maith
Irish edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Old Irish maith[3] (compare Scottish Gaelic math and Manx mie), from Proto-Celtic *matis (compare Welsh and Breton mad, Cornish mas).
Adjective edit
maith (genitive singular masculine maith, genitive singular feminine maithe, plural maithe, comparative fearr)
Usage notes edit
- Takes the adverbial construction go maith when used predicatively after a form of bí:
- Tá an anraith seo go maith. ― This soup is good.
Declension edit
Singular | Plural (m/f) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Positive | Masculine | Feminine | (strong noun) | (weak noun) |
Nominative | maith | mhaith | maithe; mhaithe² | |
Vocative | mhaith | maithe | ||
Genitive | maithe | maithe | maith | |
Dative | maith; mhaith¹ |
mhaith | maithe; mhaithe² | |
Comparative | níos fearr | |||
Superlative | is fearr |
¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.
Derived terms edit
Noun edit
maith f (genitive singular maithe, nominative plural maithe)
Declension edit
Etymology 2 edit
From Old Irish maithid,[4] from the adjective.
Verb edit
maith (present analytic maitheann, future analytic maithfidh, verbal noun maitheamh, past participle maite)
Inflection edit
* indirect relative
† archaic or dialect form
‡‡ dependent form used with particles that trigger eclipsis
Mutation edit
Irish mutation | ||
---|---|---|
Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
maith | mhaith | not applicable |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
References edit
- ^ Sjoestedt, M. L. (1931) Phonétique d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (in French), Paris: Librairie Ernest Leroux, § 90, page 50
- ^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 290, page 103
- ^ G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “maith”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- ^ G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “maithid”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Further reading edit
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “maith”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Old Irish edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Proto-Celtic *matis, from Proto-Indo-European *meh₂tis (“ripe, good”), from *meh₂- (“to ripen, to mature”). Cognate with Welsh mad and Gaulish mat.
Alternative forms edit
Adjective edit
maith (comparative ferr, superlative dech)
- good
- c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 15c23
- Hóre is cuci rigmi, is ferr dún placere illi.
- Since it is to him we will go, it is better for us to please him.
- c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 16b9
- Ní indráigne dúib cinin·fil lib, ar idib maithi cene.
- It is no detriment to you pl, though we are not with you, for you are good already.
- c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 51b10
- In tan as·mber Dauid “intellectum tibi dabo”, sech is arde són do·mbéra Día do neuch nod·n-eirbea ind ⁊ génas triit con·festar cid as imgabthi do dénum di ulc ⁊ cid as déinti dó di maith. Aithesc trá lesom insin a persin Dǽ.
- When David says, “I will give thee understanding”, that is a sign that God will give to everyone that will trust in him, and work through him, that he may know what evil he must avoid doing, and what good he must do. He has then here a reply in the person of God.
- c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 15c23
Declension edit
i-stem | |||
---|---|---|---|
Singular | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | maith | maith | maith |
Vocative | maith | ||
Accusative | maith | maith | |
Genitive | maith | maithe | maith |
Dative | maith | maith | maith |
Plural | Masculine | Feminine/neuter | |
Nominative | maithi | maithi | |
Vocative | maithi | ||
Accusative | maithi | ||
Genitive | maith* maithe | ||
Dative | maithib | ||
Notes | *not when substantivized |
Derived terms edit
- mad (adverb)
Descendants edit
Further reading edit
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “maith”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Etymology 2 edit
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb edit
·maith
- third-person singular present indicative conjunct of maidid
Mutation edit
Old Irish mutation | ||
---|---|---|
Radical | Lenition | Nasalization |
maith also mmaith after a proclitic |
maith pronounced with /ṽ(ʲ)-/ |
unchanged |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
Scottish Gaelic edit
Verb edit
maith (past mhaith, future maithidh, verbal noun mathadh, past participle maithte)
- Alternative form of math
Noun edit
maith m
Welsh edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
maith (feminine singular maith, plural meithion, equative maithed, comparative maithach, superlative maithaf)
- long, far, large, extensive, numerous
- long-lasting, tedious, tiresome
- great (of quality)
- sad, bitter
- wise, clever, cunning, sly
Derived terms edit
- amser maith yn ôl (“a long time ago”)
Mutation edit
Welsh mutation | |||
---|---|---|---|
radical | soft | nasal | aspirate |
maith | faith | unchanged | unchanged |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
References edit
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “maith”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies