ar a fhad
Irish edit
Etymology edit
Literally, “on its length”
Pronunciation edit
Adverb edit
- lengthwise, lengthways
- 1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, volume II (overall work in German), Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 101:
- ər høš tū n krān̄. høš mē əŕ ad ē.
- [Ar thomhais tú an crann? Thomhais mé ar a fhad é.]
- Did you measure the mast? I measured it lengthwise.
Usage notes edit
The possessive article agrees with whatever is being described, thus ar a fad of something feminine and ar a bhfad of plural items.
References edit
- ^ Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 101
Further reading edit
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ar a fhad”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN