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DICTIONARIUM SCOTO-CELTICUM
DICTIONAKY
OF THE
GAELIC LANGUAGE;
COMPRISING
AN AMPLE VOCABULARY OF GAELIC WORDS,
AS PRESERVED IN VERNACULAR SPEECH, MANUSCRIPTS, OR PRINTED WORKS,
WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATION AND VARIOUS MEANINGS IN ENGLISH AND LATIN,
ILLUSTRATED BY SUITABLE EXAMPLES AND PHRASES,
AND WITH ETYMOLOGICAL REMARKS,
AND VOCABULARIES OF LATIN AND ENGLISH WORDS,
WITH THEIR TRANSLATION INTO GAELIC.
TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED,
AN INTRODUCTION EXPLAINING THE NATURE, OBJECTS AND SOURCES OF THE WORK, AND A COMPENDIUM OF GAELIC GRAMMAR.
COMPILED AN'D PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
THE HIGHLANTD SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.
IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH; AND T. CADELL, LONDON. MDCCCXXVIII.
EdiTihuriih .•—'DvNCAN SfKyRnaoN^ Printer to the Univori-ity.
TO THE KING.
SIRE,
In the name of the Highland Society of Scotland, I present to Your Majesty the result of an undertaking ah'eady sanc- tioned by Your Majesty's approbation, and which Your Majesty has deigned to regard as a laudable attempt to record and illustrate the Ab- original Language of this portion of Your Majesty's Dominions.
In patronising and supporting a work of this nature, the Members of the Highland Society are persuaded, that they will not be thoufht to have lost sight of those patriotic views and great public objects, for the promo- tion of which their Association was originally formed, and in the assiduous prosecution of which they have been signally encouraged and sustained by Your Majesty's gracious Countenance and Protection. — I am,
SIRE,
Your Majesty's
Most faithful Subject,
And most dutiful Servant,
HAMILTON & BRANDON, President.
It is fit the Public should be informed, by the Highland Society of Scotland, that in the prosecution of this undertaking, their Committee have availed themselves of the labours of those learned persons, whom, after much inquiry, they conceived to be best qualified for its various duties. The general conduct of the Work was in- trusted to the Rev. Dr. John Macleod, Minister of Dundonald, to whose ability and learning, the Committee have considered themselves bound to offer their tribute of just praise. In the details of some of its departments, he was assisted by the late Mr. Ewen Maclachlan of Aberdeen, the late Rev. Dr. Alexander Irvine of Little Dunkeld, and the Rev. xIlexander Macdonald at Crieff. In its pro- gress through the Press, it has been superintended and corrected by the Rev. Macin- tosh Mackay, now Minister of Laggan ; and it is only just to add, that in its present form, the Gaelic Dictionaiy is much indebted to his indefatigable labours, and that his philological acuteness and learning have greatly contributed to render it more accurate and complete.
July 7, 1828.
CONTENTS.
VOL. I.
INTRODUCTION.
ELEMENTS OF GAELIC GRAMMAR.
LIST OF CONTRACTIONS.
GAELIC DICTIONARY. PART I. GAELIC, ENGLISH, AND LATIN— A— P.
supplejVIENt to part I.— A— p.
VOL. IL
GAELIC DICTIONARY. PART I.— R— U.
PART II.— ANGLO-GAELIC.
PART III.— LATINO-GAELIC.
SUPPLEMENT TO PART I.— R— U.
INTRODUCTION.
The high antiquity of the Celtic people and language, is a subject that has long attracted the observation and inquiry of the learned. Regarding the origin of the Celts, their descent, and the connection of their language with those of other nations, several theories have been formed, and ingenious conjectures hazarded. If antiquity of origin be an honour to a peo- ple or a language, that honour doubtless seems fairly conceded to the Celts and their tongue, by the very differences that exist among the opinions and views of those, who have treated on the subject : all moreover agree in assigning a high place to that antiquity. Though it may seem questionable, if it be of use to the interests of science or the ad- vancement of truth, to weary the understanding with speculations on the Origin of a people, where certainty, which alone affords stability to opinion, is almost beyond hope ; yet it cannot be doubted, that the History of a people, and the philosophy of their Ian- guage, must ever be held as subjects of the deepest interest to mankind. For such a study, the exhibition of a language itself, in the absence of surer records, affords the most satisfactory materials, to inform the inquirer, and to guide the learned. The interest and value of philological science are universally admitted ; but, for its pursuit, it is believed that, a want has been long experienced by all Europeans, in the scarcity of materials afforded them from the several dialects of the Celtic. While its traces are continually met with in the structure of the modern languages of Europe, as well as in the more an- cient tongues both of Greece and Rome ; little, generally, has yet been done, to exhi- bit to the philologist what remains on record, or what yet continues to be spoken of the Celtic language, in its various dialects.
The living dialects of the Celtic are, the Armoric or Bas Breton, the Welsh, the Irish, and the Gaelic of Scotland : besides these also the Manks continues to be spoken ; but this last may be considered as a mere local or provincial variety of the Irish and the Gaelic of Scotland ; and, being confined in its use to one island comparatively small, it does not appear to merit much separate consideration. The Cornish dialect has long ceased to be spoken, and the memorials of it are scanty ; though, in so far as preserved, they ma- nifest a close alliance, not only with the neighbouring dialect of the Welsh, but with those of Ireland and Scotland.
Vol. I. B
X INTRODUCTION.
The Basque, a remnant of the ancient language of Sjiain, has been by some supposed to be a dialect of the Celtic ; but, by later writers, this opinion has been questioned.
Of some of the dialects above mentioned, viz. the Armoric, the Welsh and the Irish, Vocabularies or Dictionaries had been for some time published ; uhile the dialect of Scot- land or the Scoto-Gaelic, continued to be unknown to the learned and to the public, in any lexicographical form : two or three Vocabularies of it had indeed been published, but on such a limited system and plan, as not to serve for the proper elucidation of the Celtic dialect of Scotland. Under these considerations it occurred, several years ago, to some members of the Highland Society of Scotland, that a Dictionary of the Scoto-Gaelic would be useful and acceptable to the public ; and especially to the students of philology, both in this country and on the continent of Europe. The Highland Society, though not specially incorporated for the pursuit of literaiy objects, readily adopted the suggestion thus brought before them ; and a committee of their number was appointed, to deter- mine the general plan of the work, to engage compilers, and to superintend its progress. It was the opinion of the Committee, that it would be inexpedient and at present imprac- ticable to attempt the compilation of a General Dictionary of the Celtic language, in the more extended sense of that name, comprehending all its cognate dialects. They saw that such a Dictionary was one of the great desiderata, in the proper history as well as in the science of philology ; but that it could ultimately be attained only by means of parti- cular vocabularies and etymological investigations of the various branches from the general stock. They confined therefore their object to the compilation of a Dictionary, which might exhibit and illustrate whatever could be collected of the Scoto-Celtic language, either from authentic literary compositions, or from the vernacular dialect of the present Celtic population of Scotland.
From this general view of the nature and objects of the work, it obviously followed, as a primary rule in its compilation, that no words should be introduced into the Vocabulary, but such as could be shown to have been actually in use in Scotland, either in writing or in ordinary speech: yet in the progress of the compilation, it was found expedient to depart, in a certain degree, from the strict exclusion of words not supported by such authority and use. The close affinity, approaching to identity, of the dialects of Ireland and Scotland, matle it desirable to admit many words found in the Lexicons of the Irish, when they appeared to throw light on the etymological composition of words in the Scottish dialect of the Celtic, which otherwise could not be successfully analysed. Several terms for par- ticular objects, now gone into disuse in the vernacular dialect of Scottish Highlanders or changed for others, have been also admitted, especially when they alluded to historical facts descriptive of Celtic usages and manners. But all words of this description, together with such as were once certainly used in Scotland, will be found distinguished from the cur- rent and common words of the language as now spoken, by being printed in a smaller type and marked with an asterisk. Such a distinction seemed advisable, in reference to another material object in this compilation, that the Dictionary might be useful, not
INTRODUCTION. xi
only to the philologist and the general scholar, but also to those natives of Scotland or others, who might desire to become acquainted with the spoken language of the modern Highlanders, or with the few works remaining in the dialect.
The student of languages need scarcely be told, that an important part of the structure of any language, when written, is its system of orthography : and, in the Gaelic, it is of more perhaps than ordinary consequence, that the orthography should be as much as possible systematic and simplified. Its articulations and sounds are almost entirely different from those of any other among the modern or ancient tongues of Europe ; and though it be not possible to represent sound, by any notation of letters, with sufficient accuracy and plainness ; yet the greatest facility attainable, in the absence of oral communication, is afforded by a regular system of such notation. It is in course of the use and cultivation of languages by writing, that a system of orthography becomes fixed, and properly con- ventional. Such a benefit, has been denied by circumstances to the Scoto-Gaelic ; its written records being few, and the practice of writing it in latter times having been dis- used, if we except the few volumes that in recent years have, from time to time, been given to the public, of the native poetry and songs ; wherein no system of orthography was followed, because the reading or writing of Gaelic was unusual with the compilers. This deficiency was happily and in a great measure, supplied by the translation of the Scrip- tures, and the publication of them in Scoto-Gaelic, by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The system of orthography followed there, adopted, as it was, by natives of intelligence and learning in the Scottish Highlands, and improv- ed by successive editions of the Scriptures, has been strictly adhered to in the present work. But when there was found to have existed any remarkable varieties in the spell- ing of a word, at diflPerent times, or as spoken and pronounced in different districts of the Highlands, these have been carefully enumerated ; and when they are widely different in the leading or characteristic letters, the varieties are inserted in their proper alphabe- tical places ; and a reference is made to the standard word, under which their explanation may be found. A few deviations from the given standard will be discovered ; but those who consult the work are referred to the synopsis of Grammar prefixed, where it is hoped their propriety has been vindicated. It must also be observed, that the ad- herence to a standard orthography refers to the word, as entered in its alphabe- tical place in the Vocabulary or Indent Verborum. In the quotations or authorities ap- pended, it has not been deemed expedient, always to reduce the words to the same stand- ard, but rather to leave them occasionally in the shape, in which they were found ; when, by so doing, they could, through the medium of the accompanying translations, be made intelligible to the reader.
In the execution of the task assigned to the compilers, it formed an important part of their duty, to give, after the leading signification, the various derivative and secondary meanings of each word : these have been given in English first, and next in Latin. With a view of giving a more general interest and utility to the work in foreign countries,
32
xii INTRODUCTION.
the latter translation seemed essentially requisite. When a word is found to have dif- ferent significations, these are distinguished numerically by figures ; and the authority, when found in writing, follows each interpretation in its place. It is here willingly con- ceded, that a strict etymological survey of the words in this work, may afford an apparent «n-ound for questioning whether the primary and derivative meanings have had their pro- per places assigned them. Besides however this being held by the compilers a mat- ter of minor importance, while all the various meanings, in number, are attended to ; it is true of the Gaelic language, and, to some extent, of every other, that the primary meaning in use differs often and widely from the primary etymological meaning ; and that the secondary meanings also have not multiplied in regular succession from the primary, but have been adopted by accidents and circumstances, attendant upon the manners and history of the people, more interesting to contemplate, than easy to trace with any certainty and precision. In a language where literature has abounded, and of which authentic records are preserved, these furnish landmarks to the lexicoofrapher and the etymologist, guiding them to the roots and true primary mean- ino-s of words ; but as in Gaelic, where such helps are very scantily afforded, it is doing the most that can well be achieved, to follow the order that is known in the practice of speech, as to the more common, and the less common uses and meanings of words. The various significations and meanings, when distinctly noted, though apparently departing in theory from their legitimate order, will not, on that account be less useful to the phi- lologist, in his endeavours to trace the connection of one language with another.
An important part of the present work has been, the selection of proper examples for the uses of words, from genuine compositions in the Scoto-Gaelic tongue, and from the phraseologies of modern speech. In every light in which the purposes of lexicography are to be viewed, whether of a dead or a living language, it is the exhibition of such examples, that gives to it confirmation and value. The aids that could be derived from written com- positions were but scanty : these have, however, been explored with care. Among the few printed volumes that exist in the language, besides the translation of the Scriptures, the character of those volumes, and the materials of which they are composed, did not always admit of their being used with propriety or advantage. They chiefly consist of poetry, in fugitive pieces and on local subjects, which, however well understood by and in- teresting to the natives of the country, would render any attempt at their translation un- availing, if not ludicrous ; or would at least render necessary a periphrastic mode of trans- ferring them into English and Latin, more fatiguing to the reader and cumbrous to the work, than useful or profitable, in a faithful exhibition of the language. Nor need it be concealed, that the huml)le origin of such works, and the limited knowledge of their authors, untrained in the courtesies of politer literature, have rendered the breath- ino's of their muse, in too many instances, unworthy of record. That poetic genius and fire were vouchsafed to the Scoto-Celts, is not meant to be denied : enough, it is presumed, has been recorded in the present work, to vindicate the general character.
INTRODUCTION. xiii
tJiough we decline discussion on the amount, or the age, of their poetry. It is native ge- nius alone, that can surmount the formidable disadvantages of situation and circumstances; and it is language alone, the vehicle of sentiment, that can support genius itself, and help to secure its unperishing reward. That the Gaelic language was equal to the task that ge- nius imposed upon it, is sufficiently perceptible, even from the quotations that are scatter- ed through the following work : but, of which, circumstances already alluded to have li- mited the number. At the commencement of this undertaking, it was expected that, as a source of authorities for illustration of the language, the ancient Gaelic Manuscripts, belonging to the Highland Society of Scotland, would be brought into immediate and im- portant use. And it is but justice to the memory of a very learned and ingenious gentle- man, the late JNIr. Ewen Maclachlan of Aberdeen, to state that, he bestowed much assiduous labour on the deciphering of some of these, under disadvantages which scarcely any thing, but his own singular ardour, could have surmounted : he died before his task was com- pleted J and in him the Highland Society lost one of the compilers, to whom they looked with much confidence and hope. The labour he bestowed was however in a great measure lost, by its not having been so far advanced, as to be directly serviceable in the fur- ther compilation of the present work. The business of paleography must necessarily be slow ; and in the particular department of the more ancient Gaelic writings, it has been very rare- ly an object of study in Scotland, from the small number of manuscripts preserved. It may also be observed, that the materials or contents of the manuscripts mentioned, so far as de- ciphered, were not found to be of such a kind, as to make them desirable for authorities in general, and they have therefore been comparatively but seldom appealed to. The titles of several volumes, used for this purpose, are carefully noted at the end of each quotation. Where any particular meaning of a word has occurred in a written work, and when the quota- tion could not well be given, for reasons already alluded to, the title of the volume and the particular page are specified. In producing authorities, or in supplying examples from the phraseologies of modern speech, the compilers have been studious, rather to avoid, than to multiply their quotations unnecessarily. It is true, that by deriving authorities from com- mon speech, it would have been easy to illustrate every word by a quotation ; but the nature of the work seemed to confine this demand for illustration to peculiarities of phrase, of idiom, and of technical terms, elucidating the structure of the language. Such as these have been recorded with care ; and where a word occurred, in the ordinary use of which no special peculiarity was observable, and where no apposite example from writings in the language could be found to illustrate its use, the term " Common Speech" has been appended, as a guarantee for its wonted and ordinary use in the language ; and it is hoped, in every instance, with sufficient accuracy and caution. In following out the ori- ginal plan of the work, rendering the significations of Gaelic words into a literal transla- tion in English and Latin, it became necessary to translate every quotation also into these two languages : and into each of them the translation has been made as closely literal or verbal as could be ventured upon, to convey the precise meaning in Gaelic, and
xÌT INTRODUCTION.
the peculiarities of its expression also, into the other two. It was seen that this method and style of translation might be deemed by many objectionable, as unpleasant in itself both to the eye and ear of the reader in English or Latin ; and by many it is considered not the most successful mode of transferring the precise ideas of one language into ano- ther, to attempt it by the most literal rendering : but, when a difference of opinion exists on a practical subject, decision is necessary in making a choice. It appeared to the conductors of the present work, that a closely literal translation promised the greater utility ; and to the candid mind no farther apology for that choice is necessary. They are aware that, in the Latin department of the translation, much offence may be given to the admirers of that language ; and they are also conscious that literalism is closely allied to barbarism. But, if even a charge of the latter be frequently incurred, they see no cause to repent a temerity, that may be termed innocuous ; if, at that expense, the structure and character of the Scoto- Gaelic, as a spoken and written dialect, have been more clearly elucidated for those, who could not otherwise be furnished with so close a view of its peculiarities and usage.
Another important and essential department of the work was, to trace and indicate the etymology of words. It was judged by its conductors, to be veiy inexpedient, to load the work with etymological discussion ; yet it seemed indispensable to its usefulness and inter- est, that the etymology of the language, so far as it could be distinctly traced, should form a part of the plan : how far, in this department, the compilers have succeeded in throwing any additional light upon the structure and elements of the Gaelic, may be variously appreciated. To subdue the excursiveness of fancy in an eagerness of etymological re- search, has not been always found an easy task by those, who have given themselves with any zeal to that interesting study. The original plan of the work having restrained the compilers from ample or lengthened discussion ; it was deemed advisable that, in noting the etymology of words, they should confine themselves to the indication of such ety- mons as were evidently and purely Gaelic : these will be found indicated within paren- theses, and immediately following the insertion of the words in their grammatical struc- ture. The compilers do not claim the merit of having pointed out the origin or struc- ture of every word in their Vocabulary ; and they are sensible of being exposed to the charge of having done so, in much fewer instances than might have been safely ventured. But, in a language where etymological research has hitherto done so little, and where they were left to the sole guidance of their own opinions upon this subject, they considered it better not to venture rashly beyond bounds generally obvious and allowed. Connected with the etymological department, or rather forniiug a portion of the same subject, was the collec- tion and insertion of corresponding words of the same apparent origin, in the other dialects of the Celtic. It is well known to those who are conversant with philological science, that the collecting of similar words in different dialects and languages, and append- ing them, as either its kindred or descendants or parentage, to the word itself, is doing but little towards the discovery of their actual origin, history and descent : with such an attempt, however, the conductors of the present work had to satisfy themselves. To
INTRODUCTION. xv
do more, to go into the history of words, forming a theory of supposable descent and origin, with any reasonable appearance of consistency and stability, would require, not a mere verbal knowledge of other dialects and languages, as derived from the hasty pe- rusal of their various lexicons ; but a minute and a critical acquaintance with the lan- guages themselves, as spoken or written, and an intimacy with their several histories ; which it falls to the lot of very few, to have either leisure or opportunity or the means of acquiring. It is only when furnished with extensive knowledge, and liberal views of the history, the structure and the character of languages in general, that the etymo- logist can approach his task with suitable preparation ; and that his labours may serve to delight, to instruct, and enlighten the world. The conductors of this work, acknow- ledging that they did not aspire to such a degree of eminence, judged that they would at least be meritoriously engaged, in throwing facilities in the way of the more learned and acute philologist ; and their labours will not have been lost, if they guide on his way the pursuer of a more extensive and a higher career, in elucidating the history of the lan- guages and nations of civilized luirope. Their principal care has been to discover and select affinities to the words of the Scoto-Gaelic, in the other dialects of the Celtic ; especially in the Welsh, the Armoric and the Cornish. The close resemblance, in almost all its words, of the Irish dialect with the Scoto-Gaelic, rendered it unnecessary, in their view, to attend to affinities in the former. Nor have they confined themselves to the dialects of the Celtic, in this department of bringing forward affinities : they could not be insensible to the fact, that, with the dialects of the Celtic now spoken, much of the Gothic stream of language has been mingled. While it was not their province to enter upon the discussion, directly or otherwise, of the comparative antiquity, or the prevalent claim to an after-influence, that either of those fountains of European speech possess in forming the other ; they viewed it as their business, in so far as lay within their reach, to note the affinities with Scoto-Gaelic, which they were led to discover in the dialects of the Gothic ; especially in the German, the Anglo-Saxon, the Scottish dialect of the Gothic, the Swedish, the Danish and the Icelandic. Striking affinities from the Eastern languages, the Hebrew, Chaldee, Persic and Arabic, have also been sought for and are exhibited. In these latter they are aware that, their investigations have been of a very limited nature ; and that, in bringing forward the few facts they have produced, they have been taking but a glance at one of the most curious, important and interesting subjects, that can engage the attention of the philologist or the student of histoi-y. Tlie words from the sources last mentioned, quoted as instances of a striking affinity, are generally exhibited in their proper characters ; and the student of Eastern languages is entitled to an apology, if he do not always find the notation of these characters correct. Errors have arisen from circumstances, which, in the printing of the present work, and the sources from which the compilers took their au- thorities, could not easily be avoided : the sources also whence affinities have been derived, are regularly noted, being chiefly the various Lexicons to which they had access.
XTÌ INTRODUCTION.
Thus, in eadi article or word, inserted in the Vocabulaiy of the first part of this work, will be found, first, the word itself, with its leading inflections in abbreviated form ; then its translation into English and Latin ; next, an example or authority, with reference to the source in the language from which it has been derived, translated also into English and Latin ; following which, are introduced, when necessary to be no- ticed, peculiar and idiomatic phrases and compounds in the Scoto-Gaelic language, also translated ; and in conclusion such affinities are appended, where they could be dis- covered, as have been already mentioned. Though it is by study of the Grammar of the Scoto-Gaelic, that a knowledge of the inflections and frame-work of the language is alone to be satisfactorily learned, it may here be expected that a few rules should be given, to facilitate the progress of those who desire to peruse the work. It is in declin- able words, that difficulties will occur to the reader. He will find Substantive Nouns entered in their simple or nominative form, followed by the terminational genitive form, and nominative plural termination : where these inflections are irregular, they are entered at lenoth. Adjective Nouns are entered in their simple or positive state, followed by their comparative degree, which is pointed out by its terminational form ; and where these are irregular, they are also entered at length. Pronouns, whether irregularly de- clined or indeclinable, are given at length in their several accidents. Of Verbs, the root in Scoto-Gaelic being always found in the second person singular of the imperative mood, they have been introduced in that form ; and the translations are given in the cor- responding part of the English and Latin. The second person singular of the impe- rative is immediately followed by the terminating syllable of the future indicative, which joined to the imperative, first given, forms that other constituent part of the verb ; and then follows the initial form of the preterit indicative ; which, substituted for the simple initial form of the imperative, changes the imperative into the preterit tense of the indicative ; Trom which three are formed in Gaelic, the other parts of the verb : when these also are irregular, they are exhibited at full length. The indeclinable words of the lano-uao-e demand no special instruction for a consultation of the work with advantage. But it may here be advantageously hinted to the etymologist, that various enunciations, so closely similar as to be only distinguishable by a native, are necessarily represented by diflPerent combinations of consonants. Thus, of the consonants, dh and gh as well as ch have but one guttural sound, approaching to the various sounds of the % of the Greeks. And of the simple vowel sounds, it may be remarked that, a, o and y, when found in terminational or penultimate syllables, represent generally but the same sound ; it being one characteristic of the Scoto-Gaelic, that all penultimate and terminational syllables of words are but lightly, if not imperfectly pronounced.
With respect to the fulness of the Vocabulary of Gaelic words exhibited in the first part of the work, the conductors could neitlier expect nor the compilers engage, that it should be free from many omissions. There are circumstances attendant upon diflPerent languages,
which, to the Lexicographer of any of them, are disadvantageous, serving to conceal from
INTRODUCTION. xvii
his view multitudes of words and of terms ; that, if known to him, would amplify and en- rich the record of language which he attempts to compose. Among these disadvantages, a formidable one is, provincial phraseology ; and the several provinces of a country have usually their own peculiarities in the spoken Vocabulary : this is, to an unusual degree, true of the Highlands of Scotland : and where literature and written record have done so little, to elucidate or explain them, there is nothing that can supply a correct acquaintance with provincialisms, but an extensive communication and local knowledge. While the com- pilers flatter themselves, that the pains they have taken to acquire an acquaintance with these, have not been unsuccessful ; they are aware that, in eveiy province of their country, a reader of theii- work may find wanting in their Vocabulary many terms and words which are familiar to himself. Of such, many might be valuable acquisitions to the etymologist, the philologist and the antiquary, and would contribute to the enriching of the work with so many separate data, for research and inquiry : the compilers have exerted themselves to obtain a knowledge of them ; and, where they have failed, they trust that their omis- sions will be viewed with indulgence. Of all the spoken modern languages of Europe, the Gaelic perhaps affords the greatest facilities in the formation of compound terms and words ; and to such a degree does this facility exist, that a native is scarcely ever at a loss to form a compound term for the expression of any rising idea. To one intimately ac- quainted with the provincial peculiarities of the Scoto-Gaelic, it will even appear that such peculiarities often influence the character by modifying the structure of compound terms. That numbers of such have been omitted, will certainly be manifest ; but, with re- spect to the general purposes of this work, the omission of such combined terms may not be much regretted : it is the omission of simple terms that is more to be deprecated ; and the apology here offered, is one which the compilers can honestly make, that they have not spared industry to avoid it.
The Second Part of the Work will be found to contain a full Vocabulary of the English language, from Todd's edition of Johnson's Dictionary. In the compilation of this part, it appeared, that the purposes intended would not be fulfilled, by presentinc" a Vocabulary of English words, followed by their proper representatives in Gaelic ; without advancing another step, to distinguish the various acceptations of the English term from each other ; giving in its place, after each meaning in English, its correspond- ing Gaelic term or word. The adoption of this plan has indeed served to increase the size of the work, which in some respects may be viewed with regret ; but it is hoped, that it has at the same time furnished the English scholar with an exhibition of the Gaelic language, that has hitherto been unknown to him ; and in so full and detailed a manner, as to make him still more fully and easily acquainted with its Vocabulary and phraseolo- gy, than would have been possible even by the Vocabulary and illustrations of the First Part of the work. In the adhibiting of Gaelic words to correspond with the English, it can scarcely be expected, that every word of the former language shall be found with per- fect accuracy and precision, representing the same English word, by which it may have been Vol. I. C
xviii INTRODUCTION.
translated in the Fii-st Part. It is hoped that discrepancies are rare ; and the translation of tlie English Vocabulary into Gaelic, being to the compiler a work more of memory and of practical knowledge of Gaelic, than of study or research, the suggestions of memory have been adopted without fear of any considerable error ; and thus shades or difference may frequently occur, between the meanings ascribed to a Gaelic word in the First and the Second Parts. It must also be borne in mind, that in the work of a translation so minute and particular as of the words of one language in detail into another, it is absolutely more than can be achieved by the utmost faithfulness, on the part of the translator, to find words in the one language, exactly corresponding to every word and meaning of a word that is of current use in the other. In the present work also there was added to this dif- ficulty, the comparative want of copiousness, that must necessarily be supposed to exist in the Gaelic language, so much less cultivated as it is, and unmodelled to the necessities, the terms, phraseology and usages of the English, in arts, in sciences, in abstract discourse, in disquisitions, in the style and habits of conversation and writing. The fulness that has been given to the Second Part, the English and Gaelic Vocabulary, has also regard to the practical use of the Work to the student of Gaelic as a spoken and written language ; and to such it is hoped an aid has been offered, which hitherto has been almost wholly denied to him.
The Third Part of the Work consists of a, Latin Vocabulary, translated into Gaelic. In this, it has been the desire of the compilers, to unite conciseness with accuracy and sufficient fulness ; but it has not been here considered expedient to exhaust the Voca- bulary of the Latin language. Many of its derivative and compound words, of its tech- nical terms and of its foreign additions from other languages, have been omitted, as serv- ing none of the purposes for which this work is intended. In all the words judged neces- sary to be inserted, the different leading significations have been regarded ; these are illus- trated by the shortest possible explanation, and the corresponding Gaelic word or phrase is given in its place. The two latter parts of the work will, according to the circumstances in which the reader is placed, help to conduct him at once to the Gaelic word in the First Part ; under which all the necessary explanations are to be found.
The compendium of Grammar prefixed to the Dictionary will be found an abridfred transcript of that formerly published by Dr. Stewart ; the incontestable merits of whose work, as a Grammar of the language, have been universally admitted. It was intended, that an Ap- pendix should be added to the Dictionary, explanatory of names of places of Celtic origin, both in the Highlands of Scotland and other parts of the kingdom : but it was eventuallv found that such an addition would infringe upon the limits, that had already been prescrib- ed to the work ; and that, to do justice to the subject intended, interesting and curious in itself, a separate volume would be more appropriate : this, it is probable, may at some future period appear, as a suitable companion to the Dictionary.
GAELIC DICTIONARY
PART I. GAELIC, ENGLISH, AND LATIN.
A P.
ELEMENTS
GAELIC GRAMMAK.
PART I.
OF PRONUNCIATION AND ORTHOGRAPHY.
1"^HE Gaelic alphabet consists of eighteen letters : a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, 1, m, n, o, p, r, s, t, u. Of these, five are vowels, a, e, i, o, u ; the rest con- sonants.
Beside the common division of the letters into vowels and consonants, it is found convenient to adopt some further subdivisions.
The vowels are divided into broad and small. A, o, u, are called broad vowels ; e, i, siiiall vowels.
The consonants are divided into Mutes and Liquids: Mutes, b, c, d, f, g, m, p, t. Liquids, 1, n, r, s. They are also divided into Labials, Palatals, and Linguals ; so named from the organs emplo\'ed in pronouncing them : Labials, h, f, m, p : Palatals, c, g : Linguals, A, 1, n, r, s, t.
Tlie aspirate h is not included in any of these di- visions.
OF THE SOUNDS OF THE VOWELS.
All the vowels are sometimes long, sometimes short. A long vowel is marked with an accent, especially when the quantity of the vowel de- termines the meaning of the word ; as ' has' death, ' sail' the heel, ' càraid' a pai?; ' rls' again, ' mo' more, ' Ion' a marsh ; which are distinguished by the accent alone from ' has' the jialm of the hand, ' sail' a beam, ' caraid' a friend, ' ris' to, Ion' the elk.
All the vowels, but especially the broad ones, have somewhat of a nasal sound when preceded or follow- ed by m, mh, n, nn. No vowels are doubled in the same S3'llable like ee, oo, in English.
In almost all polysyllables, excepting some words Vol. I.
compounded with a preposition, the accent falls on the first syllable. The other syllables are short and unaccented ; and the vowels in that situation have, in general, the same short obscure sound. Hence it happens that the broad vowels, in these syllables, are often used indiscriminately.
There is no quiescent final vowel.
A
A has three sounds.
(1). The first is both long and short ; long, like a in the English words far, star ; as ' àr' slaughter, ' ath' a ford, ' gràdh' love, ' sàruich' oppress: short, like a in that; as ' cath' a battle, ' alt' a Joint, ' abuich' ripe.
(2). Both long and short, before dh and gh. This sound has none like it in Enghsh. Long ; as ' adhlaic' burj/, adhradh' worship : short ; as ' lagh' a law, ' magh' afield, adharc' a horn.
(3). Short and obscure, like e in mother ; as ' an' 'a' the, ' ar' our, ' ma' if, and in the plural termination ' a' or ' an'.
E
E has three sounds.
(1). Both long and short : long, like e in where, there ; as ' e, sè' he, ' re' during. This e is gene- rally marked with a grave accent. Short, like e in 7net ; as ' le' tcith, ' leth' half.
(2). Long ; as ' re' the moon, ' ce' the earth, ' an de' yesterdaij. This e is always marked with an acute accent.
(3). Short like e in mother ; as ' duine' a man, ' ceannuichte' bought.
OF PRONUNCIATION AND ORTHOGRAPHY.
I
/lias two sounds.
(1). Both long and short, like ee in seem : long ; as ' tain smooth, ' righ' a king : short ; as ' min' tneal, ' crith' trembling.
(2). Short and obscure, like i in this ; as ' is' am, art, &c.
O
O has three sounds.
(1). Both long and short : long, somewhat like o in more ; as ' mòr' great, ' or' gold, ' dòchas' expec- tation : short, like o in hot ; as ' mo' my, ' do' thg, ' dochann' harm.
(2). Both long and short : long, nearly like o in oM ; as ' lorn' hare, ' toll' a hole .-^short ; as ' loniadh' making bare, ' tolladh' boring.
(3). Both long and short, like (2) a : long ; as ' foghlum' karning : short ; as ' roghuinn' choice, ' logh' to forgive.
U
Z/has one sound, both long and short, like oo in fool: long; as ' ùr' fresh, ' ilraieh' to renew: short ; as ' ubh' an egg, ' urras' a surety.
OF THE DIPHTHONGS.
There are thirteen Diphthongs reckoned in Gaelic ; ae, ai, ao ; ea, ei, eo, eu ; ia, io, iu ; oi ; ua, ui. Of these, ao, eu, ia, ua, are always long : the others are sometimes long, sometimes short.
AE
Tlie sound of oe is made up of (1) a long, and (1) e short. This diphthong hardly occurs, except iu ' Gael' a Gaul or Highlander, and ' Gaelic' the Gaelic language.
AI
The sound of ai is cither made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of the former.
1. Made up of (1) a and (1) i: the a long, the i short ; as ' fàidh' a ])rophet ; the a short, the i short ; as ' claidheamh' a. sword.
2. Made up of (2) a and (1) i ; the a long the i short ; as ' saighdcan' arrows.
Before a Lingual or Palatal, not quiescent, the i often loses its sound, and only serves to qualify the sound of the following consonant. Hence,
3. Like (1) a alone: long; as ' fàisg' squeeze, ' fàilte' salutation : short ; as ' glaic a hollow, ' tais' soft.
4. Like (2) a alone : short ; as ' airm' arms, ' gainn' a call.
AO 1. The sound of «o is like (2) a : long, as ' caora' a slieep, ' faobhar' the edge of a tool, ' saothair' la- bour.
EA
The sound of ca is cither made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of one of them.
1. Made up of (2) e and (I) a : e very short, a long ; as ' beanu' a summit, pinnacle, ' feall' deceit : a short ; as ' meal' to enjoy, ' speal' a scythe.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the a frequently loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant. Hence,
2. Like (1) e: long, as ' dùan' do; short, as ' fear' a man, ' bean' a woman.
3. Like (2) e : long, as ' easlan' sick ; short, as ' fead' whistle.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the e loses its sound, and only qualities that of the preced- ing consonant ; hence,
4. Like (1) a: long, as ' ceàrd' an artificer ; short, as ' geal' xchile.
5. Like (3) a : short, as ' itheadh' eating, ' coir- cach' faulty.
EI
Tlie sound of ei is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of e alone.
1. Made up of (1) e and (1) « .• e long, i short, as ' sgèimh' beauty ; e short, as ' meidh' a balance.
2. Made up of (2) e and (1) i: e long, i short, as ' feidh' deer ; e short, as ' greigh' a herd, stud.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the follow- ing consonant ; hence,
3. Like (1) e alone ; long, as ' mèise' of a plate.
4. Like (2) e alone; long, as ' eigin' necessity; short, as ' eich' horses.
EO
The sound of eo is either made up of the sounds of both vowels, or like that of o alone.
1. Made up of (2) e and (1) o.- e very short, o long, as ' beò' alive, ' colas' knowledge ; o short, as ' beothair lively.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the e loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preced- ing consonant ; hence,
2. Like (1) o ; long, as ' leòmhan' a lion; short, as ' deoch' drink.
EU
The sound ofeu is like (2) c a'one ; long, as ' teum' to bite, ' gleus' trim, entertainment.
One of the most marked variations of Dialect oc- curs in the pronunciation of the diphthong eu ; which, instead of being pronounced like long e, is over all the North Highlands commonly pronounced like ia ; as ' nial, ian, fiar', for ' ncul, eun, feur'.
IA.
The sound of ia is made up of the sounds of both the vowels.
1. Made up of (1) i and (1) a; both of equal length, as ' fial' liberal, ' iar' west.
2. Made up of (1) i and (2) a: of equal length, as < (iadir a deer, ' ciall' common sense.
In ' cia' which ? ' iad' they : ia is often found like (l)c.
OF PRONUNCIATION AND ORTHOGRAPHY.
10
The sound of to is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like one of them alone.
1. Made up of (1) ^ and (3) o .- i long, o short, as ' diol' to pay, ' fior' true ; i short, as ' iolach' a shout, ' ionnsuidh' an attach.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the o sometimes loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant ; hence,
2. Like (1)«; long, as ' iodhol' an idol; short, as ' crios' a girdle, ' biorach' pointed.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i sometimes loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preceding consonant ; hence,
3. Like !< in sun, short and obscure, as ' cionta' guilt, ' tionndadh' to turn.
lU. The sound of iu is either made up of the sound of both the vowels, or like u alone.
1. Made up of (1) i and (1) ?f ; i short, u long, as ' fiù' worthy ; u short, as ' iuchair' a key.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the preced- ing consonant ; hence,
2. Like ( 1 ) u: long, as ' diù' worth, value ; short, as ' tiugh' thick, ' gìuhlrds' Jir.
OI
The sound of oi is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of o alone.
1. Made up of (1) o and (1) i : o long, i short, as ' òigh' a virgin : o short, as ' troidh' afoot.
2. Made up of (3) o and (1) « : o long, i short, as ' oidhche' night.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the follow- ing consonant ; hence,
3. Like ( 1 ) o; long, as ' moid' more ; short, as ' toic' zvealth.
4. Like (2) o : long, as ' f òid' a turf; short, as ' fois' rest.
5. Like (3) o : short, as ' coileach' a cock, ' doire' a «wrf.
UA
The sound of ua is made up of the sounds of both the vowels.
1. Made up of (I) u and (1) a: equally long, as ' cuan' the sea, ' fuar' cold.
2. Made up of (1) u and (2) a ; as ' tuadh' a hat- chet, ' sluagh' people.
LI
The sound of ui is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of ?^ alone.
1. Made up of (1) tt and (1) ;'.• u long, i short, as ' sùigh' drain, dry ; u short, as ' buidheana' a com- pany.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the follow- ing consonant ; hence,
2. Like ( 1 ) H ; long, as ' dùil' expectation, ' cùig' ^ve ; short, as ' full' blood, ' muir' the sea.
OF THE TRIPHTHONGS.
There are five Triphthongs, in each of which i is the last letter ; aoi, eoi, iai, iui, uai. In these, the two first vowels have the same sounds and powers as when they ibrm a Diphthong. The final i is sounded short ; but before a Palatal or a Lingual, not quies- cent, it loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant.
AOI
1. Made up of ao and {I) i : as 'caoidh' lamenta- tion, ' aoibhneas'_yoy, 'laoigh' calves.
2. Like ao ; as ' caoineadh' wailing, ' maoile' bald- ness.
EOI
1. Made up of (2) eo and (l) i: as ' geòidh' geese.
2. Like (I) eo ; as 'meòìr' fingers.
3. Like (2) eo : as ' deòir' tears, ' treòir' ability.
IAI
1. Like (1) ia : as ' fiaire' more awry. Tliis triphthong is hardly now in use.
IUI
I. Like (2) iu ; as 'ciùil' of music.
UAI
1. Made up of (1) ua and (I) i; as 'luaithe, quicker.
2 Made up of (2) ua and (1) J; as 'Jeruaidh' hard, ' fuaim' sound.
3. Like (]) ua: as ' uair' time, an hour, ' cluaise' qfa?i ear.
OF THE POWERS OF THE CONSONANTS.
In treating of the consonants separately, it will be convenient to depart a little from the alphabetical order of the letters, and to consider first the Labials, next the Palatals, and lastly the Linguals.
LABIALS.
P
1. Plain. Like /J in English ; as 'poll' a pool, 'pill' return.
2. Aspirated. Like ph or / in English ; as ' a' phuiir of the pool, 'phill' returned.
B
1. Plain. Like b in English: as ' baile' a toiim, ' beò' alive.
2. Aspirated. Like v in English ; as ' bhuail' struck. In the end of a syllable, the articulation is sometimes feeble, and often passes into the vocal
b 2
OF PRONUNCIATION AND ORTHOGRAPHY.
sound of u (i) ; as in ' raarbh' dead, ' garbh' roitgh, ' dabhach' a vat.
M
1. Plain. Like tn in English; as 'mac' a son, ' cam' crooked.
2. Aspirated. Somewhat like v in English, but more feeble and nasal ; as ' mhàthair' O mother, ' lamb' t/ic hand. The sound mh has the same rela- tion to that of hh, as the sound of m has to that of h. Sometimes, like hh it becomes a vocal sound like a nasal u ; as in 'damli' ati ox, ' samhradh' summer ; and sometimes the articulation becomes so feeble as not to be perceived ; as ' còmhradh' speech, ' domh- ain' deep.
F
1. Plain. Like/in English ; as ' faigh' get, 'fòid' a turf.
2. Aspirated. Quiescent ; as ' fheara' O men. In ' fhuair' found, the aspiration is retained, and the word is pronounced as if vTÌtten huair. It is pro- bable that it was originally ^vritten and pronounced « fuair'; that ' huair' is but a provincial pronunciation ; and that to adapt the spelling, in some shape, to this pronunciation, the word came to be wTÌtten ' fhuair.'
PALATALS AND LINGUALS.
In treating of the Diphthongs (ai, ea, ei, &c.) no- tice has been often taken of the powers of certain vowels in modifying the sound of the adjoining Con- sonants. Tin's refers to a twofold mode of pronounc- ing the Palatal and Lingual Consonants, whether plain or aspirated. The difference between these two modes of pronunciation is, in some Consonants, abundantly striking ; in others it is minute, but suf- ficiently discernible to an ear accustomed to the Gaelic. The one of these modes of articulation be- longs to Palatals and Linguals, chiefly when connect- ed with a broad rowel ; the other belongs to them when connected with a small vowel. Hence, the former may be called the broad sound, the latter the small sound of a Pakihd or a Lingual.
These sounds are not distinguished in writing, but may be known, for the most part, by the relative si- tuation of the letters.
C
1. Plain. Broad : like c in cotne, curb ; as ' ciir ttte back, ' cridhe' tlie heart.
2. Small : like c in care, cure ; as ' taic' support, 'circe' of a lien.
3. Aspirated. Broad : like the Greek x, as pro- nounced in Scotland, in x'^f» 5 ^^ ' croch' }umg, ' chaidb' went.
4. Small: like % in yjuv ; as ' chì' shall see, ' eich' horses.
C, 1. Plain. Bruad: like </ in go, rogue ; as ' gabh' to la/te, ' glòir' speech, ' bog' soji
2. Small: like gr in give, fatigue ; as 'gin 'pro- duce, ' thig' shall come, ' tilg' throw.
3. Aspirated. Broad : has no sound like it in Eng- lish ; ' ghabh' took, ' ghleidh' kept.
4. Small: ticaxXy \\ke y in young : as ^ ^tàn' pro- duced.
5. Gh in the end of a syllable, is often quiescent ; as ' righ' a king, ' tiugh' thick, fuigheall' remainder.
1. Plain. Broad : nearly like t in tone, bottom ; as ' tog' raise, ' trom' heavy, ' brat' a covering.
2. Small : like ch in cheek, choose ; as ' tinn' sick, ' caiilte lost.
3. Aspirared. Like h in house : as ' thig' shall come, ' throhg' fasted, ' maith' good.
4. Quiescent ; in the middle of a polysyllable ; in the end of a long syllable ; and in certain tenses of a few irregular verbs when preceeded by d'; as ' snith- each' watery, 'sith' peace, ' an d" thug e ?' did he give? also in the Pronoun ' thusa' thou.
D
1. Plain. Broad : nearly like d in doTie ; as ' dol' going, ' dlù' near, close, ' ciod' what.
2. Small: nearly like 7 in June, jewel; as 'diù' worth, ' maide' a stick, ' àirde' height.
D, after ch is commonly sounded like c, as ' bochd' 2ioor, pronounced as if written ' bochc'
3. Aspirated. Broad : like broad yh ; as ' dhruid' did shut, ' gràdh' love.
4. Small: like small (?/i ; as ' dhearc' /oo^erf.
5. Quiescent ; as ' f aidh' a prophet, ' cridhe' the heart ; ' ràdh' saying, ' bualadli' striking.
Rule. Tlie consonants c, g, t, d, have their small sound, when, in the same syllable, they are preceded, or immediately followed, by a small vowel ; in all other situations they have tlieir BROAD sound.
S
1. Plain. Broad: like « in sun, this; as ' speal' a scythe, ' cas' afoot, ' sùil' aìi eye, ' sgian' a knife.
2. Small. Like sh in show, rash ; as ' bris' break, ' sèimh' (/uiet, ' snlomh' twine, ' steidh' foun- dation.
3. Aspirated. Like h in him; as 'shuidh' sat, ' shrann' snorted. Before / and n, it is almost, if not altogether, quiescent ; as ' shlanuich' healed, ' shnionih' twisted. S followed by a mute consonant is ncxer aspirated.
Rule. »S' has its small sound, tchen, in the same syllable it is preceded or follotved by a small vowel, with or without an intervening Lingual. In all other situations ithas its nno ad sound. Except. .S'is broad in ' is' am. It is small in ' so' this, 'sud' y(ni. It is customary to give s its broad sound in the beginning of a word, when the former word ends with r, in which case the r also has its broad sound, as ' chuir sinn' we put, ' air son' ow account.
OF PRONUNCIATION AND ORTHOGRAPHY.
Of L, N, R. A distinction between a consonant when plain, and the same consonant when aspirated, has been easily traced tlius far. This distinction readily discovers it- self, not only in the pronunciation and orthography, but also (as will be seen in its proper place) througli- out the system of inflection. It takes place uniform- ly in those consonants which have been alreadj' con- sidered. With respect to the remaining Unguals, /, n, r, a corresponding distinction will be found to take place in their pronunciation, and likewise in the changes they sutt'er by inflection. Tliis close corres- pondence between the changes incident to /, n,r, and the changes which the other consonants undergo, seems to be a sufficient reason for still using the same discriminative terms in treating of their powers : though these terms may not appear to be so strictly applicable to these three consonants as to the rest. The powers of /, w, r, shall accordingly be explained under the divisions jilain and aspirated, broad and small.
1. Plain. Broad ; has no sound like it in English; ' lom' bare, ' labhair' speak, ' mall' slow, ' alt' ajoitif, ' alt' a brook, ' slat' a rod, ' dkV 7iear.
2. Small : like // in million ; as ' linn' an age, ' Won Jill, ' pill return, ' slighe' a icai/.
3. Aspirated. Broad: like / in loom, fool ; as ' labhair' spoke, ' lom' feminine of ' lom' bare, ' mol' praise, ' dhlù' feminine of ' dlù' near.
4. Small : nearly like / in limb, Jill ; as ' a linn' his age, ' lion' Jilled, ' mil' konei/, ' dligheach' due, lauful.
N
1. Plain. Broad ; has no sound like it in English ; ' nuadh' new, ' naisg' bind, ' lann' a blade, ' cam' a heap of stones.
2. Small: like n in the second syllable of opinion ;
as ' nigh' wash, ' binn' melodious, ' cùirn' heaps of stones.
S. Aspirated. Broad: like « in no, on; as ' huadh' feminine of ' nuadh' 7iew, ' naisg' bound, ' shnàmh' swam, ' sean' old, ' chon' of dogs, ' dan' a poem.
4. Small : like n in keeti, near ; as ' nigh' washed, ' shnlomh' twisted, ' coin' dogs, ' dàin' poems.
In ' an' when followed by a Palatal, the n is pro- nounced like 7ig in English ; as ' an gille' the lad, ' an còmhnuidh' always.
N, after a mute, is in a few instances pronounced like r as in ' mnathan' women, ' cnatan' a cold, ' an t-snàth' of the yarn ; pronounced ' mrathan, cratan,' &c.
R
1. Plain. Nearly like r in roar ; as ' ruadh' red- dish, ' righ' a king, ' ruith' run, ' torr' a heap. ' cesatai justice.
2. Aspirated. Broad : nearly like final r in rear ,- ' as car' a turn, ' ruith' ran, ' mòr' great.
3. Small : has no sound like it in English ; ' a figh' O king, < seirbhe' satiety, ' mòir' gen. of ' raòr' great.
Rule, L, N, B, have their plain sound when, in the same syllable, they are immediately preceded by a plain Litpdd, or immediately J'ollowcd by a plain Lin- gual; also in the beginning oj' certain cases and tenses ; in all other situations, they have their aspirated sou7id. They hare their small sound tche/i, in the sa/ne syllable, they are preceded orfollou-ed by a S7nall rotvel, tcith or irithout an interve7iÌ7ig Liquid ; in other situatio/is, they have their broad sou/id.
H
// is never used as an independent radical letter. When prefixed to a word beginning with a vowel, it is pronounced like h in how ; as ' na h-òigliean' the virgi/is, ' na h-oidhche' ojthe night.
PART II.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
I HE parts of speech in Gaelic may be conveniently divided and arranged as follows : Article, Noun, Ad- jective. Pronoun, Verb, Adverb, Preposition, Con- junction, Interjection. Of these, the first five are de- clinable ; the other four are indeclinable.
CHAP. I — OF THE ARTICLE.
The Gaelic Article ' an' corresponds to the Eng- Ish definite article the. There is in Gaelic no inde-
finite article corresponding to the English a or an. The inflections of the article are but few. They de- pend on the gender, the number, and the case, of the noun to which it is prefixed. Hence the article is declined by gender, number, and case, as follows :
Singular. 7nasc. fe77i.
Nom. an, am an, a'
Ge7i. an, a' na
Dat. an, a', 'n an, a'.
Plural. i7iasc. Sife/n.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH,
In the singular, final n of the article is sometimes cut off, and its absence marked by an apostrophe. The same happens to the initial a of the dative sm- gular.
CHAP. 11.— OF NOUNS.
A Noun is the Name of any person, object, or thing whatsoever, that we have occasion to mention. In treating of this Part of Speech, we have to con- sider the Gmder and the Declension of Nouns.
OF GENDER.
The following observations may serve to give some idea of the analogy of gender in Gaelic nouns ; though they do not furnish a complete set of rules sufficient to ascertain the gender of every noun.
Masculines. Nouns signifying males are mascu- lines ; as ' fear' a man, ' righ' a king, ' sagart' a priest, ' tarbh' a bull, ' cù' a dog.
Many nouns, signifying the young of animals of either Sex, are masculine, even when the individual objects they denote are mentioned as being of the female Sex ; as ' laogh' a calf, ' isean' a chicken, ' uan' a lamb, &c.
Diminutives in en ; as ' rothan' a little luheel, ' dealgan' a little pin, &x.
Derivatives in as, which are, for the most part, ab- stract nouns ; as ' càirdeas' fricmlship, ' naimhdeas' enmity, ' ciùineas' calmness, ' breitheanas' Judg- ment, ' ce&rtas justice, ' maithcas' goodness, &c.
Derivatives in air, uch, iehe, which are, for the most part, agents : as ' cealgair' a deceiver, ' sealg- air' a huntsman, ' dorsair' a door-keeper, ' marcach' a rider, ' maraichc' a sailor, ' coisiche' a foot-travclkr, &c.
Names of such kinds of trees as are natives of Scot- land ; as ' darach' oak, ' giubhas' Jir, ' uinnseann' ash.
Most polysyllables whereof the last vowel is broad, are masculine.
Feminines. Nouns signifying females are femi- nine ; as ' bean' a woman, ' niàthair' a mot/ier, ' bo' a cow, &c. Except ' bainionnach' or ' boirionnach' a female, ' mart' a cow, ' capuU' a horse or 7nare, but commonly a marc, which are masculine ; and ' cail- in' a damsel, masculine or feminine.
Some nouns denoting a species are feminine, even when the individual spoken of is characterised as a male ; as ' gabhar fhirionn' a he-goat.
Names of countries ; as ' Albainn' Scotland, ' Eirin" Ireluml.
Names of musical instruments ; as ' clàrsach' a harp, ' piob' ajripc.
Names of the heavenly bodies ; as ' Grian' sun, ' Gealach' moon.
Names of diseases ; as ' teasach' a fever, ' a' ghriùthach' the measles, ' a' bhrcac' the small-pox, ' a' bhuidheach' the jaundice, ' a' bhuinneach' a diarr- iiaea, &:c.
Collective names of trees or shrubs are feminine ; as ' giùbhsach' a Jir wood, ' iùbhrach' a yeio copse, ' seileach' a willoio copse, ' droighneach' a tJiorny brake.
Diminutives in ag ; as ' caileag' a girl, ' cuachag' a little cup.
Derivatives in achd ; as ' iomlanachd' fulness, ' doilleireachd' duskiness, ' doimhneachd' depth, ' rioghachd' kingdom, ' sinnsircachd' ancestry, &-c.
Abstract nouns formed from the genitive of adjec- tives ; as ' doille' blindness, ' gile' whiteness, ' leisg' laziness, ' buidhre' deafness, &c.
Many monosyllables in ?/« followed by one or more consonants are feminine ; as ' bruach' a bank, ' cruach' a heap, ' cuach' a cup, ' cluas' an ear, ' gruag' the hair of the head, ' sguab' a sheaf, ' tuadh' a hatchet, ' tuath' peasantry.
Almost all polysyllables, whereof the last vowel is small, except those in air and iche, already noticed, are feminipe.
A few nouns are of either gender ; ' Salm' a Psalm, ' crcidimh' belief, are used as masculine nouns in some places, and feminine in others. ' Cruinne' the globe, ' talamh' the earth, land, are masculine in the nominative ; as ' an cruinne-ce' the globe of the earth. The same nouns are generally feminine in the ge- nitive ; as ' gu crich na cruinne' to tlie extremity of the xcorld. ' aghaidh na talmhainn' the face of the earth.
OF DECLENSION.
Nouns undergo certain changes significant of Num- ber and of Relation.
The forms significant of Number are two : the Sin- gular, which denotes one ; and the Plural, which de- notes any number greater than one.
The changes expressive of Relation are made on nouns in two ways : 1. On the beginning of the noun ; 2. On its termination. The relations de- noted by changes on the termination are different from those denoted by changes on the beginning ; they have no necessary connection together ; the one may take place in absence of the other. It seems proper therefore to class the changes on the termination by tlicmselves in one division, and give it a name ; and to class the changes on the beginning also by themselves in another division, and give it a different name. As the changes on the termina- tion denote, in general, the same relations which are denoted by the Greek and Latin cases ; that seems a sufficient reason for adopting the term Case into the Gaehc (irammar, and applying it, as in the Greek and Latin, to signify ' the changes made on the tcr- ' mination of nouns or adjectives to mark relation.'
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
According to this description of them, there are four cases in Gaelic. Tliese may be named, like the cor- responding cases in Latin, the Xo7ninath-e, the Geni- tive, the Dative, and the Voeative. The Nominative is used when anj' person or thing is mentioned as the sub/eet of a proposition or question, or as the oly'ect of an action or affection. The Genitive corresponds to an English noun preceded b}- of. The Dative is used only after a preposition. The Vocative is employed when a person or thing is addressed.
The changes on the beginning of nouns are made by aspirating an initial consonant ; that is, writing h after it. This may be called the Aspirated form of the noun. The aspirated form extends to all the cases and numbers. A noun, whereof the initial form is not changed by aspiration, is in the Primary form.
The aecidents of nouns may be briefly stated thus. A noun is declined by Number, Case, and Initial form. The Numbers are two ; Sinyulur and Plural. The Cases are four ; Nominaliie, Genitive, Dative, and Vocative. The Initial form is twofold ; the Pri- mary form ; and the Aspirated form peculiar to nouns beginning with a consonant.
In declining nouns, the formation of the cases is observed to depend more on the last vowel of the nominative than on the final letter. Hence the last vowel of the nominative, or in general of any declin ■ able word, may be called the characteristic vowel. The division of the vowels into broad and small sug- gests the distribution of nouns into two Declensions, distinguished by the quality of the characteristic vowel. The first Declension comprehends those nouns whereof the characteristic vowel is broad : the second Declension comprehends those nouns whereof the characteristic vowel is small.
The following examples are given of the inflection of nouns of the
FIRST DECLENSION'.
Bard, mas. a Poet. Singtdar. Plural.
|
Nom |
Bard |
Bàird |
|
Gen. |
Baird |
Bàrd |
|
Dat. |
Biird |
Bàrdaibh |
|
Vac. |
Bhàird |
Bhàrda |
Cluas, fem. an Ear. Singular. Plural.
|
Nom. |
Cluas |
Cluasan |
|
Gen. |
Cluaise |
Cluas |
|
Dat. |
Cluais |
Cluasaibh |
|
Vac. |
Chluas |
Chluasa |
Formation of tlie Cases of Xouiis of the First Declen- sion.
Singular Number. General Rule for forming the Genitive. — The Ge- nitive is formed from the Nominative, by inserting i
after the characteristic vowel : as • bàs' mas. death, Gen. sing. ' bàis'; ' fuaran' m. ix fountain, g. s. ' fuar- ain'; ' clàrsach' f. a harp, g. s. ' clàrsaich.' Feminine monosj-llables often also add a short e to the Nomina- tive ; as ' cluas' f an ear, g. s. ' cluaise'; ' lànih' a hand, g. s. ' làimhe.'
Particular Pules for the Genitive.
1. If the nominative ends in a vowel, the genitive is like the nominative, as ' trà' m. a time or season, g. s. ' trà'; so also ' beatha' f. life, ' crò" m. a sheqj-fold, ' cliù' m. fame, ' duine' a man. Except ' bo' f. a coic, g. s. ' boin'; ' cù' m. a dog, g. s. ' coin'; ' brù' f. the belly, g. s. ' bronn'.
2. Nouns ending in chd or rr have the genitive like the nominative; as ' uchd' m. the breast, ' sliochd' m. offspring, ' feachd' f. a host, ' reachd' m. statute, ' beachd" m. vision, ' smachd' m. authority, « fuachd' m. cold, ' sprochd' m. gloom, ' beannachd' m. a blessing, ' naomhaehd' f. holiness, ' eàrr' m. the tail, ' tòrr' m. a heap. Except ' slochd' g. s. ' sluichd' m. a pit, unless this word should rather be written ' sloe,' like ' hoc, cnoc, soc'
3. Monosyllables ending in gh or th add a for the genitive, as ' lagh' m. law, g. s. ' lagha'; ' roth' m. a wheel, g. s. ' rotha'; ' sruth' m. a stream, g. s. ' srutha.' Except ' àgii" m. felicity, grace, or charm, g. s. ' àigh.'
4. Jlonosyllables characterized by io either drop the o or add a for the genitive ; as ' siol' m. seed, g. s. ' sir ; ' lion' m. a 7iet, g. s. ' lin' ; ' crioch' f. a boundary, g. s. ' criche' ; ' cloch' f. the pap. g. s. ' ciche' ; ' fion' m. wine, g. s. ' fìona'; ' crios' m. a girdle, g. s. ' criosa'; ' fiodh' m. timber, g. s. ' fiodha.' Except ' Criosd' m. Christ, which has the genitive like the nominative.
5. Man\' monosyllables, whose characteristic vowel is a or o, change it into u and insert i after it ; as ' gob' m. the bill of a bird, g. s. ' guib'; ' crodh' m. kine, g. s. ' cruidh' ; < bolg' or < balg' m. a bag, g. s. ' builg' ; ' clog" or ' clag' ra. a bell, g. s. ' cluig' ; ' lorg' f. a staff, g. s. ' luirg' ; ' long' f. a ship, g. s! ' luinge'; ' alt' m. a joint, g. s. ' uilt"; ' allt' ra. a rivzi- let, g. s. ' uillt' ; ' car' ra. a twti, g. s. ' cuir' ; ' cam' m. a heap of stones, g. s. ' ciiirn.' So also ' ceòl' m. ?nusic, g. s. ' ciùil' : ' seùl' m. a sail, g. s. ' siùil.' Except noims in on and a few feminines, wliich follow the general rule : as ' bron' m. sorrow, g. s. ' bròin' ; ' lòn' m. food, g. s. ' loin' ; ' cloch' or ' clach' f. a stotie, g. s. ' cloiche' ; ' cos' or ' cas' f. the foot, g. s. ' coise' : ' bròg' f. a shoe, g. s. ' bròige.' So also ' clann' f. children, g. s. ' cloinne' ; ' crann' m. a free, g. s. _' croinn.' ' Mac' m. a son, has its g. s. ' mic'
6. Polysyllables characterized by ea change ea into i ; as ' fitheach' m. a raven, g. s. ' fithich' ; ' caill- each' f. an old ivoman, g. s. ' caillich.' These two suffer a syncope, and add e ; ' buidheann' f. a com- pany, g. s. ' buidhne' ; ' sithionn' f. venison, g. s.
sithne.'
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Of monosyllables characterized by e(i, some throw away a and insert i; as ' each' ni. a /lorse, g. s. ' eich' ' fearg' f. anger, g. s. • feirge.' — Some change ea into i ; as ' breac' m. a trout, g. s. ' brie'; ' fear m. a man, g. s. ' fir'; ' ceann' m. a head, end, g. s. ' cinn'; ' preas' ra. a bush, g. s. ' pris' ; ' breac' f. the small-pox, g. s. ' brice'; ' cearc' f. a hen, g. s. ' circe'; ' leac' f. a flag, g. s. ' lie' ' Gleann' m. a valley, adds e, g. s. ' glinne.' — Some add a to the nomina- tive ; as ' speal' m. a scythe, g. s. ' speala.' ' Dream'
f, people, race ; ' gean' m. humour ; have their geni- tive like the nominative. ' Geadh' m. a goose, makes
g. s. ' geòidh.'
7. Nouns in eu followed by a liquid, change u into o and insert i after it ; as ' neul' m. a cloud, g. s. ' neòil'; ' eun' m. a bird, g.'s. ' eòin'; ' feur' m. grass, g. s. ' feòir'; ' meur' m. aflnger, g. s. ' meòir'; ' leus' m. a torch, g. s. ' leòis.' ' Beul' m. the mouth, g. s. ' beil' or ' beoil' ; ' sgeul' m. a tale, g. s. ' sgeil' or ' sgeòil.' Other nouns characterized by eu add a for the gen. as ' treud' m. a flock, g. s. ' treuda'; ' feum' m. use, need, g. s. ' feuma' ; ' beam' m. a stroke, g. s. ' beuma.' ' Meud' m. btdk, ' beuc' m. a roar, ' freumh' f. a fibre, root, hardly admit of a, but have their gen. rather like the nom.
8. Monosyllables characterized by ia change in into ei ; as ' sliabh' m. a moor, g. s. ' sleibh'; ' fiadh' m. a deer, g. s. ' fèidh'; ' biadh' xa.food, g. s. ' beidh' or ' bidh' ; ' iasg' m. fish, g. s. ' eisg" ; ' grian' f. the sun, g. s. ' greine' ; ' sgiath' f. a wing, g. s. ' sgeithe.' Except ' Dia' m. God, g. s. ' De* ; ' sgian' f. a knife, g. s. ' sgine.'
' Piuthar' f. a sister, has g. s. ' peathar' ; ' leanabh' m. a child, g. s. ' leinibh' ; ' leabaidh' or ' leaba' f. a bed, g. s. ' leapa' ; ' talamh' m. earth, g. s. ' talmh- ainn.'
The Dative singular of masculine nouns is like the nominative ; of feminine nouns, is like the genitive ; as ' tobar' m. a well, d. s. ' tobar' ; ' clàrsach' f. a iiarp, g. s. and d. s. ' clàrsaich'; misneach' f. courage, g. s. and d. s. ' misnich.'
Particultir Rules for the Dative of Feminine Nouns.
1. If c was added to the nominative in forming the genitive, it is thrown away in the dative ; as ' slat' f. a rod, g. s. ' slaite' d. s. ' slait' ; ' grian' f. the sun, g. s. ' greine' d. s. ' grein.'
2. If the nominative suffered a syncope in forming the genitive, or if the last vowel of the genitive is broad, the dative is like the nominative ; as ' buidh- eann' f. a company, g. s. ' buidhne' d. s. ' buidlicann'; '- piuthar' f. a sister, g. s. ' peathar' d. s. ' piuthar.'
The Vocative of masculine nouns is like the geni- tive ; of feminine nouns is like the nominative ; as ' has' m. death, g. s. ' b;\is' v. s. ' bhàis'; ' cù' m. a dog, g. s. ' coin' v, s. ' choin'; ' grian' f. the suti, v. s. ' ghrian'; ' gaoth' f. the toind, v. s. ' ghaoth.'
Plural Number.
Nominative. Masculine nouns which insert i in the gen. sing, have their nom. plur. like the gen. sing. ; as ' oglach' m. a servant, g. s. ' òglaich" n. p. ' òglaich' ; ' fear' m. a man, g. s. and n. p. ' fir.' Many of these form their nom. plur. also by adding a short a, or, an to the nominative singular. Other masculine nouns, and all feminine nouns, have their nom. plural in a, to which n is added, ettplionim cau- sa, before an initial vowel.
Particular Rules for forming the Nominative Plural in « or an.
1. By adding a to the nominative singular ; as ' dubhar' m. a shadmv, n. p. ' dubhara' ; ' rioghachd' f. a kingdom, n. p. ' rioghachdan.' Under this Rule, some nouns suffer a syncope ; as ' dorus' m. a door, n. p. ' dorsa' for < dorusa.'
2. Nouns ending in I or nn, often insert t before a ; as ' rcul' m. a star, n. p. ' reultan' ' sail', f. a heel, n. p. ' sàiltean.' So ' Ion' m. a marsh, n. p. ' lòin- tean.'
3. Some nouns in ar drop the a, and add to the nominative singular the syllable aich ; and then the final )i becomes e, to correspond to the preceding small vowel ; as ' leabhar' m. a book, n. p. ' leabh- raichean'; 'tobai'"m. awell, n. p. ' tobraichean' ; 'Piuth- ar' f. a sister, from the g. s. ' peathar', has n. p. ' peathraichean' ; so ' leaba' f. a bed, g. s. ' leapa' n. p. ' leapaichean.' ' Bata' m. a staff] n. p. ' batacha'; ' la or ' latha' a day, n. p. ' lathachan' or ' làith ean.'
4. Some polysyllables in acli add e or ean to the genitive singular ; as ' mullach' m. summit, g. s. ' mullaich' n. p. ' mullaichean' ; ' òtrach' m. a dung- hill, n. p. ' òtraichean' ; ' clàrsach' f. a harp, n. p. ' clàrsaichean' ; ' deudach' m. the jaw, n. p. ' deud- aichean.' So ' sliabh' m. a nioor, g. s. ' sleibh', with t inserted, n. p. 'sleibhtean.' ' Sabhal' m.abarn, g. s. ' sabhuil', n, p. ' saibhlcan', contracted for ' sabh- ailean.'
The following Nouns form their Nominative Plural irregularly: ' Dia' m. God, n. p. ' dee' or ' diathan'; ' sgian' f. a knife, n. p. ' sgeana' or ' sginichean'; ' sluagh' m. people, n. p. ' slùigh' ; ' bò' f. a cow, n. p. 'bà.'
Genitive. 1. Monosyllables, and nouns which form their nominative plural like the genitive singular, have the genitive plural like the nominative singular; as ' geug' f. a branch, g. p. ' geug"; ' coimhearsnach' m. a neighbour, g. s. and n. p. ' coimhearsnaich', g. p. ' coimhearsnach.'
2. Polysyllables which have their nominative plu- ral in a or an, form the genitive like the nominative ; ' leabhar' m. a book, n. p. and g. p. ' leabhraichean.' — When the nominative plural is twofold, the geni- tive is so too ; as ' fear' m. a man, n. p, ' fir', or sometimes ' fcara', g. p. ' fear' or ' feara.'
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
' CÙ' ni. a dog, has its g. p. ' con'; caora' f. a sheep, g. p. ' caorach'; ' sluagh' m. peoph, g. p. ' sluagli' or ' slògh.'
Dative. 1. The dative plural is formed either from the nominative singular or from the nominative plu- ral. If the nominative plural ends in a consonant, the dative plural is formed by adding ihh to the no- minative singular ; as ' crann' m. a tree, n. p. ' croinn', d. p. ' crannaibh'; ' mac' m. a son, n. p. ' mic' d. p. ' macaibh.' — If the nominative plural ends in avo«el, the final vowel is changed into ihh; as ' tobar' a well, n. p. ' tobraichean', d. p. ' tobraichibh.'
2. Monosyllables ending in an aspirated conso- nant, which have their nominative plural like the ge- nitive singular, form their dative plural like the no- minative plural ; as ' damh' an ox, g. s. and n. p. ' daimli' d. p. ' daimh' not damhaibh' ; ' fiadh' m. a deer, g. s. and n. p. and d. p. ' feidh.' So ' sluagh' m. people, host, g. s. ' sluaigh', n. p. and d. p. ' slòigh.' — Nouns ending in ch, of three or more syllables, form their dative plural like the nominative plural, rather than in ibh ; as ' coimhearsnach' m. a neigh- bour, d. p. ' coimhearsnaich' rather than ' coimhears- nachaibh'; ' Phàiriseach' m. a Pharisee, d. p. ' phàir- isich' rather than ' phàiriseachaibh.'
Vocative. The vocative plural is like the nomina- tive plural, terminating in a, but seldom in an ; as ' fear' m. a nmn, n. p. ' fir' or ' feara', v. p. ' fheara' ; ' òglach' m. a servant, n. p. ' òglaich', v. p. ' òglacha.' Except perhaps monosyllables which never form their nominative plural in a, nor their dative plural in ibh ; as ' damh' m. an ox, n. p. ' daimh', v. p. ' dhaimh' ; ' a shlòigh.'
The irregular noun ' Bean' f. a woman, is declined thus:
Singular. Norn. Bean Gen. Mna Dat. Mnaoi Voc. Bhean
Plural. Mnai, mnathan Ban
Mnathaibh Mhnathan.
SECOND DECLENSION.
Cealgair, masc. a deceiver. Singular. Plural.
Nom. Cealgair Cealgaire
Gen. Cealgair Cealgair
Dat. Cealgair Cealgairibh
Voc. Chealgair Chealgaire.
Clais, fern, afuri-oiv.
Singular. Plural.
Nom. Clais Claisean
Gen. Claise Clais
Dat. Clais Claisibh
Voc. Chlais Chlaise. Vol. I.
Formation of the Cases of Nouns of the Secorid De-
Singular Number.
Getieral Rule for the Genitive. The genitive of pol3'syllables is like the nominative ; of monosyllables is made by adding e to the nominative ; as ' caraid' m. a friend, g. s. ' caraid' ; ' aimsir' f. time, g. s. ' aimsir'; ' tigh' m. a liaxise, g. s. ' tighe'; ' ainm' m. a name, g. s. ' ainme' ; ' im' m. butter, g. s. ' ime'.
Particular Rules for the Genitive.
1. Feminine nouns in ail and air, frequently drop the i and add ach ; if the nominative be a polysylla- ble, ai is thrown away ; as ' lair' f. a nmre, g. s. ' làr- ach' ; ' cathair' f. a seat, g. s. ' cathrach' ; ' nathair' f. a serpent, g. s. ' nathrach' ; ' lasair' f. a flame, g. s. ' lasrach.' To these add ' coir' f. right, g. s. ' còrach' or ' còire.'
2. Monosyllables characterized by oi often drop i and add a ; as ' feòil' f. flesh, g. s. < feòla".
3. ^Monosyllables characterized by iii change ui into a or o, and add a ; as ' muir' f. the sea, g. s. ' mara'; ' full' f. blood, g. s. ' fola' or ' fala'; ' druim' f. a ridge, g. s. ' droma.' Except ' siiir f. the eye, g. s. ' sùla'; ' cuid' f. a part, g. s. ' codach' or ' cuid.'
4. A few feminine polysyllables in eir form their genitive like monosyllables ; as ' suipeir' f. supper, g. s. ' suipeire.'
5. The following dissyllables seem to have formed their genitive like monosyllables, and then suffered a contraction. Sometimes the characteristic vowel is retained, and sometimes it is thrown away : the final e of the genitive being converted into a, when requi- site to suit an antecedent broad vowel.
Amhainn f. a river, g. s. aimhne, contr. for amhainne Aehainnl „ . , , .
Aghann / ^' "P""' S- «• a'glme, aghamne
Banais f. a tvedding, g. s. bainnse, banaise
T>ùthaìchf.acountrg,g. s. dùthcha, dùthaiche
Fiacail f. a tooth, g. s. fiacla, fiacaile
Gamhuinnm.a«/eer,g. s. gamhna, gamhuinne
Maduinn f. morning,g. s. maidne, madainne
Obair f. ivorh, g. s. oibre, ™ obaire
6. The following nouns form their genitive by dropping the characteristic small vowel ; ' athair' m. a father, g. s. ' athar' ; ' màthair' f. a mother, g. s. ' niàthar' ; ' bràthair' m. a brother, g. s. ' bràthar' ; ' Cnàimh' f. a bone, g. s. ' cnàmha' ; ' uaimh' f. a cave, g. s. ' uamha.' ' Mil' f. ho7ieg, has g. s. ' meala.'
7. A few monosyllables ending in a vowel have their genitive like the nominative ; as ' ni' m. a thÌ7ig, ' ti' m. a person, ' re' m. the moon.
Dative. The dative singular is like the nomina- b
10
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
tive ; as ' duine' m. a man, d. s. ' duine', ' maduinn' f. morning, d. s. ' maduinn.'
Vocative. The vocative singular is like the nomi- native ; as ' caraid' m. friend, v. s. ' charaid'; ' math- air' f. tnotlier, v. s. ' mhàthair.'
Plural Number.
Nominative. — General Rule. Tlie nominative plu- ral is formed by adding to the nominative singular a or an, wTÌtten c or ean to correspond to a preceding small vowel ; as 'piobair' m. a.]iij>er, n. p. 'piobairean' ; ' airasir' f. time, season, n. p. ' aimsirean.' — Some nouns suffer a contraction in the nominative plural ; as ' caraid' m. a friend, n. p. ' càirdean'; ' nàmhaid' m. an enemy, n. p. ' naimhdean'; ' fiacail' f. a tooth, n. p. ' fiaclan.'
Particular Rules. 1 . Some nouns, whose last con- sonant is / or n, insert t in the nominative plural ; as ' tail' f. a. flood, n. p. ' tuiltean'; ' smuain' f. thought, n. p. ' smuaintean'; ' coille' f. a wood. n. p. ' coilltcan'; ' àithnc' f. a command, n. p. ' àithntcan.' The t is aspi- rated in ' dair f. a. plain, n. p. ' dailthean ; ' sail' f. a beam, n. p. ' sailthean.'
2. Some nouns in air, chiefly such as form their genitive singular in ach, retain the same syllabic in the nominative plural, and insert i after a ; as
Cathair, f. a seat, g.s. cathrach, n. p. cathraichean. Lasair, f. a. flame, g.s. lasrach, n. p. lasraichean. Nathair,f.aserpf7it g.s. nathrach, n. p. nathraichean.
So also ' cuid' f. a part, from the g. s. ' codach', has the n. p. ' codaichean'; ' athair' ni. a. father, n. p. 'aith- richean'; ' màthair' f. a mother, n. p. ' màthraichean.' To which add 'amhainn'f. a river, n. p. aimhnichean'; ' uisge' m. water, n. p. ' uisgeachan'; cridhe' m. the heart, n. p. ' cridheachan.'
The following nouns form their nominative plural irregularly ; ' duine' m. a man, n. p. ' daoine'; ' righ' m. a hiiig, n. p. ' righre'; ' ni' m. a thing, n. p. ' nithe'; ' cliamhuinn' m. a son-in-law, or brother-in-law, n. p. ' cleamhnan.'
Genitive. The genitive plural of monosyllables and masculine polysyllables, is twofold, both like the nominative singular, and like the nominative plural ; as ' righ' m. a king, g. p. ' righ' or ' righre.' The ge- nitive plural of feminine polysyllables is like the no- minative plural only ; as ' anihainn' f. a river, g. p. ' aimhnichean.' — ' Suil' f. the eye has its g. p. ' sùl'.
Dative, The dative plural is formed from the no- minative plural by changing the iinal vowel into ibh ; as ' cridhe' m. the heart, n. p. ' cridheacha', d. p. ' cridheachai'oh.'
Vocative. The vocative plural is like the nomina- tive plural ; as ' duine' m. a man, n. p. ' daoine', v. p. ' dhaoine.'
rinal a or e in all the singular cases of polysyllables
is occasionally cut off, especially in verse ; as ' leab' bed, ' teang' tongue, ' colli' tvood, ' cridh' heart.
Of tlie Initial form of Nouns.
In nouns beginning with a consonant, all the cases admit of the aspirated form. In the vocative singular and plural the aspirated form alone is used ; except in nouns beginning with a lingual, which are general- ly in the primary form, when preceded by a lingual ; as ' a sheann duine' old mail. Nouns beginning with « followed by a mute consonant have no aspira- ted form, because s in that situation does not admit of the aspirate. In nouns beginning with /, n, r, a distinction is uniformly observed in pronouncing the initial consonant, corresponding precisely to the dis- tinction of primary and aspirated forms in nouns be- ginning with other consonants. This distinction has already been fully stated in treating of pronunciation.
The general use of the singular and plural num- bers has been already mentioned. A remarkable exception occurs in the Gaelic. When the numerals ' fichead' twenty, ' ceud' a hundred, ' mile' a thousand, are prefixed to a noun ; the noun is not put in the plural, but in the singular number, and admits no va- riation of case. The termination of a noun preceded by ' d;V two, is the same with that of the dative sin- galar, except when the noun is governed in the geni- tive case, and then it is put in the genitive plural ; when preceded by ' fichead, ceud', &c. the termina- tion is that of the nominative singular; thus, 'da hiimh' two hands, ' da chluais' two ears, ' da fhear' two me?i, ' fichead lamh' twenty hands, ' ceud fear' a hun- dred meti, ' mile caora' a thousand sheep, ' deich mile bliadhna' teti thousand years.
CHAP. III.— OF ADJECTIVES.
An Adjective is a word used along with a noun, to express some quality of the person or thing signified by the noun.
Adjectives undergo changes which mark their re- lation to other words. These changes are made, like those on nouns, partly on the beginning, and partly on the termination ; and may be fitly denominated by the same names. The changes on the beginning are made by aspirating an initial consonant. The numbers and cases, like those of nouns, are distin- guished by changes on the termination. The gender is marked partly by the initial form, partly by the termination.
Adjectives whereof the characteristic vowel is broad, follow, in most of their inflections, the form of nouns of the first declension ; and may he termed Adjectives of the first declension. Those adjectives whereof the characteristic vowel is small, may be called Adjectives of the second declension.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
11
EXAMPLE OF ADJECTIVES OF THE FIRST DECLEN- SION.
Mòr, great.
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Singular. |
Plural. |
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3Iasc. |
Femin. |
Common Gend. |
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Nom. Mòr, |
Mhòr, |
Mora. |
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Gen. Mliòir, |
Moire, |
Mora. |
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Dat. Mòr, |
Mhòir, |
Mora. |
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Voc. Mhòir, |
Mhòr, |
Mora. |
Formation of tlie Cases of Adjectives of the First De- clension.
Singular.
Nominative. The feminine gender is, in termina- tion, like the masculine.
The other cases, both masc. and fern, are formed from the nominative, according to the Rules already given for forming the cases of nouns of the first de- clension. Take the following examples in adjectives.
Genitive General Fide. ' Marbh' dead, g. s. m.
' mhairbh' f. ' mairbhe'; 'dubh' blac/ti g. s. m. 'dhuibh',
f. ' duibhe'; ' fadalach' tedious, g. s. m. ' fhadalaich', ' fadalaich.'
Particular Rules. 1. ' Sona' liappy, g. s. m. ' sho- na', f. ' sona' ; ' aosda' aged, g. s. m. and f. ' aosda'; 'beò' alive, g. s. m. 'bheò', f. 'beò.'
2. ' Bochd' poor, g. s. m. ' bhochd', f. ' bochd'; ' gearr' short, g. s. ra. ' ghèarr', f. ' gèarr.'
3. ' Breagh' fine, g. s. m. ' bhreagha', f. ' breagha.'
4. ' Crlon' little, diminutive, g. s. m. ' chrìn', f. ' crine.'
5. ' Donn' Irown, g. s. m. ' dhuinn', f. ' duinne'; ' germ' blue, g. s. m. ' ghoirm', f. guirme'; ' lom' bare,
g. s. m. ' luira', f. ' luime'. — ' But dall' blind, g. s. m. ' dhoiir, f. ' doille'; ' mall' sloxv, g. s. m. ' mhoill', f. ' moille'; like the nouns ' crann, clann.'
C. ' Cinnteach' certain, g. s. m. ' thinntich', f. ' cinn- tich'; ' maiseach' beautiful, g. s. m. ' mhaisich', f. 'raais- ich.' — ' Tearc, rare, g. s. m. 'theirc', f. 'teirce'; 'dearg' red, g. s. m. ' dheirg', f. ' deirge'; ' deas' ready, g. s. m. ' dheis', f. ' deise.' — ' Breac' speckled, g. s. m. ' bhric', f. ' brice'; ' geal' ichite, g. m. ' ghil' f. ' gile.'
7. Gear' sharp, g. s. ni. ' gheir', f. gèire'; like the nouns ' breug, geug.'
8. ' Liath' hoary, g. s. m. ' lèith' f. ' lèithe'; dian' heen, g. s. ni. ' dhèin', f. ' deine.'
Irregulars. ' Odhar' jxile, g. s. m. and f. ' uidhir'; ' bodhar' deaf, g. s. m. ' bhuidhir', f ' buidhir.'
Dative. — General Rule. ' Uasal' noble, d. s. m. < uasal', f. ' uasail'; ' bodhar' deaf, d. s. m. ' bodhar', f. ' bhuidhir.'
Particular Rule. \ . ' Trom' heavy, d. s. m. ' trora', f. ' thruim.'
Vocative. ' Beag' small, v. s. m. ' bhig', f. ' bheag.'
Plural.
In Monosyllables the Plural, through all its Cases, is formed by adding a to the nom. sing. ; in Poly- syllables, it is like the nom. sing, as ' crom' crooked, pi. < croma'; ' tuirseach' melancholy, pi. ' tuir- seach.
A few Dissyllables form their Plural like Mono- syllables, and suffer a contraction ; as 'reamhar' fat. pi. ' reamhra', contracted for ' reamhara.'
ADJECTIVES OF THE SECOND DECLENSION.
All the Cases of Adjectives of the Second Declen- sion are formed according to the General Rules for nouns of the second declension ; that is. Mono- syllables add e for the gen. sing, femin. and for the plural cases ; Polysyllables are like the nom. sing, throughout.
In the second Declension, as in the first. Dissyl- lables sometimes suffer a contraction in the Plu- ral ; as ' mills' sweet, pi. ' milse' contracted for ' milise.'
Of tlte Initial Form of Adjectives.
Adjectives admit the aspirated Form through all the Numbers and Cases. In Adjectives beginning with a Labial or a Palatal, the aspirated Form alone is used in the gen. and voc. sing. masc. the nom. dat. and voc. sing, feminine.
Comparison of Adjectives.
There are in Gaelic two forms of Comparison, which may be called ihe first and the second Compa- rative.
The first Comparative is formed from the gen. sing, mas. by adding e ; as ' geal' white, g. s. m. ' gil', comp. ' gile' ' ghile'; ' ciontach' guilty, g. s. ni. ' ciont- aich', comp. ' ciontaiche.' — Some Adjectives suffer a contraction in the Comparative ; as ' bodhar' decf, comp. ' buidlue' for ' buidhire'; ' bòidheach' pretty, comp. ' bòidhche' for bòidhiche.'
If the last letter of the gen. be a, it is changed in- to e, and i inserted before the last consonont ; as ' fa- da' long, g. s. m. ' fada', comp. ' faide'; ' tana' thin, g. s. m. ' tana', comp. ' taine.'
The second Comparative is formed from the first, by changing final e into id; as ' trom' heavy, 1. comp. ' truime', 2. comp. ' truimid'; 'tiugh' thich, 1. comp. ' tiuighe', 2. comp. ' tiuighid.' There are not many Adjectives which admit of the second Comparative.
Both these forms of Comparison have an aspirated as well as a pritnary form, hut are otherwise indeclin- able.
b 2
12
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
The following Adjectives are compared irregularly.
Positive. Maith, good, 01c, bad, evil, Mòr, great, Beag, small, Goirid, gèarr, short, Duilich, difficult, Tetli, hot, Leathan, broad, Fagus, iiear, Furas, easy, lonmhuinn, beloved,
1. Comp. fèarr, miosa, mo, lugha, giorra, dorra, teotha, leatha, faisge, usadh. annsa.
2. Comp. feàird. misd. moid, lughaid. giorraid.
To these may be added the noun.
Mòran, a great number or quantity, tuilleadh.
The Superlative, which is but a particular mode of expressing comparison, is the same in form with the first Comparative.
An eminent degree of any quality is expressed by putting one of the particles ' ro, gle,' before the Po- sitive ; as ' ro ghlic' very icise, ' gle gheal' very white. Tlie same effect is produced by prefixing ' fior' trtte, ' sàr' exceeding, &c. wliich words are, in that case, used adverbially ; as ' fior mhaiseach' tridy beautiful, ' sàr mhaith' exceedingly good.
Cardinal Numbers.
1 Aon, a-h-aon, one.
2 Da, a dhà.
3 Trì. 4) Ceithir.
5 Cùig.
6 Sè, sèa, sia.
7 Seachd.
8 Ochd.
9 Naoi.
10 Deich.
11 Aon deug.
12 A dhà dheug.
13 Tri deug.
20 Fichead.
21 Aon thar fliichead.
22 Dha 'ar fhichead.
23 Tri 'ar fhichead.
30 Deich 'ar fhichead.
31 Aon deug thar fhichead. 40 Da fhicliead.
50 Deich is da fhichead. 60 Tri fichead. 100 Ceud. 200 Da cheud. 300 Tri ceud. 400 Ceithir cheud. 500 Cùig ceud. 1,000 Mile. 2,000 Da mhile. 3,000 Tri mile. 10,000 Deich mile. 20,000 Fichead mile. 100,000 Ceud mile. 200,000 Da cheud mile. 1,000,000 Deich ceud mile.
Cardinal Numbers joined to a Noun.
Of the masc. gender.
1 Aon fliear, one man.
2 Da fhear.
3 Tri fir.
10 Deich fir.
1 1 Aon f hear deug.
12 Da fhear dheug.
13 Tri fir dheug.
20 Fichead fear.
21 Aon fliear thar fhichead.
22 Da fliear thar fliichead.
23 Tri fir fhichead.
30 Deich fir fhichead.
3 1 Aon fhear deug 'ar fliichead.
40 Da fhichead fear.
41 Fear is da fliichead.
42 Da fhear is da fhichead. 50 Deich is da fhichead fear. 60 Tri fichead fear.
70 Tri fichead fear agus deich.
100 Ceud fear.
101 Ceud fear agus a h-aon. 309 Tri cheud fear.
1,000 Mile fear. 10,000 Deich mile fear, &c.
Of the fem. gender. Aon clilach, one stone. Da chloich. Tri chlachan. Deich clachan. Aon chlacli dheug. Da chloicli dheug. Tri clachan deug. Fichead clach. Aon chlach thar fliichead. Da chloich thar fhichead. Tri chiclia fichead. Deich clacha ficiiead. Aon clilach dheug thar fhichead. Da fhichead clach. Clach is da fhichead. Da chloich is da fliichead. Deich is da fhichead clach. Tri fichead clach. Tri fichead clach agus deich. Ceud clach.
Ceud clach agus a h-aon. Tri cheud clach. Mile clach. Deich mile clach, &c.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Ordinal Numbers.
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1 An ceud f hear, the first man ; a' cheud |
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chlach, the first stone. |
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2 An dara fear. |
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3 An treas fear, an tritheamh fear. |
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4 An ceathramh fear. |
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6 An cùigeamh fear. |
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6 An sèathadh fear. |
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7 An seachdamh fear. |
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8 An t-ochdamh fear. |
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9 An naothamh. |
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10 An deicheamh fear. |
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1 1 An t-aon fhear deug. |
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12 An dara fear deug. |
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20 Am ficheadamh fear. |
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21 An t-aon fliear fichead. |
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22 An dara fear fichead. |
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31 An t-aon fliear deug thar fhichead. |
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40 An da fhicheadamh fear. |
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60 An tri ficheadamh fear. |
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100 An ceudamh fear. |
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101 An t-aon fhear thar cheud. |
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200 Am ficheadamh fear thar cheud. |
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200 An da cheudamh fear. |
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1000 Am milearah fear, &c. |
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Tlie rsons |
following numeral Nouns are applied only to |
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2. |
Dithis, two persons. 7. Seachdnar. |
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3. |
Triùir. 8. Ochdnar. |
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4. |
Ceathrar. 9. Naoinear. |
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5. |
Cùignear. 10. Deichnar. |
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6. |
Sèathnar. |
CHAP. IV.— OF PRONOUNS.
The Pronouns are, for the most part, words used instead of nouns. They may be arranged under the following divisions : Personal, Possessive, Relative, Demonstrative, Interrogative, Indefinite, Compound.
The Personal Pronouns are those of the 1st, 2d, and 3d persons. They have a Singular and a Plural Number, a Simple and an Emphatic Form. They are declined thus :
Singular. Simple Form. Emphat. F.
1. Mi, mhi, /, wje, Mise, mhise. „ J Tu, thu, tlioit, 1
y Tusa, thusa. > Esan.
\ Thu, thee.
E, se, he,
E, him,
I, si, she, \ 1 1, her, ]
Plural. Simple Form. ). Sinn, we, us, ii. Sibh, ye, you,
3 /^"'^' -''»'''<%' I ladsan •*• tiad, them, | ^«"san
Ise.
Emphat F. Sinne. Sibhse.
The Pronoun ' sibh' you, of the plural number is used almost universally in addressing a single person of superior rank, or of greater age ; while ' thu' thoic, of the singular number is used in addressing an inferior or an equal. But the degree of seniority or of supe- riority, which is understood to entitle a person to this token of respect, varies in different jiarts of the Highlands. The Supreme Being is always addressed by the pronoun ' tu', or, ' thu', thou, of the singular number.
The Possesive Pronorms correspond to the Person- al Pronouns ; and, like them, may be called those of the 1st, 2d, and 3d persons singular, and 1st, 2d, and 3d persons plural. They have an emphatic Form, wliich is made by connecting the syllable sa with the possessive pronoun of the 1st, 2d, and 3d persons singular, and 2d person plural ; «e with that of the 1st person plural, and scin with that of 3d per- son plural. These syllables are placed immediately after the nouns to which the possessive pronouns are prefixed, and connected by a hyphen.
These Pronouns are as follows : Simple. Emphatic. Singular.
1. Mo, my, mo mhac-sa.
2. Do, thy, do mhac-sa. „ ^A,his, a mhac-sa, or, san. ^- lA,
her.
a niac-sa, or, san.
Plural.
1. Ar, our, ar mac-ne.
2. Bhur, 'ur, your, bhur mac-sa.
3. An, am, tfieir, an, am-sa, san.
If the noun be followed by an adjective, the em- phatic syllable is affixed to the adjective ; as ' do lamb gheal-sa' thy ivhite hand.
The possessive pronouns, ' mo, do', when followed by a vowel, commonly lose the o, whose absence is marked by an apostrophe; as ' m' ainm' my name ; ' d' athair' thy father. ' Do', thus abbreviated is fre- quently changed into, t'. The same pronouns when preceded by the preposition ' ann' in, suffer a trans- position of their letters, and are written ' am, ad', one broad vowel being substituted for another ; as ' ann ad chridhe' in thy heart, ' ann am aire' in my thoughts.
The possessive pronoun ' a' his, is often suppressed altogether after a vowel ; as ' na sanntaich bean do choimhearsnaich, no oglach,no bhanoglach, no dhamh, no asal' covet not thy neighbours wife, or his man- servant, or his maid-servant, &c. \^^len thus omitted, its absence is marked by an apostrophe before the initial letter of the following noun, ' no 'òglach, no ' bhanoglach'.
The word ' fein' corresponding to the English words self men, is subjoined occasionally both to the personal and possessive pronouns ; thus ' mi fein' myself ' mise fein' I myself ' thu fein' thyself, ' thusa fein' thoii thyself or thy oum. self; ' rao shluagh fein' iny own people.
14
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
The other Pronouns are as follows :
Relative. Demonstrative. IiUerrogative.
N. A, wIm, which, that. So, this, tliese. Co? tvho ?
G.ScD. An. Sin, that,tlmse. Cia? which ?
Nach, who not, Siid, ud, yon. Ciod, creud,
which not. wltat ?
Na, that which, what.
Indefinite. Compound.
Eigin,«OT«e. E so, this one, m. E sud, yon one, m.
„P , f I whoever. I so, this one, f. I sud, yon one, f.
Ciabej
Bile, other. lad so, these. lad sud, yon, pi.
p^'^? I each,every.E sm,thatone,m. Càch eile, the rest. Cdch,otiiers,t/ierest.lad sin, those, Cach a cheile, Cuid, some. each other.
CHAP. V.^OF VERBS.
The Verb in Gaelic, as in other languages, is de- clined by Voices, Moods, Tenses, Numbers, and Per- sons.
The Voices are two ; Active and Passive.
The Moods are five ; the Affirmative or Indica- tive, the Negative or Interrogative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, and the Infinitive. jNIany, but not all Transitive Verbs have a Passive Participle.
The Tenses are three ; the Present, the Preterite, and the Future.
The Numbers are two ; Singular and Plural.
Tlie Persons are three ; First, Second, and Third. The distinction of number and person take place only in a few tenses.
The inflections of Verbs, like those of nouns, are made by changes at the beginning, and on the ter- mination.
The changes on the termination are made accord- ing to one model, and by the same rules. But for the sake of stating some diversity in the initial chano'es, it may be convenient to arrange the verbs in two conjugations : whereof the first comprehends those verbs wliich begin with a consonant ; the se- cond, those verbs which begin with a vowel. Verbs beginning with/, followed by a vowel are ranged un- der the second conjugation, along with verbs begin- ning with a vowel.
The verb ' Bi' be, which is used as an auxiliary to other verbs, is declined as follows :
Bi, be. Affirmative or Indicative 3Iood. Present. Preterite. Future.
5««^. Sinff. Sing.
1. Tha mi, lam, Bha mi, / was, Bithidh mi, Iwillbe,
2. Tha thu, Bha thu, Bithidh tu,
3. Tha e ; Bha e ; Bithidli se ;
Plur.
1. Tha sinn,
2. Tha sibh,
3. Tha iad.
Plur. Bha sinn, Bha sibh, Bha iad.
Plur. Bithidh sinn, Bithidh sibh, Bithidh siad.
Negative or Interrogative Mood. Present. Preterite.
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Si7ig |
Sing. |
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■ 1 Bheil mi, / am not. |
Robh mi, / teas not |
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ni |
2 Bheil thu, |
Robh thu. |
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cha |
3 Bheil e ; |
Robh e ; |
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nach < |
Plur. |
Plur. |
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mur, |
1 Bheil sinn, |
Robh sinn, |
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&c. |
2 Bheil sibh, |
Robh sibh. |
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3 Bheil iad. |
Future. Sing. |
Robh iad. |
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fBi |
mi, / shall not be. |
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ni |
Bi thu, |
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cha |
Bi |
se ; |
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nach < |
Plur |
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mur, |
Bi |
sinn. |
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&c. |
Bi .Bi |
sibh, siad. |
Subjunctive Mood. Preterite or Imperfect. Future.
Sing. Sing.
1 V>\\\\\\\w\\,l%oouldbe, Mabhitheas mi, //^/«/<«//fe.
2 Bhitlieadli tu, Bhitheas tu,
3 Bhitheadh e ; Bhitheas e ;
Plur.
1 Bhithuamaid, Bliithcadh sinn,
2 Bhitheadh sibh, J Bhitheadh iad.
Imperative Mood.
Sing.
1 Bitheam, let me be,
2 Bi, bi thusa,
3 Bitlieadh e ;
Plur.
1 Bitheamaid,
2 Bithibh,
,3 Bithcadh iad.
Plur. Bhitheas sinn.
Bhitheas sibh, Bhitheas iad.
Infinitive Mood.
Bith, being".
Do bhith, Ì ^ ,
Abhith, l*".^'
Gu bhith, 1 . I r' 1 -.1 r to be, Gu bith, J '
Air bhith, ) r. i ■ ,
Airbith, I'i^'""^""^'^^''-
O bhith, /rom beitig, &c.
COMPOUND TENSES.
Affirmative Mood. Present.
Sitigular. 1 Tha mi air bitli, I have been, &c.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
15
Preterite.
Singular.
2 Bha mi air bith, / Iiad been, &c.
Future.
Singular.
3 Bitliidh mi air bith, / sltall Itave been, &c.
M
Negative Mood.
Singular.
1 Bheil mi air bith, / Imve not been.
2 Robh mi air bith, / had iiot been.
3 Bi mi air bith, / shall not have been.
Subjunctive 3Iood. Preterite or Pluperfect.
SÌ7igular.
1 Bhithinn air bith, / should have been, &c.
Future.
Singidar.
2 Ma bhitheas mi air bith. If I shall have beeti,&c.
Tlie present affirmative • ta' is now for most part written ' tha'. Tliis is one of many instances where there appears a propensity in those who speak tlie Gaelic, to attenuate its articulations by aspiration. Another con-upt way of ^vriting ' ta' which has be- come common, is ' ata'. This has probably taken its rise from uniting the relative to the verb ; as ' an uair afa mi' ; instead of ' an uair a ta, &c. ' mar n ta', &c. Or perhaps it may have proceeded from a too compliant regard to a provincial pronuncia- tion.
The preterite negative ' robh' appears to be made up of the verbal particle ' ro', the same with ' do', and ' bha', throwing away the last vowel ; ' ro bha, robh'.
The verb and pronoun of the 1st person singular, and 3d person plural, are frequently incorporated in- to one word, and written ' taim', / am, ' taid' thci/ are.
The present negative loses the initial bh after the particles ' cha' not, ' mur' if not, 'nach' that not ; n is inserted, euphonice causa, betwixt the particle ' cha' and the verb ; as ' cha 'n 'eil, mur 'eil, nach 'eil'. This Tense is often pronounced ' beil' after the par- ticle ' am' ; as 'am beil e'? is it?
Initial b of the future negative is aspirated after the particle ' cha' 7iot; as ' cha bhi'.
Initial bh of the preterite subjunctive, loses the as- piration after the particles ' ni' not, ' mur' if not, ' nach' that not, ' gu' that, < nam' if; as ' mur bith- inn, nam bitheadh tu'.
The subjunctive and imperative often suffer a con- traction, by changing ithea into io ; as ' biom, bios, biodh' &c.
Some of the compound tenses of ' Bi' are rarely,
if ever used. They are here given complete, because they correspond to the analogy of other verbs ; and show how accurately the various modifications of time may be expressed by the substantive verb itself.
Example of a verb of the 1st Conjugation. ' Buail' to strike.
ACTIVE VOICE.
SIMPLE TENSES.
Affirmative or Indicative Mood. Preterite.
Singular.
1 Do bhuail mi, / struck. Bhuail mi
2 Bhuail thu,
3 Bhuail e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuail sinn,
2 Bhuail sibh,
3 Bhuail iad.
Future.
Singular.
1 Buailidh mi, / ivill strike.
2 Buailidh tu,
3 Bualidh se ;
Plurcd.
1 Buailidh sinn,
2 Buailidh sibh,
3 Buailidh siad, or, iad.
Negative or Interrogative Mood.
Preterite.
Singular. ' 1 Do bhuail mi, / struck not,
2 Do bhuail thu,
3 Do bhuail e ;
Plural.
1 Do bhuail sinn,
2 Do hhuail sibh,
3 Do bhuail iad.
cha nach - mur, &c.
Future.
Singidar.
1 Buail mi, / %oill not strike.
2 Buail thu,
3 Buail e ;
Plural.
1 Buail sinn,
2 Buail sibh, 1, 3 Buail iad.
16
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Subjunctive Mood. Preterite.
Singiular.
1 Bhuailinn, 1 would strike,
2 Bhuaileadh tu,
3 Bhuaileadh e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuaiieamaid, Bhuaileadh sinn,
2 Bhuaileadh sibh,
3 Bhuaileadh iad.
Future.
iSi?igular.
1 Ma bhuaileas mi, If J shall strike,
2 Bhuaileas tu,
3 Bhuaileas e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuaileas sinn,
2 Bhuileas sibh,
3 Bliuaileas iad.
Imperative Mood.
Singtdar.
1 Buaileatn, let me strike,
2 Buail,
3 Buaileadh e ;
Pltiral.
1 Buailcamaid,
2 Buailibli,
3 Buaileadh iad.
Infinitive Mood.
Bualadh, strikinf/,
Ag bualadh, a-strihimj, striking,
Air bualadh, struck.
Do bhualadh, \
A bhualadli, J '
Ri bualadh, at striking,
fce bualadh, with striking,
O bhualadh, /ro;» striking, &c.
COMPOUND TENSES.
Affirmative Mood.
Present.
1. Comji. Tha mi ag bualadh, / am striking, &c.
Preterite.
] . Comp. Bha mi ag bualadli, / was striking, &c.
to strike,
Future.
ni cha nach mur,
1. Comp.
Bithidh mi ag bualadh, Iioill be striking, &c.
Present.
2. Comp.
Tha mi air bualadli, / have struck, &c.
Preterite.
2. Comp. Bha mi air bualadh, / /utd struck, &c.
Future.
2. Comp. Bithidh mi air bualadh, / will have struck, &c.
Negative 3Iood.
Present.
] . Comp. ' Bheil mi ag bualadh, / am not striking, &c.
Preterite.
1. Comp. Robh mi ag bualadh, / was tiot striking, &c.
Future.
1. Comp. Bi mi ag bualadh, / will not be striking, &c.
Present.
2 Comp. Bheil mi air bualadh, / Jmve not struck, &c.
Preterite.
2 Comp. Robh mi air bualadh, / had iwt struck, &c.
Future.
2 Comp. Bi mi air bualadh, / will not have struck, &c.
Sub/unctive Mood.
Preterite.
1 Comp. Bhithinn ag bualadh, / would be striking, &c.
2 Com]). Bhithinn air bualadh, / tvould have striwk, &c.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
17
Future.
1. Coinp.
Ma bhitheas mi ag bualadh, If I shall be striking, &c.
2. Comp.
Ma bhitheas mi air bualadh, If I shall have struck, 8zc.
Imperative Mood.
1. Comp.
Bitheam ag bualadh, Let ine be striking, &c.
2. Comp.
Bitheam air bualadh, Let me have struck, &c.
Infinitive Mood.
1. Comp.
Do bhith ag bualadh, To be striking, &c. Air bith ag bualadli. Been striking, &c.
2. Comp.
Do bhith air bualadh, To have been strikbig, &c.
PASSIVE VOICE.
Affirmative 3Iood.
SIMPLE TENSES.
Preterite.
Singular.
1 Do bhuaileadli mi, / loas struck. Bhuaileadh mi
2 Bhuaileadh thu,
3 Bhuaileadh e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuaileadh sinn,
2 Bhuaileadh sibh,
3 Bhuaileadh iad.
Future.
Singidar.
1 Buailear mi, / shall be struck.
2 Buailear thu,
3 Buailear e ;
Plural.
1 Buailear sinn,
2 Buailear sibh,
3 Buailear iad. Vol. I.
cha nach mur, &c.
Negative Mood. Preterite.
Singular.
1 Do bhuaileadh mi, I tvas 7iot struck,
2 Do bhuaileadh thu,
3 Do bhuaileadh e ;
Plural.
1 Do bhuaileadh sinn,
2 Do bhuaileadh sibh,
3 Do bhuaileadh iad.
Future.
Singular.
1 Buailear mi, I shall not be struck,
2 Buailear thu,
3 Buailear e ;
Plural.
1 Buailear sinn,
2 Buailear sibh,
3 Buailear iad.
Subjunctive Mood. Preterite.
Singular.
1 Bhuailteadh mi, / ivould be struck,
2 Bhuailteadh thu,
3 Bhuailteadli e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuailteadh sinn,
2 Bhuailteadh sibh,
3 Bhuailteadh iad.
Future.
Singular. I Ma bhuailear mi. If I shall be struck,
2 Bhuailear thu,
3 Bhuailear e ;
Plural.
1 Bhuailear sinn,
2 Bhuailear sibh,
3 Bhuailear iad.
Imperative Mood.
Singular.
1 Buailtear mi. Let me be stntck,
2 Buailtear thu,
3 Buailtear e ;
Plural.
1 Buailtear sinn,
2 Buailtear sibh,
3 Buailtear iad.
18
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Participle.
Buailte, Struck.
COMPOUND TENSES.
Affirmative Mood.
Present.
1. Co)np. Tlia mi buailte, / am struck, &c.
Preterite.
1. Comp. Biia mi buailte, I was struck, &c.
Future.
1. Comp.
Bithidh mi buailte, I shall be struck, &c.
Present.
2. Comp.
Singtdar.
1 Tlia mi air mo bhualadh, / have been struck.
2 Tha tliu air do bhualadh,
3 Tha se air a bhualadh ;
Plural.
1 Tha sinn air ar bualadh,
2 Tha sibh air 'ur bualadh,
3 Tha siad air am bualadh.
Preterite. 2. Comp.
Singular.
1 Bha mi air mo bhualadh, I had been struck,
2 Bha thu air do bhualadh,
3 Bha se air a bhualadh ;
Plural.
1 Bha sinn air ar bualadh,
2 Bha sibh air 'ur bualadh, S Bha siad air am bualadh.
Future. 2. Comp.
Singular.
1 Bithidh mi aW mo hhwdladh, I shall have been struck.
2 Bithidh tu air do bhualadh,
3 Bithidh sc air a bhualadh ;
Plural.
1 Bithidh sinn air ar bualadh,
2 Bithidh sibh air 'ur bualadh,
3 Bithidh siad air am bualadh,
Negative Mood. Present. 1. Comp. Ni bheil mi buailte, / am not striwh, &c.
Preterite. 1. Comp. Ni robh mi buailte, / was not struck, &c.
Future.
1. Comp.
Ni bi mi buailte, / sltall not be struck, &c.
Present.
2. Comp.
Ni bheil mi air mo bhualadh, I have iwt been struck, &c.
Preterite. 2. Comp. Ni robh mi air mo bhualadh, / had not been struck, &c.
Future. 2. Comp. Ni bi mi air mo bhualadh, / sJiall not have been struck, &-C.
Sub/unctive 3Iood. Preterite.
1. Comp. Bhithinn buailte, I woidd be struck, &c.
2. Comp.
Bhithiun air mo bhualadli, Iivoidd have been struck, &c.
Future.
1. Comp.
Ma bhithoas mi buailte, Jf I shall be struck, &c.
2. Comji.
3Ia bhithcas mi air mo bhualadh, If I shall /utve been struck, &c.
Imperative Mood.
1. Comp. Bitheam buailte, Let me be struck, &c.
2. Comp.
Bitheam air mo bhualadh. Let me have been struck, &c.
Infinitive Mood.
1. Comp. Do bhith buailte. To be struck, &c.
2. Comp.
Do bhith air mo bhualadh, To liave beeti struck, &c.
PART II.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
19
EXAMPLES OP VERBS OF THE SECOND CONJUGATION.
Orduich, to a/jpoint. ACTIVE VOICE.
SIMPLE TENSES.
Preterite. Affirmat. Dh'òrduich, Negat. D'òrdiiicli, Subjunct. Dh'òrduichinn, Imperat. Òrduicheara.
Future. Òrduichidh. Orduich. Dh'òrduicheas. Injìnit. Orducliadli.
PASSIVE VOICE.
Affirmat. Dh'òrdiiicheadli, Nec/at. D'òrduicheadh, Subjunct. Dh'ùrduichteadli, Imperat. Orduichthear.
Orduichear. Orduichear. Dh'òrduichear. Partkip. Orduichte.
Folaich, to hide. ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Affirmat. Dh'fTiolaich, Negat. Dli'fholaich, Subjimct. Dh'fholaichinn, Imperat. Folaicheam.
Future. Folaichidli. Folaich. Dh'tliolaicheas. Infinit. Folachadh.
PASSIVE VOICE.
Affirmat. Dh'fliolaicheadh, Negat. D'fliolaicheadh, Subjunct. Dh'fliolaichteadli, Imperat. Folaichtear.
Folaichear. Folaichear. Dhfholaichear. Partkip. Fohxichte.
The Compound tenses may be easily learned from those of the Verb ' Buail' in the first Conjugation, being formed exactly in the same manner.
FORMATION OF THE TENSES. Of the Initial Form.
An initial consonant is aspirated in the Preterite Tense, through all the Moods and Voices ; except in the Preterite Subjunctive after the Particles ' ni, mur, nach, gu, an, am.' An Initial consonant is oc- casionally aspirated in the Future Tense, and in the Infinitive and Participle, indicating their connection with the preceding word.
In the first Conjugation, ' do' is prefixed to the Pret. Aif. and Neg. Active and Passive. However, it often is, and always may be, omitted before the Pret. AfF. It is sometimes omitted in the Pret. Neg. in verse, and in common conversation In the se- cond Conjugation, the same Particle ' do' is prefixed to the Preterite through all the Moods and Voices,
and to the Fut. Subj. excepting only the Subjunctive Tenses after ' ni, mur, nach, gu, an, am.' In this Conjugation, ' do' always loses the o to avoid a hia- tus : and the d is aspirated in the Affirm, and Sub- junct. Moods.
Of the Termination.
In all regular Verbs, the Terminations adjected to the Root are, strictly speaking, the same in Verbs characterized by a broad vowel, and in Verbs cha- racterized by a small vowel. But where the first vowel of the Termination does not correspond in quality to the last vowel of the Root, it has become the constant practice to insert in the Termination a vowel of the requisite quality, in order to produce this correspondence. Thus a variety has been intro- duced into the Terminations even of regular Verbs, prejudicial to the uniformity of inflection, and of no use to ascertain either the sense or the pronunciation. In the foregoing examples of regular Verbs, the com- mon mode of Orthography has been followed ; but in the following rules, the simple terminations only are specified.
Active Voice Simple Tenses.
The Theme or Root of the Verb is always found in the second Person singular of the Imperative.
The Preterite Affirm, and Negat. is like the Root, and has no distinction of Number or Person. In most of the editions of the Gaelic Psalms, some in- flections of the Preterite have been admitted, with good effect, from the Irish Verb ; such as, ' bhuaileas' / struck, ' bhualis' thou didst strike, ' bhuaileamar' we struck, ' bhuaileadar' thei/ struck. — The Pret. Subj. is formed by adding to the Root imi for the first pers. sing, and adh for the other persons. The first pers. plur. also terminates in amaid.
The Future Affirm, adds idh to the Root ; in the Negat. it is like the Root ; and in the Subjunct. it adds as. A poetic Future Tense terminating in ann or onn, is frequent in the Gaelic Psalms ; as ' gair- ionn' iuill call, ' seasfann' will stand, ' do bheirionn' irill gine, &c. The Future has no distinction of Number or Person.
In the Imperative Mood, the second pers. sing, is the Root of the Verb. The other Persons are dis- tinguished by these terminations ; 1st pers. sing, ayn, 3d pers. sing, adh, 1st pers. plur. amaid, 2d pers. plur. ibh, 3d pers. plur. culh.
The terminations peculiar to the 1st pers. sing, and plur. of the Pret. Subj. and of the Imperat. supply the place of the Personal Pronouns ; as does also the Termination of the 2d pers. plur. of the Imperative.
The Injinitive is variously formed.
Gcneird Ride. The Infinitive is formed by adding adh to the Root ; as ' aom' boio, incline, Infin. ' aom- adh'; ' ith' eat, Infin. ' itheadh.'
1. Some verbs suffer a syncope in the penult syl- c 2
20
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
•able, and are commolny used in their contracted form ; as
Caomhain, spare, Coisinn, win, Diobair, forsake, Fògair, banish, Foghainn, suffice, Fosgail, open, Innis, tell, iobair, sacrifice, Mosgail, awake, Seachain, avoid, Tionnsgain, begin, Togair, desire,
Lifinit. Caomhnadh. Coisneadh, Cosnadh. Diobradli. Fògradh. Foghnadh. Fosgladh. Innseadh. lobradh. Mosgladh. Seachnadh. Tionnsgnadh. Togradh.
Observe, that Verbs which thus suffer a syncope in forming the Infinitive, suffer a lilve syncope in the Preterite Subjunctive, and in the Imperative Mood; as ' innis', tell, Infin. ' innseadh,' Pret. Subj. ' inn- sinn, innseadh, innseamaid,' Imperat. ' innseara, inn- seamaid, innsibh'.
2. A considerable number of Verbs have their In- finitive like the Root, as
Caoidh, lament. Ò1, drink.
Dearmad, neglect. Ruith, run.
Fas, grow. Snàrah, swim.
Gairm, call. Sniomh, twine. Meas, estimate.
3. Polysyllables in ch, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw it away, or convert it into a broad Vowel, and add adh ; as
Iiifin. Ceannaich, buy, Ceannachadh.
Smuainich, think, Smuaineachadh.
Most Monosyllables in sg, and a few others, fol- low the same Rule ; as,
|
Infin. |
|
|
Coisg, check. |
Cosgadh. |
|
Fàisg, wring. |
Fàsgadh |
|
Loisg, bum. |
Losgadh. |
|
Luaisg, rock. |
Luasgadh |
|
Naisg, bind. |
Nasgadh. |
|
Paisg, wrap. |
Pasgadh. |
|
Blais, taste. |
Blasadh. |
|
Buail, strike. |
Bualadh. |
4. Many Verbs, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw it away, or convert it into a broad Vowel, without adding adh ; as, Infin.
Amhairc, look, Amais, hit, Caill, lose, Ceangail, bind, Cuir, put, Coimhid, keep, Fulaing, suffer, Fuiricb, stay, Guil, weep, lomain, drive,
Amharc.
Amas.
Call.
Ceangal.
Cur.
Coimhcad.
Fulang.
Fuireach.
Gul.
Ionian.
Leighis, cure, Sguir, cease, Siubhail, travel, Tachrais, wind, Tionndaidh, turn, Toirmisg, forbid, Tionail, gather, Tionnsgail, contrive,
The following Verbs
Agair, claim, Bagair, threaten, Casgair, slaughter, Freagair, answer, lomair, tise, Labhair, speak, Lomair, shear, Saltair, trample, Tabhair, give, Tachair, meet.
Infin. Leigheas. Sgur. Siubhal. Tachras. Tionndadh. Toirmeasg. Tional. Tionnsgal.
in air add / to the Root ; Infin.
Agairt. Bagairt. Casgairt. Freagairt. lomairt Labhairt. Lomairt. Saltairt. Tabhairt. Tachairt.
6. These Monosyllables add sinn to the Root.
Beir, bear, Creid, believe, Faic, see, Goir, crow, Mair, continue, Saoil, think, Tvèìg, forsake, Tuig, understand, Ruig, reach.
Beirsinn.
Creidsinn.
Faicsinn.
Goirsinn.
Mairsinn.
Saoilsinn.
Treigsinn.
Tuigsinn.
Ruigsinn, or Ruigheachd.
7. These Monosyllables add tuinii or tinn to the Root
Bean, touch Buin, take away. Can, say, sing. Cinn, grow, Cluinn, hear. Fan, stay. Gin, produce, hcan, follow, Meal enjoy, Pill, return, Seall, look.
Beantuinn.
Buntuinn.
Cantuinn.
Cinntinn.
Cluinntinn.
Fantuinn.
Gintinn, or Gincamhuinn.
Leantuinn,or Leanmhuinn.
Mealtuinn.
Pilitinn.
Sealltuinn.
8. The following Monosyllables add ail to the Root.
Cum, hold, Cumail.
Gabh, lake, Gabliail.
Fag, leave, Fàgail.
Leag, cast down, Leagail.
Tog, raise, Togail.
Tuig, widerstand, Tuigeil, or Tuigsinn.
9. These Monosyllables add amh to the Root. Caith, spend, Caithcamh.
Dean, to mahe, Dèananili.
Feith, wait, Feitheamh.
Seas, starid, Seasamh.
10. The following verbs form the Infinitive irregu- larly. Beuc, roar, Beucaich.
Bùir, bellow, Bùirich.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
21
Geum, lotc, Glaodli, cry, Caisd, listen, Eisd, listen, Marcaich, ride, Thig, come, Faigh, Jind, Eirich, rise, larr, request, Taisg, lay up, Coidil, sleep, Fuaigh, sew, Gluais, move, Tuit, fall. Teirig, tcear out, Teasairg, deliver.
Infill. Geumnaich. Glaodhaich. Caisdeachd. Eisdeaclid. Marcachd. Teaclid, tighinn. Faghail, faotainn. Eirigh. larraidh. Tasgaidh. Codal. Fuagliai.
Gluasad, gluasachd. Tuiteam. Teireachduinn. Teasairginn.
Compound Tenses.
The compound Tenses of the first order are made up of the several simple Tenses of the auxiliary verb ' Bi' be, and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposi- tion ' ag' at. Between two Consonants, ' ag' com- monly loses the ff, and is written a' ; as, ' tha iad a' dèanamh' they are doing. Between two Vowels, the a is dropped, and the g is retained ; as, ' ta mi 'g iarruidh' / am asking. When preceded by a Con- sonant, and followed by a Vowel, the Preposition is WTÌtten entire ; as, ' ta iad ag iarruidh' they are ask- ing. When preceded by a Vowel, and followed by a Consonant, it is often suppressed altogether ; as, ' ta mi dèanamh', / am doing.
The compound Tenses of the second order are made up of the simple Tenses of ' Bi' and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition ' air', after.
PASSIVE VOICE. Simple Tenses.
The Preterite Affirm, and Negat. is formed from the same Tense in the Active, by adding adh. The Preter. Subj. adds teadh.
The Future is formed from the Fut. Act. by changing the Terminations in the Affirm, and Subj. into ar, (more properly far, as of old ;) and adding the same syllable in the Negative.
The Imperative is formed from the Imperat. Act. by adding to the second pers. sing, tar, thar, or ar.
The Participle is Ibrmed by adding te to the Root.
There is no distinction of Number or Person in the Tenses of the Passive Voice.
Verbs which suffer a s}'ncope in the Infinitive, suf- fer a like syncope in the Pret. AIF. and Neg. through- out the Future Tense, and in the Imperative.
Compound Tense.
The compound Tenses of the first order are made up of the simple Tenses of the auxiliary ' Bi', and the Passive Participle.
The compound Tenses of the second order are made
up of the simple Tenses of ' Bi' and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition ' air,' and the Possessive Pronoun corresponding in Person to the Pronoun, or to the Noun, which is the Nominative to the verb.
USE AND IMPORT OF THE MOODS AND TENSES.
The Affirmative or Indicative Mood expresses af- firmation, and is used in affirmative propositions only ; as, ' do bhuail mi' / struck, ' bha mi a' bualadh' / was striking.
The Negative or Interrogative Mood is used in negative propositions and interrogative clauses, after the Particles ' ni' tiot, ' cha" tiot, ' uach' which not, that not, not? ' mur' fnot,- a!.so, ' gu, gur' that, ' an, am' whether used relatively or interrogatively ; as, ' cha d' fholaich mi' / did not hide, ' mur buail sinn' if we shall not strike, ' nach robh iad' that they were 7Wt, ' gu robh iad' that they were, ' am buail mi ?' shall I strike ? — It is used in the Future Tense after ' ged' although ; as, ' ged bhuail e mi', tlioitgh he strike me.
The Subjunctive Mood is used in the Preterite, either with or without conjunctions ; as, ' bhuailinn' / would strike, ' nam, mur, nach, &c. buailinn' if, unless, <*5C. / should strike. In the Future it is used only after the conjunctions ' ma' if, ' o', o 'n, since, and the Relative ' a' expressed or understood ; as, ' ma bhuaileas mi' if I shall strike, ' am fear a bhuail- ' eas mi' the man ivho will strike me, or the man wJiom I shall strike ; ' an uair a bhuaileas mi' ' tra bhuail- ' eas mi' the time [w] which I shall strike, i. e. tvhen I shall strike ; ' c'uin [cia ùin-e] a bhuaileas mi'? what \_is'\ the time [in'} ivhich I sJuill strike? i.e. lohen s/tall I strike ?
The Imperative Mood expresses desire, whether purpose, command, or request ; as, ' buaileam' let me strike, ' huailihh' strike ye.
The Infinitive is, in all respects, a noun, denoting the action or energy of the verb, and commonly pre- ceded by a Preposition which marks the time of the action ; as, ' ag bualadh' at striking. ' am bualadh' the striking, the threshing. It assumes a regular geni- tive case, 'bualadh' g. s. ' bualaidh'; as ' urlar ' bualaidh' a threshing floor. — The Infinitive some- times loses the termination, and is regularly declined in its abridged form ; thus, ' cruinnich' assemble, inf. ' cruinneachadh' per. apocop. ' cruinneach' g. s. ' cruinnich'.
The Infinitive Mood has been denominated in the present work, the present participle, from the consi- deration of its being regularly so used, preceded by the Preposition ' ag' at, and preceded by ' air' after, regularly corresponding with the past partici- ple, as used in the English and Latin languages ; as, ' ag bualadh' at striking, or strikiiig ; ' air bualadh' after striking, or struck.
Many words expressing state or action, take the Preposition ag before them, and may be considered as present participle Verbs, whereof the other parts are not in use ; as, ' ag atharrais' mimicking, ' ag gàir-
•i2
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
' eachdaicir lauf/Iiinr/, ' a fanoiJ, a magadh' mock- ing,jcerin(j.
The Participle passive is an adjective, denoting the completion of the action or energy expressed by the verb ; as, ' arbhar buailte' thralied corn.
The Simple Tenses whicli belong to all verbs are the Preterite or Future ; besides which the verb ' Bi' to be, and the defective verb ' Is' I am, have a Pre- sent Tense.
Tlie Present expresses present existence, state, or energy.
The Preterite Affirmative and Negative expresses past time indefinitely. The Preterite Subjunctive cor- responds to the English Tenses formed by the auxili- aries, u-ould, could, &c. In general it denotes that the action or energy of the verb takes place eventu- ally or conditionally. The Pret. Aff. or Neg. is used sometimes in this sense, like the English, when the Pret. Subj. occurred in the preceding clause of a sen- tence ; as, ' nam biodh tus' an so, cha d' fhuair mo ' bhràthair bàs' if t/iou Juuht been here, my hrotlier had not [tcould not have'] died.
The Future marks future time indefinitely. TWs Tense is used in a peculiar sense in Gaelic, to signi- fy that an action or event takes place uniformly, ha- bitually, according to ordinary practice, or the course of nature. Thus ; ' blessed is he that considereth the ' poor' expressed according to the Gaelic idiom, would be, ' blessed is he that will consider , &c. ' A ' wise son maketh a glad father," in Gaelic would run, ' a wise son rcill make. Sec. ' Your patient, I am ' told, is in a bad way ; be neither enjoys rest, nor ' iahes medicine. Nay, his situation is worse than you ' know of; yesterday, he became delirious, and is ' now almost unmanageable ; he tosses his arms, and ' endeavours to beat every one within bis reach.' In ' Gaelic, will enjoy — will take — icill toss — will endea- ' vour.'
The Compound Tenses mark different modifications of time, which will be easily understood by analys- ing their component parts.
In the Active Voice, the compound tenses of the first order denote that the action is going on, but not completed at the time specified by the auxiliary verb, or its adjuncts ; as, ' ta mi ag bualadh' / am at striking, i. e. / am striking ; ' bha mi ag bualadh an de' / was striking yesterday.
Those of the second order denote that the action is newly completed and past, at the time marked by the auxiliary verb ; ' tha mi air bualadh' / am after striking, i. e. 1 have struck, Jevicns defrapper ; ' Bha ' mi air bualadh' / was after striking, i. e. / iutd struck.
In the Passive Voice, the compound tenses of the first order denote that the action is finished at the time marked by the auxiliary verb ; • tha mi buailte', / am struck.
Those of the second order denote that the action is newly finished at the time marked by the auxiliary ; ' tha mi air mo bhualadh' / am after my striking, or / am after the striking of me ; which has always a passive signification ; that is, it is always understood,
from this form of expression, that striking is the ac- tion of some agent different from the person struck. It is equivalent to / have been struck, Je viens d etre frappe.
A set of Compound Tenses, of a structure similar to these last, having the preposition ' ag', in place of ' air', is sometimes used, and in a passive sense, denoting that the action is going on at the time mark- ed by the auxiliary ; as, ' tha n tigh 'g a thogail' the house is at its building, i. e. a building ; ' sea ' bliadhna agu,s da fhichead bha 'n teampull so 'g a ' thogail' forty and six years was this temple in build- ing. ' Bha an crodh 'g an leigeadh' the cows were a mi/king. So in English, the book is a-printing ; the deed's a-doing now.'
IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE FIRST CONJl-GATIOK.
Beir, bear. Active Voice.
|
Preterite. |
Future. |
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Affirm. Do fug, Ncgat. D' fug, Subjunct. Bheirinn, Jmpcrat. Beireara. |
Beiridh. Beir. Bheireas. Infin. Beirsinn, breith |
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Passive |
Voice. |
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Affirm. Do fugadh, Negat. D' fugadh, Subjunct. Bheirteadh, Imperat. Beirthear. |
Beirear. Bcirear. Bheirear. |
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Cluinn |
, hear. |
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Active |
Voice. |
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Preterite. |
Future. |
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Affinn. Do chuala, Ncgat. Cuala, Subjunct. Chluinnin, Imperat. Cluinneam. |
Cluinnidh. Cluinn. Chluinneiis. Infin. Cluinntinn. |
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Passive |
Voice. |
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Affirm. Do chualadh, Negat. Cualadh, Subjunct. Chluinnteadh, Imperat. Cluinntear, |
Cluinnear. Cluinnear. Chhiinneur. |
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DiiAN, do |
or miike. |
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Active |
Voice. |
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Preterite. |
Future. |
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Affirm. Do finn, Ncgat. D' finn, Subjunct. Dlièanainn, Imperat. Dèanam. |
Ni. Dean. Ni. Infin. Dèanamii. |
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
23
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Passive |
Voice. |
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Affirm. Do rinneadli, Negat. D' rinneadh, Subjunct. Dheantadh, Imperat. Dèantar. |
Nithear. Dèanar. Nithear. Particip. Dèanta |
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Each, go. |
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Active Voice. |
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Preterite. |
Future. |
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Affirm. Do chaidh, Negat. Deachaidh, Sitbjunct. Rachainn. Imperat. Racham. |
Tlièid. Teid. Theid. liifiii. Dol. |
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RuiG, |
reach. |
|
|
Active |
Voice. |
Preterite.
Future.
Affirm. Do ràinig, Ruigidh,
Negat. D' fàinig, Ruig.
Subjunct. Ruiginn, Ruigeas.
Imperat. Ruigeam. Iii/i». Ruigsinn, ruigheachd.
Tabhair, give.
Active Voice.
Preterite.
Future.
Affirm. Do thug, Blieir.
Negat. D' thug, Tabhair.
Subjunct. Bheirinn,tabhairinn, Bheir. Imperat. Tabhaiream, thugani. hifin. Tabhairt.
Passive Voice.
Affirm. Do thugadh, Bheirear.
Negat. D' thugadh, Tabhairear.
Subjunct. Bheirteadh, tugtadh, Bheirear. Imperat. Thugar.
Thig, come. Active Voice.
Preterite.
Affirm. Do thàinig, Negat. D' thàinig, Sub/unct. Thiginn, Imperat. Thigeam.
Future.
Thig. Tig. Thig. Infiii. Tighinn, tcachd.
IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE SECOND CONJUGATION.
Abair, say.
Active Voice. Preterite. Future.
Affirm. Tliubhairt, dubhairt, Tlieir. Negat. Dubhaiit, Abair.
Subjunct. Theirinn, abairinn, Their. Imperat. Abaiream. Iiifin. Ràdh.
Passive Voice.
Affirm. Dubhradh, Theirear.
Negat. Dubhradh, Abairear.
Subjunct. Tlieirteadh, abairteadh, Theirear. Imperat. Abairear.
Faic, see.
Active Voice.
Preterite.
Affirm. Do chuunaic, Negat. Faca, Subjunct. Chithinn, faicinn, Imperat. Faiceam.
Passive Voice.
Affirm. Do chunncadli, Negat. Facadh, Subjunct. Chiteadh, faicteadh, Imperat, Faicear.
Future.
Chi. Faic. Chi. Iiifin. Faicsinn.
Faigh, get. Active Voice.
Preterite.
Ciiithear. Faicear. Chithear. Injin. Faicsinn.
Future.
Affirm. Fhuair, Gheibh.
Negat. D'fhhuair, Faigh.
Subjunct. Gheibhinn, faighinn, Gheibh.
Imperat. Faigheam, /;j/i«. Faghail, faotainn.
-Passive Voice.
Affirm. Fhuaradh, Gheibhear.
Negat. D' fluiaradli, Faigliear.
Subjunct. Gheibliteadli,faightcadli, Gheibhear. Imperat. Faightear.
The verbs ' Tabhair, Abair, Faigh,' liave a double Preterite Subjunctive. The latter form of it, which is derived regularly from the Root, is used after the same particles which are prefixed to the Negative Mood, viz. ' ni, cha, nacli, mur, gu, an, am'.
OF DEFECTIVE VERBS.
The following defective verbs are in common use.
' Arsa' said, cpioth, indeclinable ; used only in the Pret. AfF. through all the persons ; ' arsa Dornhnull' quoth Donald.
' Tiugainn' come along, ' tiucainnibh' come ye along, used only in the 2d pers. sing, and plur. of the Im- perative.
' Theab mi' / was near to, I had almost ; used
24
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
through all the persons of the Pret. Aff. and Neg. ; as ' theab iad bhith caillte' they luul nearly perisfied.
' Is mi' lam, used in the Pres. and Pret. Tenses, which are declined as follows.
Affirmative Mood.
Present. Sing.
1 Is mi, / am, it is I.
2 Is tu,
3 Is e;
Plur.
1 Is sinn,
2 Is sibh,
3 Is iad.
Preterite. Sing. Bu mhi, / was, it was I. Bu tu, B'e;
Phir. Bu sinn, Bu sibh, B' iad.
Negative Mood.
cha,
nach,
&c.
Sing.
1 mi, lam not, &c.
2 tu,
3 e;
Plur.
1 sinn,
2 sibh,
3 iad.
Sing. Bu mhi, luas not, &c. Bu tu, B'e;
Plur. Bu sinn, Bu sibh, B' iad.
Subjunctive Mood. Present.
Sing.
1 Ma 's mi, If I he, it be I.
2 's tu,
3 'se.
Plur.
1 s smn,
2 's sibh,
3 's iad.
Preterite.
Sing.
1 Nam bu mhi, Jf I were, it were I.
2 Bu tu,
3 B'e;
Pltir.
1 Bu sinn,
2 Busibh,
3 B' iad.
The only varieties of form which this Verb admits of, are the two syllables ' is' and ' bu'. Each of these syllables commonly loses the vowel when it comes in opposition with another vowel.
It is remarkable, that in the Pres. Neg. the Verb disappears altogether, and the Preceding Particle, ' ni, cha, nach, gur', &c. and the subsequent Pronoun, or Noun, are alwa3S understood to convey a proposi- tion, or a question, as unequivocally as though a V^erb had been expressed ; as ' cha tu' thou art not, ' nacl» e?' is he not ? is it not he 9 ' am mise e ?' is it I ? ' cha luchd-brathaidh sinn', we are not spies. ' Am mo thusa na Abraham ?' Art thou greater than Abra- ham ? ' gur coir ùrnuigh a dheanarah' tliat it is pro- per to pray.
OF THE RECIPROCATING STATE OF VERBS.
Any transitive Verb may be so combined with a Pronoun, either Personal or Possessive, that it shall denote the agent to be also the object of the action. This may be called the reciprocating state of the Verb. It is decUned as follows :
Buail thu fein, strike thyself.
Active Voice. — Simple Tenses.
Affirmative Mood.
Preterite. ]
Sing.
1 Do bhuail mi mi fein, Bhuail mi mi fein,
I St neck myself.
2 Do bhuail thu thu fein,
3 Do bhuail se e fein ;
Plur.
1 Do bhuail sinn sinn fein,
2 Do bhuail sibh sibh fein,
3 Do bhuail siad iad fein.
Future. Siiig.
1 Buailidh mi mi fein, / will strike myself.
2 Buailidh tu thu fein,
3 Buailidh se e fein ;
Plur.
1 Buailidh sinn sinn fein ;
2 Buailidh sibh sibh fein,
3 Buailidh siad iad fein.
Negative Mood.
Preterite.
Sing.
cha, f 1 &c. \
Do bhuail mi mi fein, / struck not myself.
Future. Sing.
1 Bhuail mi mi fein, / shall iiol strike myself.
PART ir. OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
Subjunctive Mood, Preterite.
25
Vol. I
Sing. 1 Bhuailinii mi fein, / would strike myself,
Futxire.
Sing. 1 Bhuaileas mi mi fein, / sltcdl strike myself.
Imperative Mood.
Preterite.
Sing.
1 Buaileam mi fein, Let me strike myself.
2 Buail tliu fein,
3 Buaileadh se e fein.
Future.
Pliir.
1 Buaileamaid sinn fein,
2 Buailibh sibh fein,
3 Buaileadh siad iad fein.
Infinitive Mood.
'g am bhualadh fein, striking myself.
'g ad bliualadh fein, striking tkyself.
'g a bhualadh fein, striking himself.
■g ar bualadh fein, striking ourselves.
'g 'ur bualadh fein, striking yourselves.
'g am bualadh fein, striking themselves.
air mo bhualadh fein, after striking myself, &c.
gu mo bhualadh fein, to strike myself, &c.
Compound Tenses.
Affirmative Mood.
Present.
1 Comp. Tha mi 'g am bhualadh fein, lam striking myself.
Preterite.
1. Comp. Bha mi 'g am bhualadh fein, I was striking myself.
Future.
1. Comp.
Bithidh mi 'g am bhualadh fin, I will be striking myself.
Present.
2. Comp. Ta mi air mo, &c. / have struck myself.
Preterite.
2. Comji. Bha mi air mo, &c. I had struck myself.
Future.
2. Com}). Bidh mi air mo, &c. / shall have struck, &c.
Negative Mood.
Present. < 1. Comp.
Ni bheil mi 'g am. &c. lam not striking myself.
Preterite. 1. Comp. Ni robh mi 'g am, &c. / was not striking myself
Future.
1. Comp.
Ni hi mi 'g am bhualadh fein, I shall not be striking myself.
Present.
2. Comp.
Ni bheil mi air mo, &c. I have not struck nnjself
Preterite. 2. Comp.
Ni robh mi air mo, .Src. I had not struck myself
Future. 2. Comp. Ni bi mi air mo, &c. I shall nothavc struck myself.
Subjunctive Mood.
Preterite.
1. Comp.
Bhithinn 'g am, &c. / ivould be striking, Sec.
2. Comp.
Bhithinn air mo, &c. I would have struck, &c.
Future.
1 . Comp.
Ma bliitheas mi 'g am. If I shall be striking, &c.
2. Comp.
Ma bhitheas mi air mo, &c. If I shall Itave struck, &c d
96
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
hnperative Mood,
1. Comp. Bitheam 'g am bhualadh f ein, Let me be striking myself.
Iiifitiiiive 3Iood.
Do bhitli 'g"am bhualadh fein. To be strikimj myself. Air bitli 'g am bhualadh fein, To have been striking myself.
From the foregoing example it appears, that the Verb, in its reciprocating state, retains its original form throughout its several Moods, Tenses, and Per- sons. In the simple Tenses, the Personal Pronoun immediately following the Verb is the Nominative to the Verb. The same Pronoun repeated is to be un- derstood as in the objective state. The word ' fein' corresponding to the English self, accompanies the last Pronoun.
OF THE IMPERSONAL USE OF VERBS.
Intransitive Verbs, though they do not regularly admit of a Passive Voice, yet are used impersmially in the 3d Pers. Sing, of the Passive Tenses. This impersonal use of the Passive of intransitive Verbs is founded on the same principle with the Latin Imper- sonals concurritur, pugnatiim est, &c. wliich are equi- valent to concitrsusjit, pugna facta est. So in Gaelic, ' gluaisfear leam' / ivill move, ' gluaisfear leo' tfiey will move, ' ghuilfeadh Icinn we did weep, ' fleb- atur a nobis'. ' Cha bhithear saor o pheacadh' there wanteth not sin.
To the Class of Impersonals ought to be refeiTed a certain part of the Verb which has not yet been men- tioned. It resembles in form the Put. Ncgat. Passive ; ' buailear, faicear, faighear', &c. In signification, it is Active, Present, and Affirmative. In the course of a narrative, when the speaker wishes to enliven his style by representing the occurrences narrated as present, and passing actually in view ; instead of the Preterite Tenses, he adopts the Part of the \iivb now described, employing it in an impersonal acceptation, without a Nominative to it ex])ressed. One or two examples will serve to exhibit tiic use and effect of this anomalous Tense — ' Shuidh an òg bhean air sgcir, is a sùil air an Icar. Cliunnaic i long a' tcachd air barraibh nantonn. Dh' aithnich i aogas a leann- ain, is chlisg a cridhe 'n a com. Gun nihoille gun tanih, buailear dh' fhios na tràighc; nj^us faighear an laoch, 's a dhaoine ni' a tliiuicliioll'. In English thus : ' The young woman sat on a rock, and her eye on the sea. She spied a ship coming on the tops of the waves. She perceived the likeness of her lover, and her heart bounded in her breast. Without delay or stop, she hastens to the shore ; and Jinds the hero, with his men around him.
OF AUXILIARY VERBS.
It has been already shown how ' bi' be, is used as an Auxiliary in the declension of all verbs. There are two other verbs which are occasionally employed in a similar capacity ; the one with an Active, the other with a Passive effect. These are ' dean' do or make, and ' rach' go.
The simple tenses of ' dean' combined with the Infinitive of any verb, correspond to the English auxiliary do, did. It sometimes adds to the emphasis, but not to the sense. The following are examples of this Auxiliary combined with the Infinitive of an Intransitive verb. ' Rinn e seasamh' he made stand- ing, i. e, he did stand ; ' dean suidhe' make sitting, i. e. sit down ; ' dheanainn gul agus caoidh' / tcoukt make weeping and lamcntatimi, i. e. / would weep and lament. The same arrangement takes place when the Auxiliary is combined with the Infinitive of a Tran- sitive verb, accompanied by a possessive pronoun ; as ' rinn e mo bhualadh' he tnade my striking, i. e. he made [or caiised'\ the striking of me, or he did strike me ; ' cha dean mi do mholadh' / will not make your praising, i. e. I will iiot praise you ; ' dean do gharadh' make your warming, ' dean do gharadh fein' make your oion ivarming, i. e. wann yourself.
The Simple Tenses of ' rach', combined with the Infinitive of a transitive verb, correspond to the Pas- sive Voice of the verb ; as ' chaidh mo bhualadh' tny striking went, i. e. came to pass, or happened, equi- valent to, I was struck ; ' rachadh do mharbhadh' your killing would happen, i. e. you tvmdd be killed.
CHAP. VI..-OF ADVERBS.
The number of simple Adverbs in Gaelic is but small. Adverbial phrases, made up of two or more words, are sufficiently numerous. Any adjec- tive may be converted into an adverbial expression, by prefixing to it the preposition ' gu' to ; as ' firin- neach' true, ' gu fìrinneach' [^corresponding'] to [what is] true, xara to aXrihg, i. e. trtdy.
Fa teth ; severally, individually. Gle ; very.
Gu beachd ; to observation, evidently, clearly. Gu buileach ; to effect, thoroughly, wholly. Gu dearbh ; to conviction, truly, certainly. Gu deimhin ; to assiirance, assuredly, verily. Gu leir ; altogether. Gu leòr ; to sufficiency, enough. Ciun amharus ; without doubt, doubtless. Gun chàird ; without rest, incessantly, without hesi- tation. Leth mar leth ; half and half. Le cheile ; ivilh each other, together. Maraon ; as one, together, in concert. Mar an ceudna ; in like manner, likewise. Mar sin ; as that, in that manner.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH,
27
Mar so ; as this, thus.
Mar sud ; as yon, in yon manner.
Mu seach ; in return, alternately.
Na, Nar ; let not, — used optatively, or imperatively.
Nach ; that not, who not, not ?
Ni ; not.
CHAP. VII.— OF PREPOSITIONS.
The Prepositions, strictly so called, are single words, most of them monosyllables, employed to mark relation. Relation is also expressed by combi- nations of words, which often correspond to simple prepositions in other languages. These combinations are, not improperly, ranked among the prepositions. The following list contain, first, the Prepositions pro- perly so called, which are all simple ; secondly, im- proper Prepositions, which, with one or two excep- tions, seem all to be made up of a simple Preposition and a Noun.
PROPER PREPOSITIONS.
Aig, Ag, at. Air, on, or after. Ann, in. As, A, out of. De, of Do, to.
Eadar, between. Fa, upon. Fuidh, Fo, Wider. Gu, Gus, to. Gun, without, he, Leis, with, by.
ISIar, like to.
]Mu, about.
O, \Ja.,from.
Os, above.
Ri, Ris, to.
Roimh, before.
Tar, Thar, over, across.
Tre, 1
Troimh, >- through.
Throimh, j
Seach, past, in comparison with.
Prep.
^'fh
Ag;
Air;
Ann;
As;
De;
Do;
Eadar ; Fo, Fuidh ;
Gu;
IstPerf
agam, at me.
annatn, asam,
dhiom ;
{dhomh, 1 dhom, j
fodham,
h-ugam, chugam,
Singular. 2dPerf.
agad, at thee.
ort,
annad,
asad,
dhiot,
dhuit,
fodhad,
h-ugad, chugad,
The Preposition ' ann' is often written double : ' ann an eòlas' in knowledge, ' ann an gliocas' in wis- dom. The final n or iin is changed into m before a labial, as ' am measg' among, ' ann am meadhon' iii midst. Before the Article or the Relative, this Pre- position is written ' anns', as ' anns an toiseach' in the beginning, ' an cor anns am bheil e' the conditioti in which he is ; and in this situation, the letters ann are often dropped, and the « alone retained, as ' 's an toiseach' iti the beginning.
The Preposition ' do', like the verbal particle, and the Possessive Pronoun of the same sound, loses the o before a vowel, and the consonant is aspirated, thus; ' dh' Albainn' to Scotland. It is also preceded sometimes by the vowel a when it follows a final consonant ; as ' dol a dh' Eirin' going to Ireland. ' Do', as has been already observed, often loses the d altogether, and is written « ; as ' dol a Dhuneidin' gcniig to Edinburgh.
The manner of combining these prepositions with nouns will be shewn in treating of Syntax. The manner of combining them with the personal pro- nouns must be explained in this place, because in that connection they appear in a form somewhat dif- ferent from their radical form. A Proper Preposition is joined to a Personal Pronoun, by incorporating both into one word ; commonly with some change on the Preposition, or on the Pronoun, or on both.
The following are the Prepositions which admit of this kind of combination, incorporated with the seve- ral Personal Pronouns.
3d Perf ni. aige, at him ; f. aice, at her. m. air. f. oirre.
uirre.
oiTa. f m. ann. \{, innte.
{m. as. f. aisde. f m. dlieth. \f. dlfi.
{m. dha, f. dh'i,
{m. fodlia, f. fuidhpe, fni. h-uige, J chuige, ] f. h-uice, [^ chuice.
1st Perf.
againn, at its.
oirnn,
annainn,
asalnn,
dhinn,
dhuinn,
eadarainn,
fodhainn,
h-ugainn, chugainn,
Plural. 2d Perf
agaibh, atyout.
oirbh,
annaibh,
asaibh,
dhibh,
dhuibh,
eadaraibh,
fodliaibh,
h-ugaibh, chugaibh,
MPerf
aca, at them.
annta.
asda.
dhiu.
dhoibh. eatorra. fodhpa.
h-uca. chuca.
d2
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28 |
0 |
|
|
Prep. |
1st Per/. |
Singular. 2d Per/. |
|
ie; |
ieam, |
teat. |
|
Mu; |
umam, |
umad, |
|
0, Ua; |
uam, |
uait, |
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Ri; |
rium, |
fiut, |
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Roimli; |
fomham, |
romhad, |
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Thar; |
tliarara, |
tliarad, |
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Troimh ; |
tromham, |
tromhad, |
|
HE PARTS OF SPEECH. |
PART u |
||
|
3d Per/. |
1st Per/. |
Plural. 2d Perf. |
M Perf. |
|
( m. Icis, (f. leatha, |
leinn. |
teibh, |
leo. |
|
(m. uime, \f. uirape, |
umainn, |
uraaibh, |
umpa. |
|
( m. uaith, "( f. uaipe, ( m. ris, \f. rithe, |
uainn, ruinn, |
uaibh, fibh, |
uapa. riu. |
|
j m. roinihe, \ f. roimpe, f. tliaii-te, |
romhainn, tharuinn, |
fomhaibh, tharaibh. |
rompa. tharta. |
|
J m. troirahe, (f. troinipe, |
tromhainn, |
tromhaibh. |
trompa. |
In most of these compound terms, the fragments of the Pronouns which enter into their composition, especially those of the first and second Persons, are very conspicuous. These fragments take after them occasionally the emphatic syllables sa, son, iic, in the same manner as the Personal Pronouns themselves do ; as ' agam-sa' at MB, ' aige-san' at HIM, ' uainn-e' from US. ^
The two Prepositions ' de' and ' do have long been confounded together, both being written ' do." It can hardly be supposed that the composite words ' dhiom, dhiot', &c. would have been distinguished from ' dhomh, dhuit', &c. by orthography, pronuncia- tion, and signification ; if the Prepositions, as well as the Pronouns, which enter into the composition of these words, had been original!}^ the same. In ' dhiom', &c. the initial Consonant is always followed by a small Vowel. In ' dhomh', &c. with one ex- ception, it is followed by a broad Vowel.— Hence it is presumable that the Preposition which is the root of ' dhiom', &c. must have had a small Vowel after d • whereas the Root of ' dhomh', &c. has a broad Vowel after d.—' De' is a preposition preserved in Latin, (a language which has many marks of affinity with the Gaelic,) in the same sense which must have belonged to the root of ' dhiom', &c. in Gaelic.
IMPROPEIl PREPOSITIONS.
Air chcann ; at [«Ae] end, against a certain time.
Air icadh,) tiijoughout, during.
Air fad ; j
Air muin ; 07i the hack, mounted on.
Air sgàth ; for the sake, on pretence.
Air son ; on account.
Air tòir ; in piu-suit.
Air bculaobh ; mi tliefore side, before.
Air cùlaobh ; on tlie back side, behind.
Am fochair ; in presence.
Am measg ; in tite mixture, amidst, among.
An aghaidh ; in the face, against, in opposition.
An ceann ; in tlue end, at the expiration.
An còmhdliail, \ .^^ ^^^^^- ^^ ^^^t.
An coinnimh ; J
An deigh, t probably for ) j^^ ^,^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^
for want.
a" \T\i- 1 °' '''^/'""' "^^'' ^°' ''^'"'^ '^>'- An dàil, in the rencounter, to meet. An diaigh, "1
ll .
An deaghaidh, j an deireadh ; An deis ; J
An eiric, in return, in requital. Am fianuis, Ì . Anlàthair;}'"!""^^""- An lorg ; in the track, in consequence.
As eusnihais, 1 . , •^\ „.,»
» 1,1, ■ II \ ^n want, without. As easbhuidh; j
As leth ; in behalf, for the sake. A los ; in order to, with the intention of. Car ; during.
Do bhrlgh, a bhrigh ; hy virtue, because. Do choir, a choir, to the presence, near, implying mo- tion. Do chum, a chum ; to, towards, in order to. Do dhith, a dhith,! ^ Dh' easbhuidh ; j Dh' fhios ; to the hnaivledge, to. Dh' ionnsuidh, to the approach, or onset, toward. Do reir, a reir ; according to.
Do thaobh, a thaobh ; on the side, with respect, con- cerning. Fa chùis ; by reason, because. I"a chomhair ; opposite. Mu choinninih ; opposite, over against. Mu thimchioll, timcliioU ; hy the circuit, around. O bhàrr, bhàrr ; from the top, off. Os ceann ; on the top, above, atop. Re ; duration, during. Taireis ; after. Trid ; through, by means.
OF INSEPARABLE PREPOSITIONS.
The following initial syllables, used only in com- position, are prefixed to nouns, adjectives, or verbs, to modify or alter their signification.
OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH.
29
An, ("privative syllables signify' «o#, or
Di, serving to change the signification
Ao, ea, eu, eas, \ of the words to which they are pre- Mi, I fixed into its contrary ; as ' socair'
Neo, \^ease, ' an-shocair' distress, uneasi-
ness; ' ciontach' guilty, < di-chiontach' in- nocent ; ' treabh' to cultivate, ' di-threabh' an vncultivated place, a desart ; ' dionach' tight, close, ' ao-dionach' leaky ; ' coir' Jus- tice, ' eu-coir' injustice ; ' slàn' tvhole, in health, ' ea-slan' sick ; ' caraid' a friend, ' eas- caraid' an, enemy; ' baidheaclias' grad- ticde, ' mi-bhuidheachas' ingratitude ; ' claon' awry, ' neo-clilaon' unbiassed, impartial; ' duine' a man, ' neo-dhuine' a worthless, unnatural creature. An, Ain, intensative, denoting an immoderate de- gree, or faulty excess ; as, ' tighearnas' do- minion, ' ain-tighearnas* tyranny ; ' tromaich' Tnake heavy, ' an-tromaich' make very heavy, aggravate ; ' teas' heat, ' ain-teas' excessive heat ; ' miann' desire, ' ain-mhiann' inordi- nctte desire, lust. Ais, Ath, again, back ; as, ' eirigh' rising, ' ais-eir- ' igh' resurrection ; ' beachd' view, ' ath- bheachd' retrospect ; ' fas' growth, ' ath- fhàs' after-grmvth. Bith, continually ; as, ' bith-dheanamh' doing conti- nually, busy ; ' am bith-dheantas incessantly. Co, Com, Comh, Con, together, equally, mutually ; as, ' gleacadh' fighting, ' co-ghleacadh' fighting together; 'lion fill, ' co-\ion' fulfil, accomplish; ' ith' eat, ' com-itii' eating together; ' ràdh' saying, ' comh-ràdh' conversation, speech ; ' from' weight, ' co-throm' equal weight, equity; ' aois' age, ' comh-aois' a cotemporary. Im, about, round, entire ; as, ' Ian' full, ' iom-lan' qicite complete; ' gaoth' icind, ' iom-gliaoth' a whirlwi?id; ' slàinte' health, ' ioni-shlàinte' perfect health. In, or Ion, worthy ; as, ' ion-mholta' worthy to he praised ; ' ion-roghnuidh' worthy to be chosen. So, easily, gently ; as, ' (aicsinn seeing, ' so-fhaicsinn' easily seen ; ' sgeul' a tale, ' soi-sgeul' a good
Do, Impossible, or with difficulty, evil ; as, ' tuigsinn ' understanding, ' do-thuigsinn' impossible, or, difficult to be understood ; ' heart' deed, ex- ploit, ' do-blieart' evil deed.
CHAP. VIII.— OF CONJUNCTIONS.
Under this class of words, it is proper to enumer- ate not only those single Particles which are usually Uenominated Conjunctions ; but also the most com-
mon phrases which are used as Conjunctions to con- nect either words or sentences.
Ach ; but.
Agus, is ; and.
A chionn gu ; because that.
A chum as gu ; in order that.
A chum as nach ; that not.
Air chor as gu ; so that.
Air eagal gu, 1 ^ ^ ^i ^ i ..
D- eagll gu ; !/'"•>'• '^«^' 'est.
Air son gu, ) , ^, .
•n 1 T - I V by reason that.
Do bhrigh gu ; j •'
Bheil fhios, '1 f hios ? is tliere knoiohdge ? is it known ?
an expression of curiosity, or desire to know.
Co, cho ; as.
Ged, giodh ; although.
Ged tha, ge ta ; though it be, notwithstanding.
Gidheadh ; yet, nevertheless.
Gu, gur ; that.
Gun fliios ; withnvt krunvledge, it being uncertain
whether or not, in case not.
lonnas gu ; insomuch that, so that.
Ma; if.
Mar ; as, like as.
Mar sud agus ; so also.
Ma ta^ ^' } ^*"' '^^' *^ *"' '^"•
Mur; if not.
Mur bhiodh gu ; were it not that.
Mus an, mu 'n ; before that, lest.
Na ; than.
Nach ; that not.
Nan, nam ; if.
No ; or.
O ; since, because.
Oir; for.
Os bàrr ; moreover.
Sol, before that.
Tuilleadh eile ; further.
Uime sin ; therefore.
CHAP. IX.— OF INTERJECTIONS.
The syllables or sounds, employed as expressions of various emotions or sensations, are numerous in Gaelic, but for the most part provincial, and arbi- trary. Only one or two single vocables, and a few phrases, require to be noticed under this division.
Och ! Ochan ! alas.
Ochan nan och ! alas Sf welladay !
Fire, faire ! what a pother ?
Mo thruaighe ! my misery t 1 , '. i
Mo chreachadh ! iny despoiling /J *
Mo nàire ! wy shame, for shame ! fy !
H-ugad, at you, take care of yourself, gardez-vout-
Feuch ! behold ! lo !
30
OF SYNTAX^
PART III.
OP SYNTAX.
Gaelic S5Titax may be conveniently enough ex- plained under the common divisions of Concord and Govenmient.
CHAP. I.— OF CONCORD.
Under Concord is to be considered the agreement of the Article with its Noun ; — of an Adjective with its Noun ;— of a Pronoun with its Antecedent ; — of a Verb with its Nominative ;.^«nd of one Noun with another.
SECTION I.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF THE ARTICLE WITH A SOUS.
Colloeatiotu
The Article is always placed before its Noun, and next to it, unless when an Adjective intervenes.
Form.
The Article agrees with its Noun in Gender, Num- ber, and Case. Final n is clianged into m before a plain Labial ; as, ' am baile' tfie town, ' am fear' the man. It is usually cut off before an aspirated Pa- latal, or Labial, excepting fh ; as, ' a' chaora' tite sheep, ' a' mhuc' tIte soic, ' a' choin' of the dog. In the Dat. Sing, initial a is cut off after a Preposition ending in a Vowel ; as, ' do 'n chloich' to the stone.
A Noun, when immediately preceded by the Ar- ticle, suffer* some changes in Initial Form : — 1. With regard to Nouns beginning with a Consonant, the aspirated form is assumed by a mas. noun in the gen. and dat, singular ; by a fem. noun in the nom. and dat. singular. If the noun begins with s followed by a vowel or by a Liquid, instead of having the s as- pirated, t is inserted between the Article and the noun, in the foresaid cases ; and the s becomes en- tirely quiescent. 2. With regard to Nouns begin- ning with a \'owel, < or A is inserted between the Ar- ticle and the noun in certain Cases, viz. t in the nom. sing, of mas. nouns, h in the gen. sing, of fem. nouns ; and h in the nom. and dat. plur. of nouns of either gender. Tlu'oughout the other sing, and plur. Case», all nouns retain their Primarj' Form.
The following examples show all the varieties that lake place in declining a Noun with the Article.
Nmns leffinninff with a Labial or a Palatal. Bard, mas. a Poet.
Sing. N. am Bard, G. a' Bhàird, D. a' 'n Bhàrd.
Plur. na Dùird, nam Bard, na Bàrdaibh.
Cluas, fem. an Ear.
Sing. Plur.
N. a' Chluas, na Cluasan,
G. na Cluaise, nan Cluas,
Z>. a', or n Chluais. na Cluasaibh.
Xouns begiiiiiing with/.
Fleasgach, m. a Baclielor,
Sing. Plur.
N. am Fleasgach, na Fleasgaich,
G. an Flileasgaich, nam Fleasgach,
D. an, 'n FTileasgach. na Fleasgaich.
Sing. N. an Fliòid, G. na Fòide, D. an, 'n Fhòid.
Fòid, f. a Turf.
Plur. na Fòidean, nam Fòid, na Fòidibh.
Nouns beginning with a LinguaL Dorus, m. a Door.
Sing. N. an Dorus, G. an Doruis, D. an, 'n Dorus.
Plur. na Dorsan, nan Dorsa, na Dorsaibh.
Teasach, f. a fever.
Sing. -V. an Teasach, G. na Teasaich, D. an, 'n Teasaich.
Plur. na Tc-asaichean, nan Teasach, na Teasaichibh.
Nount beginning %oith t. Sloclid, mas. a Pit.
Sing. y. an Slochd, G. an t-Sluichd, D. an, 'n t-Slochd.
Plur. na Sluichd, nan Slochd, na Slochdaibh,
4ffnBTAX«
31
saa,fm.ms^
jr.ait.Sii, e.nSifa.
■aSÌI,
>• Fmkì.
1mg,wt,mPHk.
Sm§.
Tke Ulal taam t£ Aàj/at&m^ ■mmiBmiIIj |mi ceirfbydbe Anidr^ftlini Ae I— mlli i with ihe lanaflfawafWiwir
Bf iMrt flg rii—i m «k «f tke .^itkib m a DcS-
it m Mseàm
'aBiraBkdbar ifettMdiy; icnadb doiae^
* MMi^ * svh e^ gf a oeanf ceoy ^^ io i& not. — Esapt wmòtmtìmasmf&eSMama^., ' ?.igh T<ar- ' fadi a kooB* Aiy Clrvis lie Fìnt, ' Eigh Seu- ' «as a «^ JSi^ .XoM» de /^
3L The posB^sre fUBw» ' ■«>, do', &c. are al- ways plaeed bdbne tihev MiaBs ; aa, ' mo Qmh.' my *mA— The ■MiiiagMiiiiii < eo^ òb', «e. are placed
DGttKC llttS HIHIIIrt^ wll& tils' ;prff<^^ in#prTgwwg • i^g.
< da aM fiar ? «lÌDÌ am y
3. SiuuHL a»t[»Hriiivtia of one syllable aie osiailj placed b^me Aor SivoBs; as, < deaA Adbk' a ^MB MUM, * arDOi ^Mèaab' • iori oedai*,' ' SBtta
* dna^', Mfmfk. Sadb A^ecthes^ plaesd befbre
tbear Noosbs^ ofiea coBHane aridi dwm, so as to re- pRsaiC one < iwin Jy k dea, latiber tban two (fstiuct oaes ; and tke aJpcliwe aad aoai^ m chat atoadon. ■Bf la^KT be conadsed as ooe uji|ilei torn, than as two iKiitriMt iran^ and wiatea accanfin^y ; as. '^* JB>V "■«. ',% bùearf ajom/a»- gvHi diSocffloB' Ts
SpàÌHiè'ileiày^i^MÌs '«Udbeda'knakc' Aeantf ivAaaKr; bat 'ri^ B&v^aliaaii' Ailàagi^
M iTfciii, 'ckaoiSi e il'El':-' . '-da^wafc.
aac Ibe .Anidle.
pfaaed after ìteSlDm; ai^
iHaeaa^ic' «toy
■MIL If aeybeJaJfaBat in—ii, arJCtfat
aae he m dK aiA^xt, aid dhe «dhs a the inficaae
«fa paipoBiMa, tte i^le daea MC^fif; a^ *JB
■9^ 'pcV «n^ aic fbc» e; aa, * td QiAear ibae dfa^a.
a Gaelic Ai^ecttre pogacaaa a variety oc Foms, |\tt ilB ftm ii aoc always detoaoaed by the
jSGnaas «ftoae ngnifik'atiion it iiiodàìes>. Tbe fbnn of Ae Jkd^ective d>'|i>'wd» on its NSoob, wben it imme- Sasàf fidBuwv dK Naaa^ or coly witii tbe isterven- tioai of aa iucoaatiie I^Btidle, < n», glc', &e. and «bea both dbe iSnaa and Ae AJjfxd-^e are in the Sabjeel^ ar balk ni Ae JRffdiifatP, or ia t&e iame cfiaae «r iwiiri of a «etrarr, ^ all other iitaa.- tioas» ibe Smtm ai the A^ective does in no respect dppfwd oa die Xooa; or; la ad^0 wordi, die Ad- jective does aot agree w^ dte Notm.
L Whea aa JUjtetìiK aad Nuuix are «o sitBated aadidMed^ Aat aa agiaeMeaC tiAn p{aee betvees ihi'iH, ibfca tìùe ^il|iw tmtt agiees wfl^ its ooun ia Gead^, 'Sm^ba, aod Case^ A Nom preceded by tfie Kcaaenl * diT teo^ dun^ it be at Ae Si^niar Faailii II, takes aa Aifertwe ia die Plonl ; as * da ÌKgVkaiffftmfsmaMjUa. tbe&aiid&rMef tfe Aj^jBclwedfpawteffdyaadieGeBdgof dicXoiai, pardy oa its Tetaimaàum, aad fnctàj oa its being preeeded by die Aitìcle^
IbeUbimffaHapkaaraa Ai^eOan decfined alaagwidiilsNIaaB, oUbic Ae «OBtÌB ia de La. tfll fini, as «d aa b Aa XonmatiaB of Ae Ad- jectswe^
Fear radr, 1
jr.feararia^ G.Rir^da^ D.tammÌK.
Pbr. UraUra,
Kaadibaarar
Biearz aiàn.
32
OF SYNTAX.
With the Article.
Sing. Plur.
N. Am Fear mòr, Na Fir mhòra,
G. An Fhir mhòir, Nam Fear mora,
D. An Fhear mhòr. Na Fearaibh mora.
Slat gheal, fern, a white rod. Witftout the Article.
iV. Slat gheal, G. Slaite gile, D. Slait ghil, V. Shlat gheal.
Slatan geala, Shlatan geala, Slataibh geala, Shlata geala.
With the Article.
N. An t-Slat gheal, G. Na Slaite gile, D. An t-Slait ghil.
Na Slatan geala. Nan Slata geala, Na Slataibh geala.
POLYSYLLABLES.
Òglach dìleas, m. a faithful servant. Without tlte Article.
Siiig. N. Oglach dileas, G. Òglaich dhìlis, D. Òglach dileas, V. Òglaich dhìhs.
Plur. Òglaich dhlleas, Òglach dileas, Òglachaibh dileas, Òglacha dileas.
With the Article.
N. An t-Òglach dileas, Na h-Òglaich dhlleas, G. An Òglaich dhilis, Nan Oglach dileas, D. An Oglach dluleas. Na h-Òglachaibh dileas.
Clàrsach fhonnmhor, f. a tumful Imrp.
Without the Article.
Sing. N. Ciàrsach flionnmhor, G. Clàrsaich fonnmhoir, D. Clàrsaich fhonnmhoir, V. Chlàrsach fhonnmhor.
Plur.
N. Clarsaichean fonnmhor, G. Chlarsach fonnmhor, D. Clàrsaichibh fonnmhor, V. Chlàrsaiche fonnmhor.
Witti, tlie Article.
Sing. N. A' Chlarsach flionnmhor, G. Na Clàrsaich fonnmhoir, D. A', n Chlàrsaich flionnmhoir.
Plur.
N. Na Clàrsaichean fonnmhor, G. Nan Clàrsach fonnmhor, D. Na Clàrsaichibh fonnmhor.
An Adjective, beginning with a Lingual, and pre- ceded by a Noun terminating in a Lingual, retains its primary form in all the Singular cases ; for the sake, it would seem, of preserving the agreeable sound aris- ing from the coalescence of the two Linguals ; as ' nighean donn' a brown maid, instead of ' nighean dhonn'; ' a' clioin duibh' of the black dog, instead of ' a' choin dhuibh'; ' air a chois deis' on his right foot, instead of ' air a chois dheis.'
IL A Noun preceded by an Adjective assumes the aspirated Form ; as ' àrd bheann' a high hill, 'cruaidh dheuchainn' a hard trial.
1. A Noun preceded by a Numeral is in the pri- mary Form ; as ' tri meòir' three fingers ; to which add ' iomadh' many, ' gach' every ; as ' iomadh fear' many a man ; ' gach craobh' every tree. — Except ' aon' Oiie, ' da' ttco ; ' ceud' first ; as ' aon fliear' wie man, ' da chraoibh" tu'o trees.
2. A Noun preceded by any of the following Pos- sessive Pronouns, ' a' her, 'ar' our, ' bhur' your, ' an' their, is in the primary Form ; as ' a màthair' her mo- ther, ' ar brathair' our brother. When the Possessive Pronoun ' a' her, precedes a Noun or an Adjective beginning with a vowel, h is inserted between them ; as ' a h-athair, her father, ' a h-aon mhac' her only son. The Possessive Pronouns ' ar, our, ' bhur' yoiir, usu- ally take n between them and the following Noun or Adjective beginning with a vowel ; as ' ar n-athair' our father, bhur n-aran' your bread.
3. A Noun beginning with a Lingual, preceded by an Adjective ending in n, is in the primary Form; as ' aon duinc' one man, ' seann sluagh" old people.
SECTION m.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF A PRONOUN WITH ITS AN- TECEDENT.
The Personal and Possessive Pronouns follow the Number of their Antecedents, i. e. of the Nouns which they represent. Those of the 3d Pers. Sing, follow also the Gender of their antecedent ; as, ' Sheas a' bhean aig a chosaibh, agus'thòisich i air am tliuchadh teis a deuraibh, agus thiormaich i iad le gruaig a cinn'. Tlie icoman stood at his feet, and she began to wet them ivith her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head. They follow, however, not the Gen- der of the Antecedent, but the sex of the creature sig- nified by the Antecedent, in those words in which Sex and Gender disagree ; as ' an gobhlan-gaoithe mar an ceudn' do sholair nead dhi' ftin' the sicallow, too, hai/i provided a nest for herself ' (jobhlan-gaoithc' a swal- low, is a masc. Noun, as appears by the masc. Article ;
OP SYNTAX.
33
but as it is the dam that is spoken of, the reference is
made by the Personal Pronoun of the fem. gender
' Ta gOocas air a fireanachadh teis a cloinn' Wisdom is Justified by her children. ' Ghocas' is a masc. noun ; but as Wisdom is here personified as a female, the regimen of the Possessive Pronoun is adapted to that idea.
If the Antecedent be a sentence, or clause of a sentence, the Pronoun is of the 3d Pers. Sing. Mas- culine ; as ' dh' ith na bà caola suas na bà reamlira, agus cha n-aithnichteadh orra e' the lean cattle ate up the fat cattle, and it could not be known by them.
If the Antecedent be a collective Noun, the Pro- noun is of the 3d Pers. Plur. as ' thoir àitline do 'u t- sluagh, d' eagal gu 'm bris iad a steach' charge the peo- ple lest they break in.
An Interrogative combined with a Personal Pro- noun, asks a question without the inter\ention of the Substantive verb ; as ' co mise ?' irho [am'] I? ' co iad na daoine sin ? who [are] those men 9 ' cia i a' cheud àithne?' which [('*] the Jirst command- ment 9 In interrogations of this form, the noun is sometimes preceded by the Personal Pronoun, and sometimes not ; as ' co e am fear?' who [i.s] the man 9 ' co am fear ?' what man 9 ' Co am fear ?' is evidently an incomplete sentence, like what man 9 in English. The ellipsis may be supplied thus ; ' co e am fear a ta thu ciallachadji ? icho is the man whom you mean 9 This example may be abridged into another common interrogation, in which the Interrogative is immediate- ly followed by the Relative ; as ' co a ta thu ciall- achadh ?' who [;s /;e] tchom you mean 9 ' ciod a ta ' thu faicinn ?' what [/»' iV] that you see 9
In an inten-ogative sentence including a Personal Pronoun and a Noun, as, 'co e am fear sin?' if the Noun be restricted in its signification by some other words connected with it, such as the Article, an Adjective, another Noun in the Genitive, or a relative clause ; then the Pronoun usuall)' follows the Gender of the Noun, or the Sex of the object signified by the Noun, if the Gender does not correspond to it ; as ' co e am fear a theid a suas ?' who is the man that shall ascend9 ' co i am boirionnach sin ?' ivho is that ivoman 9 ' cia i a' cheud àithne ?' which is the Jirst command ? — If the Noun be not so restricted, the Pronoun is of the masculine gender ; as ' ciod e uchd-nihacachd ?' what is adoption 9 ' ciod e ùrnuigh ?' what is prayer 9
SECTION IV.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF A VERB WITH ITS NOMI- NATIVE.
As the verb has no variation of form corresponding to the Person or Number of its Nominative, the con- nection between a Verb and its Nominative can be marked only b}' its collocation. Little variety there- tore is allowed in this respect. The Nominative, whe- ther Noun or Pronoun, is ordinarily placed after the Verb ; as ' tha mi' Jam, 'fugadh duine-cloinne'a man- child is born. The Article or an Adjective, is fre-
Vol. I.
quently placed between the Verb and its Nominative ; as ' thainig an uair' the hour is come ; aithrisear iomadh droch sgeul' many an evil tale will be told. Sometimes, but more rarely, circumstances are expressed between the Verb and its Nominative ; as ' rugadh dhuinnc, an diugh, ann am baile Dhaibhidh, an Slànuighear, there is born to us, this day, in David's town, the Saviour.
The Relatives ' a' wlio, ' nach" who not, are always put before the verb ; as ' am fear a thuit', the man wiu> Jell ; ' am fear nach dean beud', the man wlu} will not commit a fault.
In poetry, or poetical style, where inversion is al- lowed, the Nominative is sometimes placed before the Verb ; as ' doimhneachd na talmhainn ta 'li a ìàimh' in his hand is the depth oft/ie earth.
In those Persons of the Verb in \vhich the termi- nations supply the place of the Personal Pronouns, no Nominative is expressed along with the Verb.
The Infinitive often takes before it the Nominative of the Agent ; in which case the Preposition ' do' is either expressed or understood before the Infinitive ; as ' feuch, cia meud a' mhaith, bràithre do bhi 'h an còmhnuidh ann an sith \' behold, how great a good it is, that brethren dwell in peace ! ' Is e mi dh' fhantuinn 's an flieòil, a 's feumaile dhuibhse' my abiding in the JiesJi is iruyre lieedfidfor you.
SECTION V.
OF THE AGREEMENT OF ONE NOVN WITH ANOTHER.
\\nien in the same sentence, two or more Nouns, apphed as names to the same object, stand in the same grammatical relation to other words ; it should naturally be expected that their Form, in so far as it depends on that relation, should be the same ; in other words, that Nouns denoting the same object, and re- lated alike to the governing word, should agree in Case. This accordingly happens in Greek and Latin. In Gaelic, where a variety of form gives room for the ap- plication of the same rule, it has been followed in some instances ; as ' Donncha mac Chailein mliic Dhòmh- nuil' Duncan the son of Colin the son of Donald; where the words ' Chailein' and ' mhic' denoting the same person, and being alike related to the preceding Noun ' mac' are on that account both in the same Case. It must be acknowledged, however, that this rule, obvious and natural as it is, has not been uni- formly observed by the speakers of Gaelic. For ex- ample ; instead of ' mac loseiph an t-saoir' the son of Joseph the carpenter, many would more readily say ' mac loseiph an saor.'
CHAP. II OF GOVERNMENT.
•' Under this head is to be explained the Govern- ment of Nouns, of Adjectives, of Verbs, of Preposi- tions, and of Conjunctions.
34
OF SYNTAX.
SECTION I.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NOUNS.
One Noun governs another in the Genitive. The Noun governed is always placed after that which go- verns it ; as ' ceann tighe' the head of a house or fa- mily : ' solus na greine' liffht of the sun ; ' bainne ghabhar' m/ik of goats.
The Infinitives, or present participles, of Transitive Verbs, being themselves Nouns, govern in like man- ner the Genitive of their object ; as ' ag cur sil' sowing seed, ' a dh' fliaicinn an t-sluaigh' to see the peojyle, 'air leughadh an t-soisgeil' after reading the gospel.
Although no good reason appears why this rule, which is common to the Gaelic with many other lan- guages, should ever be set aside ; yet it has been set aside in speaking, and sometimes in writing Gaelic.
1. When the Noun governed does in its turn go- vern another Noun in the Genitive, the former is of- ten put in the Nominative instead of the Genitive case.
2. Such expressions as the following seem to be exceptions to the rule ; ' dithis mac', ' ceathrar mac',
' leanabaibh mac' In the following similar instances,
the rule is observed ; ' dithis mhac'; ' dithis fhear'.
The same anomaly takes place in the regimen of the Infinitive, as in that of other Nouns. Though an Infinitive be in that grammatical relation to a preced- ing Noun which would require its being put in the Genitive ; yet when itself also governs another noun in the Genitive, it often retains the form of the No- minative.
The Infinitive is not put in the Genitive, when pre- ceded by a Possessive Pronoun, because it is in the same limited state as if it governed a noun in the Genitive Case ; as ' a chum am marbhadh 's na beannt- aibh', to kill llw.m in the mountains. Not 'marbhoidh', which is the Case regularly governed by 'chum'. ' Co tha 'g iarraidh do mharbhadh" ? luho seeketh to hill thee ?
When one Noun governs another in the Genitive, the Article is never joined to both, even though each be limited in its signification ; as ' mac an righ' the son of the kiiig, not ' am mac an righ' ; ' taobh deas a' bhaile' the south side of the town, not ' an taobh deas a' bhaile'. For the most part, the Article is thus joined to the latter noun. Sometimes it is joined to the former noun ; as ' an ceann tighe' the iiead of tlie family, ' an ceann iùil' the pilot.
A Possessive Pronoun joined to the Noun governed excludes, in like manner, the Article from the noun governing ; as ' barr-iall a bhròige' the latchel of his s/toe, not ' am barr-iall a bhròige' ; ' obair bhur lamb' the work of your fiands, not ' an obair bhur làmh.'
The Noun governed is sometimes in the Primary, sometimes in the Aspirated Form.
Proper names of the Masculine Gender are in the Aspirated rorm ; as ' bràthair DhòmhnuiU' Donald's
brother ; ' uaigh Choluim' Columba's grave. Except when a final and an initial Lingual meet ; as ' clann DòmhnuiW Donald's desce/idatits ; ' beinn Deirg' Dar- go's hill.
When both Nouns are Appellatives, and no word intervenes between them ; the initial Form of the lat- ter noun follows, for the most part, that of an Adjec- tive agreeing with the former noun.
Except. If the latter Noun denote an individual of a species, that is, if it take the Article a before it in English, it is put in the primary form, although the former Noun be feminine ; as ' sùil caraid' the eye of a friend, not ' siiil cAaraid',
SECTION II.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives of fulness govern the Genitive ; as ' Ian uamhainn' full of dread, ' buidheach bidh' satisfied luith meat.
The first Comparative takes the Particle ' na' thaii, before the following Noun ; as ' ni 's gile na an sneachdadh' whiter than the snow ; ' b' fhaide gaeh mios iia bliadhna' each month seemed longer than a year.
The second Comparative is construed thus ; ' is feàird mi so', / am the better for this ; ' bu mhisd' e a' bhuille sin', he was the worse for that blow.
Superlatives are followed by the Preposition ' de' or ' dhe' of; as ' am fear a 's àirde dhe n triiiir' the man who is tallest of the three, the tallest man of the three.
SECTION III.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VERBS.
A Transitive Verb governs its object in the Nomi- native or Objective Case ; as ' mharbh iad an Kigh' they killed the king, ' na buail mi' do not strike me. The object is commonly placed after the Verb ; but never between the Verb and its Nominative. Sometimes the object is placed, by way of emphasis, before the Verb ; as ' mise chuir c ris ann am àite, agus esan chroch c' me he put again iii my place, and him he hanged.
Many Transitive Verbs require a Preposition before their object; as ' iarr air Dòmhnull' desire Donald ; ' labhair fi DòmhnuU' sjteak to Donald; 'leig le Dòmh- nuir let Donald alone; ' beannuich do DhòmhnuH' sa- lute Donald; ' fiosraich de Dhòmhnull' inqxdre of Donald.
' Bu' was, requires the following initial Consonant to be aspirated ; as ' bu mhaith dhuit' it mas good for you ; ' bu cliruaidh an gnothuch' it was n hard case ; except initial d, and t which are not aspirated ; as ' bu dual duit' it was iiaturalfor you.
OF SYNTAX.
35
SECTION IV.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ADVERBS.
The collocation of Adverbs is for the most part ar- bitrary.
The Adverbs ' ro, gle' very, are placed before the Adjectives they modify, and require the following initial Consonant to be aspirated ; as ' ro bheag' very little, ' gle gheal' very white.
The negative ' cha' not, when followed by a word beginning with a Labial or Palatal, requires the initial Consonant to be aspirated ; as ' cha nihòr e' it is not great; ' cha bhuail mi' / tvill not strike; ' cha chuala mi' / did not hear ; but an initial Lin- gual remains unaspirated ; as ' cha dean mi' / icill not do, ' cha tog e' lie zcill not raise, ' cha soirbhich iad' tJwy ivill not prosper. N\% inserted between ' cha' and an initial Vowel or an aspirated _/; as ' cha n-e' it is not, ' cha n-eigin' it is not necessary, ' cha n-fhaca mi' / saw not.
The Negative ' ni' requires h before an initial Vowel ; as ' ni h-iad' they are not, ' ni h-eudar' it may not.
SECTION V.
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PREPOSITIONS.
The Proper Prepositions ' aig, air', &c. govern the Dative ; as ' aig mo chois' at my foot, ' air mo làimh' on my hand. They are always placed before the word they govern. The following prepositions re- quire the Noun governed to be put in the Aspirated Form, viz. ' de, do, fuidh, fo, fa, gun, mar, mu, o, tre'. ' Air' sometimes governs the Noun in the As- pirated Form ; as ' air bharraibh sgiath na gaoithe' on the extremities of the wings of tlie wind. — ' Gun' governs cither the Nominative or Dative ; as ' gun chrioch' without end. ' Gun cheill' without under- standing. ' Gun chloinn'. — ' Mar', and ' gus' or ' gu' when prefixed to a Noun without the Article, usual- ly govern the Dative case ; as ' mar nighin' as a daughter. ' Mar amhainn mhòir' like a great river. ' Gu crich mo shaoghail fein' to the end of my life- time. But if the Article be joined to the Noun, it is governed in the Nominative ; as ' mar a' ghrian' like the sun. ' Gus an sruth' to the stream. ' Gus a' chrioch' to t/ie end. — ' Eadar' governs the Nora, as ' eadar a' chraobh agus a' chlach' between the tree and the stone. ' Eadar*, when signifying between, requires the Primary Form ; as ' eadar maighstir agus muinn- tearach' betiveen a tnasler and a servant: when it sig- nifies both, it requires the Aspirated Form ; as ' eadar shean agus òg' both old and young ; ' eadar f heara agus mhnai' both men and wome7i.
The Prepositions ' as, gus, leis, ris*, are used be-
fore the Monosyllables ' an, am, a'. The correspond- ing Prepositions ' a, gu, le, ri', often take an h before an initial Vowel ; as 'a h-Eirin' out of Irelaml ; ' gu h-ealamh' readily ; ' te h-eagal' ivithfear.
The Improper Prepositions govern the following Noun in the Genitive ; as ' airfeadh na tire' through- out the land; 'an aghaidh an t-sluaigh' ff(/a//M< t/w people; ' re na h-ù'me' during the time. It is mani- fest that this Genitive is governed by the Noun ' feadh, aghaidh, rè', &c. which is always included in the Preposition.
Prepositions are often prefixed to a clause of a sentence ; and then they have no regimen ; as ' gus am bòrd a ghiùlan' to carry the table. ' Luath chum fuil a dhòrtadh' swift to shed blood. ' An deigh an obair a cliriochnachadh' after Jinishiiig tiie work.
SECTION. VL
OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CONJUNCTIONS.
The Conjunctions ' agus' and, ' no' or, couple the same Cases of Nouns ; as ' air feadh chreagan agus choilltean' through rocks and ivoods ; ' ag reubadli nam bruach 's nan crann' tearing the banks and the trees. \Vlien two or more Nouns, coupled by a Con- junction, are governed in the Dative by a Preposi- tion, it is usual to repeat the Preposition before each Noun ; as ' air fad agus air lend' in length and in breadth ; ' 'n an cridhe 'n an cainnte, agus 'n am beus' in their heart, in their speech, and in their behaviour.
' Co', or ' cho', as, prefixed to an Adjective, com- monly requires the initial consonant of the Adjective to be aspirated ; as ' co mhaith' as good, ' co ghrinn' as fine. But sometimes we find ' cho mòr' as great, ' cho buan' as durable, &c. without the aspirate.
The Conjunctions ' miir' if not, ' gu, gur' that, are always joined to the Negative Mood ; as ' mur 'eil mi' if I be not ; ' gu robh e' that he tvas. M or n is often inserted, euphoni<e causa, between ' gu' and an initial Consonant ; viz. m before a Labial, ?i before a Palatal or a Lingual ; as ' gu-ni faca tu' that you saw; ' gu-n dubhairt iad' that they said.
The Conjunctions ' ma' if, ' o, o'n' because, since, are joined to the Pres. and Pret. Affirmative, and Fut. Subjunctive ; as ' ma ta e' if he be, ' o'n tha e' since he is ; ' ma bhuail e' if he struck ; ' o'n bhuail e' be- cause he struck; ' ma bhuaileas tu' if you strike ; ' o bhitheas sinn' since toe sJiall be.
' Nam, nan' if is joined only to the Pret. Subjunc- tive. The initial Consonant of the Verb loses its as- piration after this Conjunction ; as ' nam bithinn' if I were ; ' nan tuiteadh a' chraobh' if the tree should full. ' Ged', or ' ge' although, is used before the Present and Pret. Affirmative, the Fut. Negative, and the Pret. Subjunctive; as ' ged tha e' though he be ; ' ged bha mi' though I teas ; ' ge do bhuail thu mi' though you struck me ; ' ged bhuail thu mi' though you strike ?ne; ' ged bheireadh e dhorah' t/iough he should give me, e2
È6
OF DERIVATIO>f AND COMPOSITION.
PART IV.
OF DERIVATION AND COMPOSITION.
CHAP. I.— OF DERIVATION.
The Parts of Speech which are formed by derivation from other words are Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs. These are chiefly derived from Nouns and Adjectives, and a few from Verbs.
I. Nouns.
Derivative Nouns may be classed as follows, ac- cording to the varieties of their termination.
1. Abstract Nouns in as, formed from Adjectives or Nouns ; as from ' ceart' Just, ' ceartas' justice ; from ' diomhan' idk, vain, ' diomhanas' idleness, va- nity.
2. Abstract Nouns in acM, formed from Adjec- tives, and sometimes, though more rarely, from Verbs and Nouns ; as from ' naomh' Imly, ' naomhachd' /u>- liness ; from ' domhain' deep, ' doimhneachd' contrac- ted for ' domhaineachd' depth ; from ' righ' a king, ' rioghachd' a kingdom.
3. Abstract Nouns formed from the Genitive of Adjectives by adding e ; as from ' dall' gen. ' doiil' blind, ' doille' blindness ; from ' geal' gen. ' gil' white, ' gile' xvhiteiiess.
4. Abstract Nouns in ad, formed from the Com- parative of Adjectives, and used in speaking of the degree of a quality ; as ' gilead' whiteriess, ' bòidh- chead' beatify, ' doimhnead' depth.
5. Nouns in air or oir, ach, iclie, derived, most of them, from nouns, and signifying persons or agents ; as ' jììobair' a player on tlte pipe, from ' piob* a pipe ; ' clàrsair' a player on tlie harp, from ' clàrsach' a harp; ' marcach' a rider, from ' marc' a horse ; ' ath- ach' a man of terror, a gigantic Jigure, from ' athadli' fear.
6. Diminutives in an, and in ag or og, formed from Nouns or Adjectives ; as ' lochan' a small lake, from ' loch' a lake ; from ' braid' tiieft, ' bradag' a thievish girl ; from ' ciar' dark-coloured, ' ciarag' a little dark- coloured creature These Diminutives arc often form- ed from the Genitive of their Primitives ; as from ' feur' gen. ' fcòir' grass, ' feòirnein' a pile of grass.
Some Nouns are formed in an, which arc not Di- minutives ; as from ' lùb' to bend, ' lùban' a bow.
7. Collective Nouns in ridh, derived from Nouns or Adjectives ; as from ' og' young, ' òigridh' youth, in the collective sense of the word ; from ' mac' a son, ' macraidh' sons, young men.
8. Nouns in ach, chiefly Patronymics, formed from
Proper Names, thus ; from ' Dòmhnull' Donald, is formed ' Dòmhnullach' a man oftlie name of Macdon- ald; from ' Griogar' Gregor, ' Griogarach' a Macgre- gor ; from ' Albainn' Scotland, ' Albannach'' a Scots- man ; from ' Eirin' Ireland, ' Eirineach' an Irishman. 9. Collective Nouns in ach ; as from ' duille' a leaf, ' duilleach' foliage ; ' giubhas'^r, ' giùbhsach' ajir wood,
II. Adjectives.
1. Adjectives in ach formed generally from Nouns ; as from ' firinn' truth, iìrinneach' true, faithful ; from ' sunnd' glee, ' sunndach' cheerful.
2. Adjectives in ìuìior or or, derived from Nouns ; as from ' kdh' felicity, ' àdhmhor' happy, blessed ; from ' feòil' flesh, ' feùlmhor' carnal.
3. Adjectives in ail derived from Nouns ; as from ' fear' man, ' fearail' manful ; from ' caraid' afrieiul, ' càirdeil.'
4. A few Adjectives in to or da, derived from Nouns ; as ' fireanta' righteous, from ' fnean.'
III. Verbs.
Verbs in ich, for the most part Transitive, and im- plying causation, derived from Nouns or Adjectives ; as, from ' geal' ivhite, ' gealaich' to whiten ; ' naomh' holy, ' naomhaich' to sanctify.
CHAP. II OF COMPOSITION.
All compound words in Gaelic consist of two com- ponent parts, exclusive of the derivative terminations enumerated in the preceding Chapter. Of tliese com- ponent parts, the former may be conveniently named the Prepositive, the latter the Subjunctive term. It sometimes happens, though rarely, that the the Sub- junctive term also is a compound word, which must itself be decompounded in order to find out the Root.
In compounding words, the usual mode has been, to prefix to the term denoting tlic principal idea, the word denoting the accessory idea, or circumstance by which the signification of the principal word is modi- fied. Accordingly we find Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs modified by prefixing to tlicm a Noun, an Ad- jective, a Verb, or a Preposition.
OF DERIVATION^ AND COMPOSITION.
In forming compound words, a Rule of very gene- ral application, is, that when the Subjunctive term begins with a Consonant, it is aspirated. From this Rule, however, arc tc he excepted, 1. Words begin- ning with s followed by a nute, which never admit the aspirate ; 2. Words beginning with a Lingual when the Prepositive term ends in 71 ; 3. A few other instances in which there is an euphonic agreement between the Consonants thus brought into apposi- tion, which would be violated if either of them were aspirated.
These observ'ations will be found exemplified in the foUowing Compounds.
I. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A XOUN PREFIXED.
Nouris compounded tvith a Noun.
' BeSLtt' dress, equipage ; 'ceann head; 'ceann-bheart'
head-dress, armour for the head. ' Fàinne' a ring ; ' cluas' the ear ; ' cluas-fhàinne' a?t
ear-ring. ' Galar' a distemper ; ' crith' shaking ; ' crith-ghalar'
distemper attended tvith shaking, the pa/sy. ' Oglach' a servant ; ' bean' (in composition ' ban') a
tvonum ; ' banoglach' a female servant. ' Fàidh' a propliet ; ' ban-fhàidh' a prophetess. ' Tighearn' a lord ; ' bain-tighearn' a lady.
Adjectives compounded icith a Noun.
' Geal' white ; ' bian' the shiii ; ' bian-gheal' white-
skinned. 'l^om bare; ' cas' the fool ; ' cas-]om' bare foot. ' eeann' the hetul ; ' ceann-lom' bare-headed. ' Biorach' pointed, sharp ; ' cluas' the ear ; ' cluas-
bhiorach' having pointed cars.
Verbs compounded with a Noun.
' Luaisg' Toek or toss ; ' toun' a xoave ; ' tonn-luaisg' toss on the wai-es.
' Sleamhnuich' slide ; ' cùl' the back ; ' cùl-sleamh-
nuich' back-slide. ' Folaich' hide ; ' feall' deceit ; feall-fholaich' lie in
wait.
II. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH AS AJECTIVE PRE- FIXED.
Nouns compounded taitA an Adjective.
' Uisge' water ; ' fior' true, genuine : ' fior-uisge' spring-icater.
' Airgiod' silver ; ' beò' alive ; ' beò-airgiod' quick- silver.
37
' Sgolt' a crack'; 'crion' shnmk, decayed; ' crion-sgolt'
a fissure in wood caused by drought or decay. Criochan' bounds, regions ; ' garbh' rough ; ' garbh- chriochan' rude tiwuntairwus regions.
Adjectives compounded icith an Adjective.
' Donn' brown ; ' dubh' black ; dubh-dhonn' dark^ brown.
' Gorm' blue ; dubh' ' black ; dubh-ghorm' dark-blue.
' Briathra h', from ' briathar' a word ; ' <leas' rea- dy ; ' deas-bhriathrach" of ready speech, eloquent.
' Seallach' (not in use) from seafladh' sight; ' geur' sharp ; ' geur-sheallach' sharp-sighted.
T'erbs compoumied with an Adjective.
' Ruith' run ; ' dian' keen, eager; ' dian-ruith' run
eagerly. ' hean follow ; 'geur' sharp, severe ; ' geur-lean' ^ec-
seaite. ' Buail' strike ; < trom' heav^y ; ' trora-buail' smite
sore, discomjit. ' Ceangail' biiul ; ' dlùth' close ; dlùth-cheangail" èi«rf
fost.
III. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A VERB PREFIXED.
' Fear', a man ; ' meall', deceive ; ' mcalltair" a de-
ceii-er. ' Sùil' the eye ; ' meall' to beguile ; ' meall-shùil' an
alluring eye.
IV. WORDS COMPOUNDED WITH A PREPOSITION.
' Ràdh' a saying; ' roimh' before; ' roimh-ràdh'/we- face, prologue.
'Solus' light; ' eadar beticee7i ; ' eadar-sholus' twi- light.
' Minich' erplain ; ' eadar-mhinich' interpret.
' Gèarr' cut; ' timchioll' about; ' timchioll-ghtarr' circumcise.
' Lot' wound; ' troimh' through; ' troimh-lot' stab, pierce through.
Compound Nouns retain the gender of the princi- pal Xouns in their simple state.
Compound words are declined in the same manner as if they were uncompounded.
In writing compound words, the component parts are sometimes separated by a hyphen, and sometimes not. The use of the hyphen does not seem to be re- gulated by any uniform practice.
CONTRACTIONS
USED IN THE FOLLOWING WORK.
Act, Active Voice.
A. D., Anno Domini.
Ademn. Vk. St. Columb., Adomnan's Life of St. Co-
lumba. Adj., Adjective. Adv., Adverb. Aeol., Aeolic Dialect. Ainsw., Ainsworth. Air., Book of Numbers. Allem., German.
A. -W'-t^-» I. Alexander Macdonald's Gaelic Songs.
A. Macdon., j
A. Macdon. Gloss.,} Glossary appended to said vo-
A. M'D. Gloss., ]■ lume.
Amos., Prophecy of Amos.
Anc. Brit., Ancient British.
Angl., English.
Ang. Sax., Anglo-Saxon.
Arab., Arabic.
Aristoph. Nqyheh, Aristophanes.
^""•' \ Armoric Dialect. Arm., j
Art., Article.
Art. in., Article Masculine.
A. Sax., Antient Saxon.
Aiu/m., Augmentative.
Aid. Gell., Aulus Gellius.
B
Baron Siipair., A celebrated Gaelic Satire, so called.
Basq., Basque Dialect.
Baxt. Gloss., Baxter's Glossary.
B. B., Bishop Bedel's Bible.
■?■ ^"' \ Bas Breton, i. e. Armoric Dialect. B. Bret., J
Belg., Dutch.
^i'' If c i Bethune's Gaelic MSS. Betli. Mo., J
Bez., Beza's Latin version of the Scriptures. Bianf., Bianfeidh, An ancient Gaelic MS. so call- ed from its deer-skin cover. Col. Column. Bibl. Gloss., Glossaries of Gaelic and Irish Bibles. Bochart., Samuelis Bocharti Geographia Sacra. Boxhom., Boxhomius's Lexicon. Brth. Laws., Brelion Laws of Ireland.
Breith., Book of Judges.
Bitch., \ Buchanan's History of Scot-
Buc/ian. Hist. Scot., 1 land.
Bullet., Bullet's Armoric Dictionary.
Cees. Bell. Gall., Caesar's Commentaries.
Calfh. et Caol.., Caltlmin is Caolmhal, One of the
Poems of Ossian. Camp., Campbell's Gaelic Songs. Caomh-mhal., Caomli-mlutla, One of the Poems of
Ossian. Caj}., Chapter.
Carricth., Carraig-thura, One of the Poems of Ossian. Cars. Lit., Carswell's (Bishop of Argyll's) Liturgy,
in Gaelic, Ann. 156G.
Cttrth., 7 (^^^ff^^^j. One of the Poems of Ossian.
Cartlion., y
Cath. Lod., Cath Lxluin, One of the Poems of Os- sian.
Chald., Chaldee.
Clior., Chorus.
Col., Epistle to the CoUossians.
Coll., Collective Noun.
Compar., Comparative Degree.
Conj., Conjunction.
Co/iJ. interrog.. Conjunction Interrogative.
Conl. et Ciitli., Conlaoch is Cutliona, One of the Poems of Ossian.
Connal., Connalus.
Contr., Contracted.
Conn., Cormack's Glossary of Irish Words.
Com., Cornish Dialect.
Cor., Epistles to the Corinthians.
Croat., Croatian.
Crom., Croma, One of the Poems of Ossian.
C. S., Common Speech.
D
Balm., Dalmatian.
Dalyell. Antiq. Chart., Dalyell's Monastic Antiqui
ties. Dun., Prophecy of Daniel. Dan., Danish.
40
LIST or CONTRACTIONS.
Dan. Shot., Solomon's Song.
Dat., Dative Case.
Dav., Davies's Welsh Dictionary.
Def., Defective.
Def. art./., Definite Article Feminine.
Def. art. m., Definite Article INIasculine.
Def. v., Defective Verb.
Demonst. prmt., Demonstrative Pronoun.
Dem. pron. ind., Demonstrative Pronoun indeclin- able.
Deut., Deuteronomy.
D'Hcrbelot., D'Herbelot's Bibliotheque Orientale.
Diet., Dictionary.
Dim., Diminutive.
D. MK., Donald MacKenzie's Gaelic Poem on the Restoration of the Forfeited Estates in the High- lands.
D. 3PL., Donald MacLeod's Gaelic Poems.
Duan. Alb., Duan Albannach, in Colgan, and O'Con- nor.
Duff. Buchan., Dugald Buchannan's Gaelic Hymns.
Eabhr., Epistle to the Hebrews.
Eachd., 7 Chronicles, I. and 11. Eachdr., ^
^cct'' 1 Ecclesiastes.
Ea;., Exodus.
Ed., Edition.
E. g., Exempli gratia.
Email., Emanuel, Antient MS. so called.
Emph., Emphatic.
Enff., English.
Eoin., St. John's Gospel.
EpL, Epistle to the Ephesians.
Esec, EzekieL
Est., Esther.
Etrtisc, Etruscan.
Euph. caus., Euphonise causa.
Ex., Exodus.
■C,"' I Feminine Gender. Fern.,)
Fig., Figuratively.
Fing., Fingal, One of the Poems of Ossian.
Flak., O'Flaherty's Irish Grammar.
Fr., French.
Fut., Future Tense.
Gael., Gaelic.
Gael. Cat., Gaelic Shorter Catechism.
Gael. Trans. En. Lit., Gaelic Translation of English
Liturgy. Gael. MS. in Bibl. Jurid. Edinens., Gaelic MS. in . Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. Gal., Epistle to the Galatians.
Gaobiand., Gaolnan-daoine, One of the Poems of
Ossian. G. B., Gaelic Bible. G. B. B., Kirke's Edition of Bishop Bedel's Irish
Bible. Gen., Genesis. Gen., Genitive. Germ., German.
Gikh., Gilchrist's Persic Dictionary. Gill., Gillies's Collection of Gaelic Poems. Gill. Modh., Gille Modha, an Irish MS. so called. Glcnm., Glenmassan MS., An ancient Gaelic one.
^"";' I Book of Proverbs. Gndtfi., J
Gniomh., Acts of the Apostles.
Goth., Gothic.
Gr., Greek.
Gram., Grammar.
Grant. \ Grant's Origin and Descent of
Grant, orig. Gael., | the Gaelic.
H
Hab., Prophecy of Habakkuk.
Hcbr., Hebrew.
Hebrid., Hebrides.
Hindost., Hindostanee.
Hist., History.
Hist. nat. de Languedoc, Histoire Naturelle de Lan-
guedoc. Homer. II., Homer's Iliad. Hoopers Anatom., Hooper's Anatomy.
I
Iain Lorn., A celebrated Gaelic Bard.
Ibid., Ibidem.
Id. q.. Idem quod.
/. e., Id est.
lerem., Prophecy of Jeremiah.
Ihre., Ihre's Suedo-Gothic Lexicon.
Impers., Impersonal.
Impr., Improper.
Ind., Indeclinable.
Ind., Indicative Mood.
Intcns., Intensive, or, Intensative.
Interj., Interjection.
Interrog., Interrogative.
lùb., Book of Job.
los.. Book of Joshua.
Ir., Irish.
Ir. Alph., Irish Alphabet.
Ir. Gram., Irish Grammar.
{*•:. i Isaiah. Isai., j
Isl., Icelandic.
Ital., Italian.
Itid., Epistle of Jude.
Jam., Jamieson's Scotch Dictionary.
Jam. Supjil., Jamieson's Supplement to Ditto.
LIST OF CONTRACTIONS.
41
Jer., Prophecy of Jeremiah.
Johns., Johnson's English Dictionary.
Jones., Jones's Welsh Dictionary.
K
Kalm., Kalmuck.
Keat., Keating's MS. History of Ireland.
Kilb. Col., Kilbride Collection of Gaelic MSS.
Kirk., \ Kirk's Version of the Gaelic Psalms,
Kirk. Salm., f 1658. Also his edition of Bedel's
Irish Bible, 1659. K. Mojchen., Kenneth Mackenzie's Gaelic Songs.
Larram., Larremmendi's Glossary of the Basque
Dialect. Lat., Latin.
Lat. Barb., Barbarous Latin. Leab. Dearg., Leabhar Dearg. Red Book, Gaelic
MS. so