ar éigean
Irish edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From the Old Irish prepositional phrase ar éicin (“under compulsion”), from ar (“on account of”) + éicin (“necessity”, dat. sg.).
Adverb edit
- barely, scarcely, only just, with difficulty
- Tá sé beo ar éigean.
- He is barely alive.
- scarcely (probably not; certainly not)
- An dtiocfaidh sé? —Is ar éigean é.
- Will he come? —Scarcely.
Synonyms edit
- (probably not; certainly not): ní móide
Derived terms edit
- ar ais nó ar éigean (“willy nilly”)