A glossary of terms used in the body of this dictionary for Old Irish entries specifically. SeeAppendix:Glossary for a more general glossary. This page can be linked to using{{sga-glossary}}.
Used over ⟨f⟩ and ⟨s⟩ to indicate that they have been lenited to ∅ and/h/ respectively. Also sometimes used over ⟨m⟩ and ⟨n⟩ when these are used in the context ofnasalization (eclipsis).
Refers to the longer of the two sets of verbs endings, the other one beingconjunct. Absolute endings are used with simple verbs not preceded by aconjunct particle.
Preverb with a specific grammatical function: to addresultative orpotential meaning to the verb form. The most common preverb used as the augment isro-, butcom- andad- also occur with some frequency in this function.
The augment occurs especially frequently with the preterite. The augmented preterite is also called the perfect.
Refers to the shorter of the two sets of verb endings, the other one beingabsolute. Conjunct endings are used with simple verbs preceded by aconjunct particle. They are also the only endings used with all compound verbs.
A verbalparticle that requires aconjunct verb form of a simple verb and theprototonic verb form of a compound verb.
The conjunct particles comprise the following: negative particles likení; interrogative particles likein; the conjunctionsara(“in order that”),dia(“if”),co(n)(“so that”); the prepositions combined with the relative particle(s)a; and the unstressed interrogative pronouncía.
Refers to compound verbs forms which are stressed on the second syllable, in contrast toprototonic verb forms. Deuterotonic verb forms are required when they are not preceded by aconjunct particle.
Do·beir in cú in líathróit.
The dogbrings the ball.
Compare the contrast betweenabsolute andconjunct for simple verbs.
An initial mutation whereby the sound/h/ is attached to the beginning of a vowel-initial word. Not reliably indicated in Old Irish orthography, but its presence in the modern Goidelic languages confirms that it existed at the earliest stages. In this dictionary the triggering ofh-prothesis by a word ormorpheme is indicated by a superscript capital:H. Called by a variety of names by different scholars, includingaspiration,gemination (an inaccurate term arising from a misunderstanding of the history of the mutation),prefixed h,sandhi-h etc.
Old Irish had no independent object pronouns. Instead the object was indicated on the verb with so-called infixed pronouns. They weren'tinfixed in the strict sense, but prefixed to the stressed portion of the verb, following a conjunct particle or preverb.
A consonant mutation whereby consonants are phonetically weakened:plosives are replaced byfricatives, fricatives by weaker fricatives, andsonorants by shorter sonorants. In this dictionary the triggering of lenition by a word ormorpheme is indicated by a superscript capital:L.
A grammatical phenomenon whereby the first sound of a word changes depending on the grammatical context. In Old Irish there are three mutations:lenition,nasalization, andh-prothesis. In this dictionary the triggering of one of these mutations by a word ormorpheme is indicated by a superscript capital:L,N, andH respectively.
A consonant mutation whereby a nasal sound is added before voicedplosives and vowels and voiceless plosives (and /f/) are replaced by their voiced counterparts. In this dictionary the triggering of nasalization by a word ormorpheme is indicated by a superscript capital:N. The equivalent mutation in modern Irish is known aseclipsis, a term sometimes encountered in discussions of Old Irish as well.
Refers to the oldest form of the Irish language of which we have direct evidence, also calledPrimitive Irish (4th-7th century); and also thealphabet with which it was written and thestones on which it is recorded.
Refers to compound verbs forms which are stressed on the first syllable, in contrast todeuterotonic verb forms. Prototonic verb forms are required when they are preceded by aconjunct particle.
Ní·tabair in cú in líathróit.
The dog doesn'tbring the ball.
Compare the contrast betweenabsolute andconjunct for simple verbs.
These represent one of the ways Old Irish had to express a relative clause. They were only available in theabsolute inflection, i.e. with simple verbs not preceded by aconjunct particle, and then only in the 3rd person singular and plural and the 1st person plural:
Old Irish had no independent object pronouns. Instead the object was indicated on the verb, usually with aninfixed pronoun. Suffixed pronouns on the other hand are rare. They are placed afterabsolute verb forms. They can't occur with compounds and conjunct particles.
