the most advantageous
758course. Cheapadar gur bh'é a mbuac páirt do ghabháil
759leis (Sg. IV. 397).

This word is in common use… Dob é a mbuac
762gan an foláramh a thabhairt dúinn (T.B.C. 67). It
763comes from buadh, success, victory, avail, prevail,
764prosper, etc.

Buachaill. The term droch bhuachaill is applied to one who
767is exceptionally evil-minded; an ill-conditioned fellow.

Buadh. This word covers a very wide field of thought.

The using of it requires great care. It em-
772braces the ideas of success, victory, avail, prevail,
773prosper, etc.

Buadh agus cosgar, "victory and slaughter."
776This was a common expression at the time of the
777Táin. When a young knight assumed arms his friends
778said: go mba buadh agus cosgar duit! May victory
779and slaughter of foes come of it for thee!

"Victorious" is fé bhuadh, not buadhmhar, which
782is used as an epithet; cf. fé áthas, happy.

Buadh, a gift. B. urlabhra, the gift of eloquence.

Buairt. Ag déanamh buartha, indulging in grief.

The word appears to have at times a special
789signification, viz., the anxiety of a people on whom
790war is threatened; cf. Sg. III. 287. It may refer
791to something past, present or future.

Bualadh is the word used for coining money. Beidh neart
794agat do chuid airgid féin a bhualadh.

Buarach, a spancel, or hair rope with a loop at one end
797and a buaircín at the other.

Buile. Fearg bhuile, mad anger. Duine buile, a
800madman.

Buinne, a sprout or plant. B. daraighe, a young oak-
803tree; a sapling of oak. B. soluis, a jet of light.

(Lasadh soluis, a glow of light). B. teine, the column
805of clear flame which shoots up when a conflagration
806has reached its height.

Buinne is also applied to a jet of water, or of blood
809spurting from a wound.

Bun, a purpose. Cad é an bun a bhí agat leis? What
812object had you in view in doing it?

Cur ar bun, establish. Cur ar siubhal is preferred
815when the idea of movement is before the mind; i.e.
816to set a thing going; to set in motion something
817which discharges certain functions. Curtar sgoil
818ar bun, ach curtar obair na sgoile ar siubhal. I mbun,
819in charge of. I mbun na gcaereach, minding the
820sheep.

Do cuireadh lucht faire 'n-a mbun, watches were
823placed over them. Os a gcionn would not do here.
824When the idea of care or attendance is the chief
825thing to be expressed, the phrase i mbun is the one
826used. When the idea of authority is the chief idea,
827the phrase os cionn is used.

A poor person getting an alms from the head of a
830family commonly says: go bhfágaidh Dia os cionn
831do chlainne thu! He would not think of saying i mbun
832do chlainne in that sense.

"I mbun scoile i gCill Mhuire ní thuigim gur b'é
835bheidh buan." Over a school in Kilmurry I do not
836think he will continue long.

Bun os cionn. Bheadh sé bun os cionn againn-ne, etc.

I have never heard dúinn nor duit nor dom
841after this expression. I have always heard it followed
842by ag.

Bunbaidh, fundamental. gen. of bunadh, origin, stock,
845foundation. Nós bhunaidh, a fundamental custom.
846Áit bhunaidh, "place of origin," i.e. base of operations.

Fírinne bhunaidh (or bun-fhírinne), a fundamental
849truth.
850

Bunúsach. Iarracht bhunúsach, an effort which goes to the
852root of things and takes effect. Fear bunúsach, a
853reliable man.

Buthaire deataigh, a bursting mass of smoke. B. lasrach,
856a bursting mass of flame.

Cábán, a tent. The word pubal is not in the living speech.

Cabhlach, a ruin.

Cabhlach loingeas, a fleet of ships. I have never heard
863any plural for long but loingeas.

Cách, the public in general or any member of that public;
866one's neighbour; "the man in the street." Mar
867chách, like every one else.

Caidhséar, a channel or canal for water.

Caillte. Ba chaillte an iarracht í, a villainous attempt.

Cainnt. This is the proper Irish word for "speech."
874"He made a speech" is in Irish thug sé cainnt uaidh.
875To use the word óráid here would be absurd. It
876really signifies "a prayer."

Dubhairt sé an chainnt seo le I. (Sg. I. 113), spoke
879these words. Not na focail seo, unless where the
880individual words are meant rather than the sense
881which they express.

Brígh na cainnte, the sense of the words.

Éifeacht na cainnte, the effect of the principle
886involved in the words.

Cairt, a title-deed; plu. cairteacha.

Cál. Ní raibh aon chál ag aoinne eile chúichi feasta
891(Sg. I. 86), no other person had any right to it
892thenceforward. This "cál" is a genuine Irish word.

Calaireacht, shouting boisterously, especially of insulting
895language.

Calmacht. Fear calma, one possessing great physical
898strength. Fear cródha (pronounced cróga) is not only
899strong, but fearless.

The English word "prowess" expresses the idea
902'n calmacht.
903

Campar, the cavity of the chest.

Canaim, I sing. Do chan sé na focail sin.

Canncar, vexation. A word in very common use.

Duine beag cas canncarach, an ill-tempered,
911fretful little person.

Caol. An dá láimh gearrtha dhe ó'n dá chaol amach (Sg.
914III. 335), "from the two slenders out," i.e. from the
915two wrists out. Cf. ceangal na gcúig gcaol, the
916binding of the five slenders, i.e. the neck, the two
917wrists and the two ankles.

Any narrow channel of water connecting two large
920pieces of water; a strait.

The word is also applied to a long green narrow marsh.

Caomh, a dear friend. The difference between caomh and
925cara is very like the difference between "affection"
926and "friendship."

Carbal, the roof of the mouth; the palate.

Cás. Níor chás duit! lit., it would not be a matter for
931you. The meaning is, "What a chance you would
932have of doing that!" Níor chás leat, it wouldn't
933be a matter of regret with you.

I gcás nár rud suarach é. The phrase i gcás is
936very common in Irish speech. It generally introduces
937the ultimate conclusion to which a series of state-
938ments leads up. An English speaker would say:
939"and so you see that," etc.

Cas liom é. Mura gcuiread-sa smacht air sin cas liom é.
942If I don't tame that fellow reproach me with the fact.

The full expression is cas i n-asachán liom é. People
945sometimes say, in English, "they are returning it
946to me."

Cáth, the hard shell which covers a grain of corn. Lóchán
949is the soft shell which covers the hard shell (Sg. II. 8).

Cath, battle. C. do bhriseadh ar an namhaid, to defeat the
952enemy. Cath also means "a battalion," hence the
953inner meaning of the preceding phrase is "break
954formation" consequently "defeat."
955

Cáthadh, the act of winnowing corn. It is also used to
957express the blowing of snow into drifts by the wind;
958lá an cháithte, the day of the drifting. An bhfuil sé
959ag sneachtadh? Is it snowing? Ní'l, ach tá sé ag
960cáthadh. No, but it is drifting. The name of one of
961the small particles of snow is cáithnín sneachtaidh.
962(A large flake is known as lúbhóg sneachtaidh.)

The same word cáthadh is applied to cursing and
965swearing when indulged in with rapidity. Ag cáthadh
966dhiairmíní, spitting out showers of "little divils"
967— having a "divil" at every second word. Ag
968cáthadh mhionna mór, the same in regard to "big"
969oaths.

Cathmhile, a "battle-soldier," i.e., a soldier hardened
972in war, a veteran.

Cathú, in Munster always means regret or sorrow. In
975the west it = "temptation." The Munster word for
976"temptation" is cath, a battle, a contest, an attack.
977The act of tempting a person to do something bad
978is bheith ag séide fé, or 'ghá chur suas chuige. To tempt
979in the sense of testing, e.g. to tempt God, is
980fromadh.

Cé ro díobh é? (Sg. III. 375). That is, cé h-iad gur díobh
983é? The direct answer here would be Betlemíteach
984iseadh é.

Céad. I gcaitheamh an chéad blian, during the I00 years.
987I gcaitheamh na céadmhadh bliana, during the I00th year.
988I gcaitheamh na céad bhliana, during the Ist year.

Céadfatha, the senses. This word is equivalent to what
991is commonly called in English "the nerves," or "the
992nervous system."

Ceaduighim, permit. Ní cheadóchainn é ar rud ná
995déarfinn, I wouldn't have wished it for I won't say
996what.

Cealgach, deceptive. Namhaid ch., a subtle, or treacherous
999foe; also means "stinging," peevish.

Ceamalach, a boor, a clown, a rustic.
1002

Cheana adds force to an assertion. Iseadh cheana, "yes,
1004it is." "An gcurfá-sa me fé chomairce na n-uasal?"
1005arsa mise leis. "Cuirfad cheana," ar seisean, I
1006will so.

Ceann. Ó cheann ceann de'n tír (Sg. IV. 382). Ó cheann
1009ceann na tíre would not be correct. The full ex-
1010pression is, ó cheann de'n tír go dtí an ceann eile
1011de'n tír. In ceann na tíre there is question of only
1012one end, whereas in the text there is question, not
1013of the country's end, but of two ends of the country.
1014The genitive in this case is a partitive genitive.

Ceann-íseal, "carrying the head low," i.e. completely
1017humbled.

Ceann uraid, a commander-in-chief.

Ceannsa, kind, gentle, benignant. I don't like the
1022word cineálta.

Ceap le céad, lit., an object for a hundred; i.e. one who
1025would give a hundred foes enough to do.

Ceapaithe. Go c., in a decisive manner.

Ceárd, art. Ealadha, science. The correspondence with
1030the English words, though not rigid, is fairly close.

Lucht ceárd, artisans. Lucht ealadhan, scientific
1033people.

One may have a mental idea of, for instance,
1036búisteóireacht, and say of a certain man b'shiní a
1037cheárd. On the other hand, the mental picture may
1038be of gnó búistéara, when one would as naturally
1039say b'shiné a cheárd.

However, it is necessary to take care, in matters
1042of this sort, not to adopt a form which usage has not
1043sanctioned. For example, the word áit is a fem. noun.
1044Such phrases as áit mhaith, áit bhreágh, etc., are
1045correct.

But, is maith an áit í seo; tá an áit seo cluthar
1048ach tá sí cumhang, etc., are entirely wrong. One must
1049say, is maith an áit é seo; tá an áit seo cluthar ach
1050tá sé cumhang.
1051

The reason why the masc. pronoun is used is
1053because it represents, not the word áit, but the thing
1054áit, i.e. the locus.

Another illustration of the same principle is seen
1057in the common phrase, má's é do thoil é.

Ceárdamhail, artistic.

Ceárnach, square. Clocha móra ceárnacha.

Ceart. Ba mhaith an ceart acu é, it was right they should.

The usual English expression is, "so they ought."

Annsan is eadh tháinig an sgeón i gceart ionnta,
1068a thorough panic.

Is é an chloch ghorm i gceart é, blue-stone* "out
1071and out."

Marbh i gceart, dead out and out.

Marbh sa cheart, killed in the proper manner.

Marbh 'n-a ceart, killed in the special manner in
1078which she should be killed.

Tá sé 'n-a rí i gceart, a king in earnest; a king
1081in reality.

Ceas, ceasna, a difficulty; a dilemma; anything that
1084paralyses action. Ceasnaidhean, the pangs of par-
1085turition.

Ceasdamhnach, a questioner; a cross-examiner.

Ceataighe, inconvenience.

A substantive derived from the adjective ceatach,
1092left-handed, awkward; cf. déanaighe; suaraighe;
1093plúraighe, etc.

Ceileabhradh, the act of bidding farewell.

Ceilt. 'Ghá cheilt air, hiding it from him. There is no such
1098Irish as 'ghá cheilt uaidh.

Ceilteach aigne, lit., hiding of mind; i.e. reserved.

Céim, a step; a degree; dignity; an event or circumstance.

Céimeanna cruadha, hard passes; acute difficulties.

Ceisneamh, a feeling of regretfulness; also the expression of
1107that feeling by means of murmuring and com-
1108plaining.

*Sulphate of copper.
1111

Ceist, a question; i.e. an interrogation.

Such expressions as ceist na talmhan, ceist an
1115chíosa, ceist an ólacháin, etc., are all wrong. Irish
1116Speakers never use the word ceist in this way. It
1117is a purely English mode both of thought and of
1118expression. The words gnó, cúrsaí, sgéal, are the
1119words used; e.g. gnó na mbárd, the business of the
1120bards, the question regarding the bards.

One may of course say, cé leis an talamh? Siní
1123an cheist, but there is no such thing as ceist na talmhan.

Cian, far away. I gcian agus i gcómhgar, far and near.

Ciapadh, worrying one so as to bewilder him; exasperate
1128beyond endurance.

Cimilt bhaise, coaxing; palavering.

Cíoch, a breast. In Munster often cín; bean chíoch, a wet
1133nurse.

Cion. Tháinig cion aige air, he conceived an affection
1136for him.

There would be no sense in looking out for "the
1139Irish for "conceive,"" if one were putting this English
1140sentence into Irish.

Cionntsáile, Kinsale. Pronounced Ciún-; gen. Cionntsáile.
1143The word is not Ceann Sáile.

Círéip, a mass of confusion and noise.

Ciste, a safe.

Clab, the mouth wide open.

Claidhe, any sort of rampart of earth or of stones or of
1152both (lios is the space enclosed by the circular
1153rampart).

Clamh, a person or animal infected with mange. It is
1156also used as an adjective: File beag clamh i gceart
1157nár dligheadh ar dtúis, a thoroughly mangy little
1158poet who did not get proper legal right in the beginning.

Clann. Duine d'á chlainn mhac, one of his sons. Duine
1161d'á chlainn inghean, one of his daughters.

Mac leis would also express "a son of his," but
1164a mhac would imply that he had only one son.
1165

Tá clann óg annsúd thall is used to express that
1167a birth has taken place.

"We are sons of one man": Clann aon fhir amháin
1170iseadh sinn. The word "clann" is used in Irish often
1171where the word "sons" or "daughters" would
1172be used in English.

Ní raibh aon duine clainne aici (Sg. III. 325). Not
1175ní raibh aon leanbh aici.

Claoidhe, reduce to subjection; crush.

Cleacht, habit; practice.

Taithighe cleachta, the accustoming oneself to an
1182exercise.

Gnáthú cleachta, the constant practising of an
1185exercise.

Cleamhnaidhe, a suitor, a matchmaker; plu. cleamhnaidhthe.

Cleas. D'imthigh an cleas céadna air, the same thing
1190happened to him. This use of cleas is common.

Cleatrach, a skeleton.

Cleith, a spar, a long stick; plu. cleathacha.

Cliamhain, a son-in-law (pronounce cliain). C. istigh,
1197one who lives in the house of the parents of his wife.

Cliaraidheacht, choir-singing.

Clipe. The full meaning is, harassing and persecuting
1202until the victim is dazed and confounded.

Cloch bhuinn, a foundation stone. Clocha buinn, fundamental
1205principles of an institution.

Cloch fhaoibhir, or C. faoibhir, a whetstone.

Clochghorm, bluestone; gen. clochghuirm.

Clóic. the loss of energy caused by hardships or exertion.

When a person is found full of energy after some
1214laborious feat, people say:- níor chuir an méid
1215sin aon chlóic air.

Clú, character, good name. Cáil, fame, reputation.

The distinction between clú and cáil is almost
1220the same as that between "name" and "fame."

Clú and cáil are the same thing, but from different
1223points of view. Mo chlú regards that characteristic in

me which deserves praise. Mo cháil is the praise or
1225reputation which the good quality elicits from the
1226public.

Cluiche. Hunting one about, as hounds hunt a hare
1229turning and twisting him in the chase. Do chluicheadh
1230an gadhar an t-uan, used to "worry" the lamb.

Cluiche-mhagh, a playing-field, a playground.

Cnaipe, a button.

Cnámh. Mara mbeadh do cheithre cnámha. An expression
1237in common use to express great regard.

Cnámharlach, a skeleton. Cnáimhseach is an older form.

Cóbach, a coward. Cladhaire is sometimes translated
1242"coward." This is not correct in Munster. Cladhaire
1243means a rascal, a treacherous fellow.

Cogadh. Ag cur cogaidh ar (Sg. III. 292), making war
1246against.

Here war in general is meant. If there were question
1249of a particular war the c of cogadh should be aspirated
1250(cf. Sg. v. 539).

Coigríoch, a foreigner. C. iasachta (Sg. III. 292), a foreign
1253interloper; i.e. a person who did not belong by
1254right to the clan in which he was living, but slipped
1255in amongst them surreptitiously, or forced his way
1256in. The expression denotes contempt.

Coimhtheach, of wild and forbidding aspect.

Fiain is wild in the sense of untrained, uncultivated.

Coinne. Ní raibh aon choinne acu, they had no expectation,
1263no "idea." Cuimhneamh is used similarly: Ní raibh
1264aon chuimhneamh agam (go).

Cóip, a low, disreputable class of people.

Cóir. Déarfadh duine gur chóir… go dtiocfadh cine
1269fhóghanta uatha (Sg. I. 15). One would suppose that
1270it ought to be that… i.e. one might reasonably
1271expect that…

Nár chóir gur chuma dhuit? is said to one who asks
1274an unreasonable or impertinent question. Don't you
1275think it ought to be all the same to you?
1276

Cóir cam díreach, "right go wrong"; "by hook
1278or by crook."

Nár chóir gur…? Would it not be reasonable to
1281suppose that, etc.; or, I should think that, etc.

Cóir, a means. I have heard a horse, bridle and saddle
1284called cóir iompair, i.e. literally, a means for being
1285carried. (Nár fheicidh Dia choidhche thu, a Athair, gan
1286cóir iompair!)

Cóir mhaith mhúinte, a good equipment for teaching.

Córacha cogaidh, fittings for war, munitions.

Cóir oibre, good implements for the work.

Cóir tighis, furniture, etc.

Coisreacan, the act of consecrating.

Coitchian, common. An aicme choitchian acu, the whole
1299of them as a class.

Colan (m.), a heifer; gen. colain; plu. colna (pron.
1302colla).

Colgach, fierce, angry, passionate.

Colgánta, fierce; full of fight; passionate.

Collóid, clamour; noise; violent and noisy com-
1309motion.

Comha, terms, equivalents. It was constantly applied to
1312the two sets of advantages offered in exchange by
1313two hostile powers when they wished to settle a dis-
1314puted point.

Cómhair, presence. Not to be confounded with cóir.

Tá do chuid os do chómhair amach, your share is
1319before you.

Tá do chuid ad' chóir, your share has been put by
1322for you.

The sounds of the two words are quite different.
1325There is a full nasal sound in cómhair which it is
1326impossible to mistake for cóir.

Comairce, protection. C. beatha agus sláinte, "pro-
1329tection of life and health"; i.e. safe-conduct; some
1330sort of a "pass," or guarantee that the bearer would
1331not be molested.
1332

Cómhairle. Chuadar i gcómhairle, they held a meeting.

Rud do chur am' chómhairle, to consult me about a
1336thing.

Cómhalta, a companion, comrade. Cómhaltas cogaidh,
1339an alliance for war.

Cómhar. Tá c. agat orm, I owe you a debt, i.e. a turn,
1342whether good or bad.

Cómhla. The English word "door" has two distinct
1345meanings. It means the opening through which
1346people pass in and out. It also means the
1347valve or shutter which turns on hinges and closes
1348that opening. In Irish there are two words for
1349the two things. Dorus is the opening; cómhla is
1350the valve.

Cómhlan, a battle between two matched individuals, or
1353between equal numbers specially selected on both
1354sides.

Cómhnós, co-equal; occupying the same position in
1357society.

Though the word has the appearance of a substantive
1360it is an adjective. Tá rí Oirghialla cómhnós liom-sa
1361(Guaire, p. 8).

In the living speech the word cómhnaois is often
1364used as an adjective, although it is set down in
1365dictionaries as a substantive. Ce'cu is óige Tadhg
1366nó Domhnall? Cómhnaois dóibh.

Cómhnuidhe. An áit 'n-a raibh c. ortha, the place where
1369they dwelt. Note the preposition.

Cá mbíon tú ad' chómhnuidhe?

Ní'l aon chómhnuidhe i n-aon bhall orm, I have no fixed
1374residence.

Conbhint, a convent. The word is used by the Four
1377Masters.

Conthairt machtírí, a pack of wolves.

Conus, how. The difference between conus and conus
1382mar is the difference between the English "how"
1383and the vernacular "how that." D'innis sé dhom

conus a dhún sé an dorus, i.e. how, or in what manner,
1385he shut the door. But, d'innis sé dhom conus mar
1386a dhún sé an dorus i n-am díreach chun an bhitheamhnaigh
1387a choimeád amach, signifies merely that he closed the
1388door just in time to keep the burglar out.

Conus mar a fuair sé bás, the fact that he died.

Conus a fuair sé bás, the manner, or state, in which
1393he died.

Cor, a twist, a state. Tabhair do rogha cor dóibh, give
1396them your choice turn, i.e. give them whatever treat-
1397ment you like. Féach an cor atá orm, look at the
1398state of me.

The fundamental meaning is a turn, a bend, a
1401twist. Its secondary meanings are various and
1402numerous; e.g. cor cainnte, a turn of expression;
1403cor iomrasgála, a bout of wrestling; cor i n-aghaidh
1404an chaim, a clever trick to meet a clever trick, or, as
1405it is said in English, "the biter bitten." Droch chor,
1406a bad state, a bad arrangement. Is olc an cor a
1407rug é, it is a bad fate that got hold of him; he came
1408to a bad end.

(The word críoch is used similarly in this last sense…
1411Nár bheiridh críoch níos fearr iad! May no better
1412fate overtake them!)

Cor i n-aghaidh an chaim (pron. caím), a twist against a
1415crooked turn.

An English King once sent to Ireland for the
1418Gobán Saor to build a palace for him. He determined
1419to kill the builder when the work was done in order
1420that no palace like his should ever again be built.

"Have you the work finished?" said the King.

The Gobán Saor suspected some treachery.

"Yes, your majesty," said he, "but I want to
1427carve one stone for the front, and I cannot do that
1428without a certain instrument which I left behind
1429in Ireland."

"I will send for the instrument." said the King.
1432

"No person but myself would get it," said the
1434Gobán Saor.

"I will send my own son for it," said the King.

"He could not tell the name of it," said the Gobán
1439Saor.

"What is the name of it?" said the King.

"The name of it is Cor i n-aghaidh an chaim," said
1444the Gobán Saor.

"Teach him the name," said the King.

The Gobán Saor taught the name to the prince.
1449The prince came to Ireland, to the palace of the
1450Gobán Saor, and met the lady of the house.

"I want the instrument called Cor i n-aghaidh an
1453chaim, my lady," said he, and he explained the
1454reason.

"Yes, sir," said she, "we have that instrument
1457here."

She took him up to the top of the palace and showed
1460him a large box.

"It is inside in that box," said she. "You just
1463open the box and take it out."

He opened the box, and stooped over the edge
1466looking for the instrument. She took him by the
1467legs, tumbled him into the box, and slammed down
1468the cover.

"What's this?" said he.

"That is Cor i n-aghaidh an chaim, sir," said she,
1473"and it means that you are to stay in that box until
1474my husband and my father-in-law come home to
1475me."

Coramhíol, a midge.

Corbhuais, a disturbed state of mind.

Corn feasa, a cup used for divination.

Coróinn. Bhí Séamus i gcoróinn na Sacsan. This
1484is the Irish way of saying "on the throne of
1485England."

Do tháinig sé i gcoróinn (Sg. I. 118). Corresponds

to the English "came to the throne." Do ghaibh sé
1489righeacht expresses the same idea, i.e. he assumed
1490kingly sway.

Corp. Ní raibh sa bhféasta mór ach corp maoidheamh as
1493a shaidhbhreas agus as a ghradam (Sg. v. 615), down-
1494right boasting.

The word corp in this sense is very common. An
1497intensified form is aon chorp; cf. Caoine Airt
1498Uí Laoghaire.

"Ní mar mhaithe leat,
1501"Ach le h-aon chorp eagla."

As a rule the noun which follows corp or aon chorp
1504is in the same case as that in which it would be if
1505no word intervened between it and the preceding
1506word.

In the sentence above, for instance, we could have
1509ach maoidheamh, or ach corp maoidheamh, or ach aon chorp
1510maoidheamh. Still the word corp or aon chorp is often
1511followed by the genitive case, i.e. corp maoidhimh or
1512aon chorp maoidhimh. Consequently a person is at
1513liberty to use whichever form he finds most to his
1514taste.

But if the succeeding noun is a phrase, the phrase
1517stands unchanged. In the example given, maoidheamh
1518as a shaidhbhreas is the thing the great feast was
1519for, and therefore maoidheamh is not in an oblique
1520case.

Le h-aon chorp droch aigne, through sheer downright
1523bad mind. Droch aigne, bad mind; corp droch aigne,
1524the essence of bad mind; aon chorp droch aigne,
1525the sole essence of bad mind.

Córú, an outfit, habiliments, a process through which
1528a thing is put; e.g. at Sg. I. 114, it refers to the process
1529of embalming (balsamú). Córú is any systematic
1530arrangement or plan. Córú beatha, a system of
1531living.
1532

Cos-ar-bolg, a trampling of people under foot.

Cosnamh, protecting, shielding. Cosaint, defending. The
1536difference in meaning is much the same as that between
1537the two English words. The preposition following
1538is ar, "from"; e.g. Sinn do chosaint ar mhalluightheacht
1539agus ar chleasaibh an namhad.

'Ghá gcosaint féin, (actively) defending them-
1542selves. Ar a gcosaint féin, in an attitude of
1543defence.

Cothrom, an equivalent. Cothrom na h-éagcóra d'onóir,
1546honour proportionate to the wrong.

C. na breibe seacht n-uaire, the equivalent of the
1549bribe seven-fold.

Ana chothrom léighinn, a great opportunity or a
1552great facility for obtaining literary knowledge.

Cothrom uisge, a facility for obtaining water.

Cothú, feed. Cath do chothú, maintain a fight; i.e. to feed
1557it by the supply of additional force.

Ag cothú an mhioscais, constantly furnishing new
1560matter to excite it.

Ag cothú fala, nursing a grievance.

Cradhsgal, a nervous shrinking from cold or from any-
1565thing disagreeable. Fear neamhchradhsgalach, a man
1566who does not mind the cold. (The -adh- is sounded
1567as in adharc.)

Crann, a fatality, a lot. Rud do chur ar chrannaibh, to
1570cast lots for a thing. Crann-chur, a casting of lots.

Crann tabhaill, a sling.

Craoiseach, a lance. Sleagh, a spear.

Craos, the back part of the mouth; the pharynx.

Craosach, ravenous, devouring.

Crapaim, shrink. Do chraip an chos aige, "the leg shrank
1581with him"; i.e. his leg shrank.

This use of the prepositional pronoun, aige, agam,
1584etc., is peculiarly Irish. In our Irish-English we
1585say, e.g. "How is your finger?" "It is very sore
1586with me."
1587

Creach, a loss. A chreach láidir é! lit. its strong loss it is!

The a here is the same in its nature as the a in tá
1591sé 'n-a fhear. The exclamation is substantially the
1592same as tá sé 'n-a chreach láidir.

Creacha, cattle-spoils. Creachadh, beggaring by
1595destroying or taking away one's property.

Creideamhnach, influential, respectable.

Crobh, the claw of a bird; dat. plu. crobhnaibh ("crown-aiv").

The word is also applied to the human hand with
1602fingers half closed. There is no corresponding English
1603word.

Crobhaing, a bunch.

Croiceann. Do thabharfaidís a bhfuil ó chroiceann amach
1608acu ar an saoghal so, all they possess in the world.
1609"Tá dúil 'n-a chroiceann agam" is said when one
1610is furiously angry against a person.

Crothadh, shaking. Ag c., shaking, agitating; ar c., in
1613a shaking state or condition.

Cruadas, hardness. Not cruadhas. I have always
1616heard the d quite distinct in that word.

Cruadhtan is equivalent to the English plural "hardships."

Cruadhtan na beatha so.

Cruaidh. Dheinbhúir go cruaidh orm é (Sg. I. 93); lit. ye
1623did it very hard on me; i.e. you should have had
1624more consideration for me.

Cruaidh is the Irish I have always heard for
1627"cruel."

Céimeanna cruadha, hard passes, acute difficulties.

Ag obair go cruaidh, of work one has to do.

Ag obair go dian, the work in this case may be
1634voluntary.

Cruinn, exact, methodical, circumspect. Beir leat go
1637cruinn an méid sin; understand correctly and keep
1638in your memory.

Cruithniú, the act of creating. I have seen cruthú, but
1641I have not heard it. I have heard both cruthuightheóir
1642and cruthnuightheóir.
1643

Crústa, a dry clod of earth or of bogstuff.

Chuaidh. Nuair a chuaidh d'á fheirg (Sg. III. 300), when (some)
1647had gone off his anger, i.e. when his anger had
1648grown less. Tá ag dul d'á mheabhair, his wits are
1649failing.

Cuaird ollamhnachta, a literary or philosophical visitation.

Cuaird chogaidh, a military expedition.

Cuid. Agus an chuid eile acu, the equivalent of "et
1656cetera." "Et cetera" may also be expressed by the
1657phrase "a's neithe"; bainne a's neithe, "milk, etc."

Cuideachtanas, personal companionship.

Cúilfhéith, lit. back-vein. It means great power of re-
1662flection, mental resource.

Cuilith guarnain, an eddy or whirlpool. Poll cuilithe
1665guarnain is also used, "a hole of a vortex of
1666whirling."

Chuir Aodh Dubh Dia agus Colum 'n-a dhiadh go daingean
1669air… strenuously invoked God and Colm Cille
1670against him for it.

A certain man buying a cow said to the seller:

"Má tá aon locht sa bhoin seo, cuirim-se Dia 'n-a
1675dhiaidh ort." There was a hidden fault in the cow
1676and the seller knew it. He died some time after-
1677wards. He appeared to his wife after his death and
1678ordered her to give back the price of the cow to
1679the buyer, and to let him keep both the money and
1680the cow.

"Bhí an locht sa bhoin," said he, "agus chuir sé
1683Dia 'n-a dhiaidh orm. Á! is dian an t-éiltheóir a
1684chuir sé 'n-a dhiaidh orm!"

Cúis. Gur bh'é cúis n-a ndeigh sé, that the reason why
1687he went was, etc.

There is no def. art. before cúis, because the phrase
1690n-a ndeigh sé defines it. This n-a is better than the
1691relative go.

Ní raibh sé sásta leis sin, pé cúis a bhí aige ortha
1694(Sg. III. 349).
1695

Cúl a thabhairt, to turn the back, on (le).

Daoine a thug a gcúl le n-a gcreideamh féin.

Thugas mo chúl leis, I turned my back on him.
1701Why not thugas mo dhrom leis? One answer is,
1702usage. There is also another reason. Thugas mo
1703chúl leis means "I abandoned it," cúl being used
1704in a secondary sense. Thugas mo dhrom leis,
1705I turned my back to it, in a literal sense, but
1706there is no idea of abandoning in the expression,
1707e.g. thugas mo dhrom leis agus thógas liom ar mo
1708dhrom é.

Bhíodar ag dul i ndiaidh a gcúil, retreating; lit.
1711"going after their poll." Perhaps one would expect
1712i ndiaidh a gcúl here. That would be taking them
1713individually. It is more natural to consider them
1714as one body of people.

Cuma. Ní fearr le Meadhbh cuma 'n-a bhfuil an sgéal 'ná
1717mar sin. (T.B.C., p. 18).

This construction is peculiarly Irish and requires
1720to be closely studied. The speech of the people is
1721full of it. The expression is a condensed one. It may
1722be expanded thus:- Meadhbh contemplates a great
1723many positions in which probably the matter stands,
1724and she does not prefer any of them to this one which
1725is here contemplated.

The meaning, then, is that M. is just as well pleased
1728by its being just as it is.

Tá 'fhios ag an uile dhuine… nách cuma leó ce'cu
1731dhíobh is mó a gheóbhaidh clú an oinigh (Guaire, p. 24).
1732"That it is not a matter of indifference to them,"
1733i.e., that they are desperately anxious.

Is cuma liom, I don't care.

Ní cuma liom, I do care.

Cúmdach, covering. Clár cúmhdaigh, a wooden lid or cover.

Chun. Cuir chughat é sin, stow that on your person some-
1742where.

Chuireadar chucha dúbailt airgid (Sg. I. 94).
1745

Chughat na Philistínigh! (Sg. III. 307); cf. the
1747common exclamations, chughat an púca! chughat as
1748san uaim! táthar chughat!

Sar a raibh fhios acu é bheith chucha i n-aon chor (Sg.
1751III. 353), that he was coming to attack them.

Cúnsóg. Some wild bees make their nest in a lump of
1754moss in ameadow. That sort of nest is called a cúnsóg.
1755Others make their nest under a mound of dry earth,
1756or in a dry hole under a stone or rock, or in a wall.
1757That nest is known as a talamhóg.

Cúntas, an account, a description. Sgríbhinní cúntais,
1760records. T'r'om rud éigin le n-ithe, i gcúntas Dé;
1761"in God's account," i.e. to be sent down for God
1762to pay.

Cúpla is followed by the nom. sing. Cúpla ceann;
1765cúpla rud; c. práta mór; c. bliain mhaith; c. buachaill
1766bán.

Curadóir, a seed-sower.

Curanta, staunch, substantial.

Cur ar. Bhí an mór-chath curtha ortha; lit. the great battle
1773was put on them, i.e. they were defeated in the great
1774battle.

Cur le, add to.

Cur chun… agus lá an aonaigh do chur chuighe, even not
1779omitting the fair day. Do chuir sí an tigh chuige, she
1780let the house to him.

Cur… ó. Iad do chur ó chainnt a chéile do thuisgint;
1783lit. to put them from understanding each other's
1784speech.

Cur de. D'iarr sé ortha stad agus a dtuirse chur díobh.
1787lit., to put their weariness off them; i.e., "to take
1788a rest," or, "to rest themselves." Chuir sí leanbh mic
1789di, gave birth to a baby boy.

Cur fé. Chuireadar fútha; lit. they put under them
1792(what they could rest upon), i.e. they settled down;
1793or simply, they settled.

Cur fé ghrádaibh sagairt is the Irish for "to ordain."
1796

Cur suas le… bear with, tolerate.

Cur um. Cuir umat, dress yourself.

The word cur has apeculiarly Irish sense in anumber
1802of expressions; take for instance, the phrasean mhallacht
1803do chur. A malediction is placed or put in existence
1804by being pronounced.

Ag cur sheaca, ag cur shneachta are examples of a
1807similar use of the word.

Chuir sé an rian, implies that he located and followed
1810the track.

Ní h-olc atá a shaoghal curtha aige. This use of
1813cur is very common in the sense of turning something
1814to account.

Cúram a dhéanamh de dhuine, to make much of a person.

Cuthaigh, furious, fierce. Iarracht chuthaigh, a strenuous
1819effort (gen. sing. of cuthach, rage, used as an
1820adjective).

Dá. Marbhú an dá chéad fear (Sg. IV. 380); not na dá
1823chéad fear. Dhá áit mhaithe, two good places. Dhá choin
1824mhóra, two large hounds.

After dá the noun is dual but the adjective is
1827plural.

Dá. For the English expression, "if it were not to come,"
1830there are two different Irish expressions, mara dtagadh
1831sé, and dá mba ná tiocfadh sé. cf. Sg. I. 14:- Dhein
1832a lán acu aithrighe sar ar bádhadh iad, aithrighe ná
1833déanfaidís go deó dá mba ná tiocfadh an sgannra
1834san ortha; i.e. they would not have repented if the
1835terror hadnot come (but it did); aithrighe ná déanfaidís
1836go deo mara dtagadh an sgannra would mean that
1837they were expecting the terror to come, and that
1838they were determined not to repent unless it
1839came.

Daoire, slavery.

Dabht, a doubt. It is ridiculous to object to words like
1844dabht, robáil, etc., on account of their English appear-

ance. They belong to the Irish language because
1846the nation has adopted them and assimilated them.
1847The nation has not assimilated such expressions as
1848"tá sé all right."

Dachad duine (nom. sing.), but cúigear agus dachad
1851daoine, gen. plu. governed by cúigear.

Dáil. Ag teacht 'n-a dháil dom, as I was coming
1854towards him.

The English word "approach" is used in the
1857same sense.

Dáil: the serving out of food or drink, especially of
1860drink. Ag dáil an fhíona ar an rí (Sg. I. 80).
1861Note "ar."

Fear dála, one who serves at table; a waiter.

Dáilim, I dispense, especially food or drink.

Daingean. Ní gan a fhios cad 'n-a thaobh agá namhaid
1868go daingean a fágadh ann iad; it was not without
1869their foes knowing to their cost the reason why.

Dáiríribh. Gníomh rí dáiríribh, a real kingly action.

"In earnest" is dáiríribh; not i ndáiríribh.

Damhraidh, oxen. A collective noun, like eachradh, macraidh,
1876etc.

Dán, a profession. Ioldánach, one who is master of many
1879professions. Ceárd, a trade. Gairm, a calling.

Danán, a worn-out old man.

Daoine. Nuair a chonaic sé an cor a bhí ar na daoine
1884(Sg. II. 8).. Why not "daoinibh"?

My experience has been that when daoinibh is
1887used a particular body of people is meant, e.g.

Bíon ocras ar dhaoine uaireannta.

Bíon an rath ar dhaoinibh áirithe.

The first statement is true of people in general.

The second contemplates certain people only.

So, bhí an tír folamh ó dhaoine… not ó dhaoinibh.
1898Daonacht, humanity.

Is aoibhinn do lucht na daonachta. The English
1901is, "Blessed are the merciful." The mercy spoken

of here is not trócaire. In the plirase, "they will
1903obtain mercy," the mercy is trócaire, i.e. the mercy
1904of God.

Note also the word "blessed" above. It does
1907not mean beannuighthe. It means aoibhinn, i.e. "it
1908is happy for them," or "it is blissful for them."
1909The Latin word is beatus. The Latin of beannuighthe
1910is sanctus.

Dar. Dar leo, in their opinion; as they thought.

Dásacht. The meaning is very nearly "enthusiasm."

Dásacht croidhe, any overpowering mental excite-
1917ment; cf. dánaidheacht. Mara miste leat mé
1918dhéanamh dánaidheachta ort, if I may make bold
1919on you.

Deachmhadh, tithes; plu. deachamhna (Sg. VII. 791).

Deagh-chomharsanacht. Good treatment at the hands of
1924neighbours.

Deagh-labhartha, well-spoken, eloquent. Duine deagh-
1927labhartha, a "good speaker." Deagh-bhlasta, well-
1928flavoured, savoury.

Deagh-nós, civilisation. The prefix deagh- is often pro-
1931nounced deigh-, apart from the rule eaol le caol;
1932e.g. deighmhac, a good, dutiful son.

Deaghthréitheach, full of good characteristics.

Dealbh, poor, in the sense of having no wealth, or no
1937"means." Bocht is poor in the sense of being
1938destitute.

Dear. An t-airgead fé ndear an obair seo (Sg. I. 94).
1941The omission of the verb is very convenient. The
1942trouble of finding tenses and moods for the verb
1943is got rid of completely. Fé ndear, as it stands,
1944may, according to the context, mean "is the
1945cause," "has been the cause," "would be the
1946cause," etc.

Dearbh, real; proved; true.

A dhearbh chómhdhalta, my trusty comrade.

Dearbhú. Fé dh. under oath.
1953

Dearmhad: "Do not forget me"; ná dearmhaid mise,
1955or, ná dein dearmhad díom-sa (not orm-sa); but ar
1956is used regarding the person who does the forgetting —
1957Tá dearmhad ort, you are making a mistake.

Deasuighim, arrange, adjust, fit up.

Deich feara fichead (Sg. III. 299).

Why not deich fir fichead? Because usage so
1964ordains it.

Deighilt, the act of weaning. An siorrach a dh., to wean
1967the foal.

Deighleáil, any description whatever of business relations.

D. airgid, financial relations.

D. ceannuidheachta, mercantile transactions, etc.
1974Deimheas, a shears.

"Deimheas géar agus inchinn mhaol,
1977Dhá nídh do loitfadh bréid."

Deimhin (or deimhne), an assurance, a certainty. Dein
1980deimhin de is a common phrase, make a certainty
1981of it; i.e. look upon it as a certainty, be assured.

Deimhne agus déine an sgéil, the certainty and
1984urgency of the matter.

Dhein pola salainn di (Sg. I. 30), she became a pillar
1987of salt.

Irish verbs can do their work without the aid of
1990a nominative case. All Irish verbs have their
1991autonomous forms, which can have no nominative
1992case. This particular verb has two autonomous
1993forms:-

1. Do dhein pola salainn di.

2. Do deineadh pola salainn di.

The first expresses the fact that the change took
2000place, and no more. The second implies the fact that
2001some external agency produced the change. Déanfidh
2002fuil de'n uisge (Sg. II. 4), the water shall become
2003blood.
2004

Deinidh mar a chífidh sibh a dhéanfad-sa (Sg. III. 278),
2006not deinidh mar a chífidh sibh mise ag déanamh.

Deire. I nd. an anama, at the last gasp.

Deirim. Déarfadh duine is thc equivalent of "one
2011would expect," "a person would think."

Deirim is constantly used in the sense of giving
2014a command; e.g. cad n-a thaobh nár dheinis an rud
2015a dubhart leat!

It may represent the English words "mention"
2018or "allude to." An bhean úd adubhart leat, of whom
2019I spoke to you. An oidhche seo adeirtear, this night
2020we speak of.

Deirinneach, final, as distinguished from déanach, late.

Deis. Ar dheis na h-abhann, on the right bank of the
2025river.

Deiseal. Gan iompáil deiseal ná tuathal (Sg. III. 339);
2028deiseal, towards the right, "clock-wise"; tuathal,
2029towards the left; i.e. where motion is expressed.

Deismireacht, the use of words or of actions supposed
2032to have a diabolical effect; superstitious observances,
2033e.g. believing in magpies, if taken seriously.

Déistean is much stronger than "disgust." It means
2036intolerable disgust, sickening disgust.

Deól, the act of sucking, as the young suck the dam;
2039the act of drinking any liquid by sucking it up
2040through a tube.

Súrac is the word for sucking something which
2043is not a liquid. Tá an leanbh ag súrac a órdóige.

Dia dhaoibh. This is exactly the Hebrew salutation. The
2046same is to be said of go mbeannuighidh Dia dhuit!

Diacht, divinity, daonacht, humanity.

Diaidh. I ndiaidh ar ndiaidh, by degrees, gradually.

Diaidh ar ndiaidh is not now said anywhere.

Dí-áirmhthe, innumerable.

Dian. Bhí órdú an rí ró-dhian, too urgent. <"Urgent,"
2057in a different sense. The matter is not urgent, tá
2058breith agat air.>
2059

Dias, an ear of corn. Príomhdhiasa, prime ears; faon-
2061diasa, lean ears.

Díbhfheirg, vengeance, especially Divine vengeance.

Díg. "Tabhair rogha do'n bhodach agus tógfidh sé díg,"
2066a well-known proverb. Díg is that one of two things
2067which is not the "choice," i.e., it is that one of the
2068two which ought not to be taken as "choice."

Díle, a deluge.

Díol. Is olc an díol ortha. This is a common Irish form
2073of speech, but it is not easy to give it literally in
2074English.

Díol is used to signify "something which fits
2077exactly"; díol an rí de hata, a hat fully fit for
2078the king. The idea is that the hat comes fully up to
2079what is due to the king.

A man is seen on a splendid horse, then if he
2082shows himself an accomplished rider, people say:- Is
2083maith an díol air eapall maith a bheith aige. If, on
2084the contrary, he proves to be a poor horseman, people
2085say:- Is olc an díol air capall maith a bheith aige.
2086It is "a bad fit."

Of course díol means "payment." Then payment
2089involves the equality of the thing paid and the thing
2090paid for. If the equality be true the díol is good,
2091otherwise the díol is bad.

Díoluigheacht, payment. When followed by in it expresses
2094the idea of an equivalent. When followed by as it
2095expresses the idea of payment simply, where the
2096idea of an equivalent may be impossible, as in the
2097case of punishment for a crime.

D. as, payment; d. in, satisfaction.

Díomhaoin. Buachaill díomhaoin (Sg. III. 287), a strong
2102able-bodied fellow of no fixed habitation.

Diombádh, a feeling of resentment or bitter disappoint-
2105ment. Bhí d. air chucha (Sg. III. 342).

Díon, shelter, protection. Is sometimes followed by
2108ar, and sometimes by ó. Tá sé gan díon ó'n bhfuacht,

or ar an bhf. Similarly in English, protection from
2110the cold, or against the cold.

Diongbháil, equality. Laoch do dhiongbhála, a warrior
2113worthy of you; your "match."

Díosgán, one of the single ears of corn which remain
2116on the stubble after the reapers.

Also, a harsh, grating sound (d. fiacal).

Díosgar, rabble.

Díosgaoile, a splitting asunder, a disbanding.

Díre. An old legal term signifying the fine to be paid,
2125i.e. the restitution in material value. The reparation
2126of honour or of character was known as eineachlán.

Dísg, sterility, barrenness. Tá an tobar i ndísg, the
2129well has run dry. Táid na ba i ndísg, the cows have
2130ceased to give milk.

Díthiú, annihilating, destroying utterly.

Dlaoi, a lock of hair. Ruibe, a single hair.

Dlígh, a law. May be of either gender. Is caol í an dlígh
2137is a proverb. But is maith an dlígh é sin is often
2138heard.

Dó, dóibh, dúinn, etc. In certain constructions the dative
2141expresses state of existence. Lá dhóibh agus iad ag
2142feuchaint; lit., one day for them and they looking,
2143i.e., one day as they were looking. "Oidhche dhom i
2144dtigh an Bhrianaigh," "One night as I was in Brian's
2145house."

To put it another way, do and ó are the Irish pre-
2148positions which express agency, when ag cannot
2149be used. Ag léighe an leabhair dom, as I was reading
2150the book. Tá mo bhéal dóighte ó'n ngréin. Ag nighe
2151na lámh dó. Ar ghabháil na dtráth dhó, on his reciting
2152the Psalms.

Here we have a preposition connecting the agent
2155with the verbal noun. No such thing is possible in
2156English.

Ag teacht dóibh, as they were coming; lit. during
2159coming by them; i.e. while the action of coming

was being done by them. Cad n-a thaobh dó gan bheith
2161anso indiu (Sg. IV. 388), what cause for him without
2162being here? That is, why is he absent?

Dóbair. Ba dhóbair go ndalltí é, he was almost blinded,
2165he was nearly being blinded. Go ndallfí é might be
2166used here, but the effect of go ndalltí is to refer the
2167blinding more closely to the time when the dazzling
2168light appeared; just as if one were to say "at that
2169instant he was nearly being blinded."

Dócha. Ní dócha go gcoisgfar me (Sg. III. 318).

The real sense is, "surely no one will prevent me."

Dochar, injury which would cause hurt, such as the loss
2176of a limb, or of health.

Dochma, the heaviness of heart and mind caused by great
2179mental trouble or by some great calamity.

Dochraide, hard times, hardships.

Doicheal, a dislike for anything.

When it signifies a dislike to share food with others
2186it becomes "churlishness."

It is also used in the sense of a shrinking
2189from something, e.g., tá ana dhoicheal roimis an
2190mbás aige.

Dóichighe, compar. and superl. of dócha. Gur mhóide ba
2193dhóichighe, "the more it would be likelier." Note
2194the double comparative.

Níor dhóichighe riamh é, nothing more likely.

Domheanmnach, low in spirit; disheartened.

Dorainnín, dimin. of dorn. Dorainnín fear, a "hand-
2201ful" of men.

Dórd, a low, deep musical sound.

Dornchur, hilt of a sword.

Dos, a bush, or a clump of small trees.

Dothíghsach, uncivil, morose.

Dothigheas, insolence, surliness.

Droch mhiotalach, ill-conditioned; "full of bad stuff"
2214is how the people express it in English.

Duain, a song, a poem, a canticle.
2217

Dual. Cuiridh léi an nídh is dual (Sg. III. 337); not the
2219thing which is due, but the thing which it is your
2220duty to send. Dualgas, a function, a duty.

Dúbailt, double. Fé mar a méaduighthear an líon ní
2223foláir an t-aireachas do mhéadú ar a dhúbhailt
2224(T.B.C. 47). Doubly, lit., "on its double."

Bhí an mhallacht tuillte ar a dhúbailt aige. The
2227aspiration in dhúbailt shows that the a does not
2228refer to mallacht. It refers to the degree of the
2229deserving.

Dúchas. A chathair dúchais, his native city.

Ó dhúchas, by nature; i.e. by heredity.

Dúil. Beidh a dhúil féd' smacht (Sg. I. 8), the desire of
2236it (i.e. an peacadh); cf. (Sg. I. 27):- Is beag d'á
2237chuimhneamh a bhí ag muinntir na catharach úd an uair
2238sin go raibh, agus c. "Little of its thought," i.e. little
2239thought of it; i.e. Little did they think that.

(Dúil… ag… in.)

Do chuir sí dúil sa chléibhín, took a liking to the
2244little basket.

Dúire, dullness, stupidity, obtuseness.

Dul. Ar aon dul le, in the same position as. Coimeád
2249ar an ndul san é, hold it in that position.

Dún agus longphort do ghabháil, to encamp.

Dún-árus, a fortified palace.

Dúr, hard, cruel, merciless, sulky, morose, stiff.

Dúrlas, a fortified stronghold.

Duthrachtach. Go d., with earnestness.

Éacht, an immensity; a prodigious number.

Éag, death. Teine do chur i n-éag, to put out a fire.
2264Teine do leogaint i n-éag, to let a fire go out.

Eagar, order, arrangement. Rud do chur as eagar, to
2267put a thing out of gear. I n-eagar, in systematic
2268order.

Eagla. Tiocfidh eagla aige rómhainn, he will conceive
2271a dread of us. The word aige indicates that the fear

will be a deliberate fear, the result of rational
2273apprehension. Air would give the idea of the feeling
2274of fear, timidity.

Eagnach, wise. Go h-eagnaidhe, in a sage manner.

Éagsamhlach, lit. without a similar; i.e. extraordinary,
2279unique, rare. (Prefixes do not alter the pronun-
2280ciation of the main word.)

Ealadha. E. d'imirt ar rud, to expend skill on a thing.
2283E. is any sort of a scientific performance. The English
2284word "essay" appears to cover the same ground
2285almost.

Easarlaidheacht, sorcery, enchantments.

Éasga, the moon.

Éasga, with. a free motion. Better aosga.

Easgaine, a curse. Ag easgainí, cursing. Easgainí is the
2294plural of easgaine. Ag easgainí, lit., "at cursings."

Similarly, ag mallachtaí, "at denouncings." These
2297constructions are exactly like ag siubhal, "at walking,"
2298ag cainnt, "at talking," except that in the latter
2299instances the nouns are in the singular. Cuir uait
2300an chainnt, but, cuir uait na h-easgainí.

Easumhlaidheacht, disobedience.

Éide Aifrinn, vestments.

Éigean, violence.

Éigin. Fiche éigin blian, about a score of years.

Ainmhidhe éigin uathbhásach. The English word "some"
2311does not fully express the meaning here. It means
2312"some sort of."

Éileamh, a claim.

Eirighe-anáirde, self-conceit, presumption.

Eirighim. Ní eireóchadh sé dhíobh; lit. he would not rise
2319off them, i.e. he would not cease urging them.

Éirim aigne, mental capacity.

Éirleach, destruction. An t-éirleach fearthana, "awful"
2324rain.

Éirleach does not necessarily mean "slaughter."
2327The word is applied to any sort of destructive