def. art.
the. See
GOI § 467 ff
.
Zeuss pp.
210
-
217
.
Paradigm in O.Ir.
Masc.
Fem.
Neut.
Sing.
N.
in, int
ind', in', int
a n-
A.
in n-, -(s)in n-
in n-, -(s)in n-
a n-, -(s)a n-
G.
ind', in', int
inna, na
ind', in', int
D.
in' -(s)ind',
ind', -(s)ind',
in', ind', int,
-(s)in', -(s)int,
-(s)in', -nd', -n'
-(s)ind', -(s)in',
-nd', -n', -nt
-(s)int, -nd',
-n', -nt
Plur.
N.
ind', in', int
inna, na
inna, na
A.
inna, na, -(s)na
G.
inna n-, na n-
for all genders
D.
-(s)naib
The forms int, -nt, -(s)int are used before ṡ, except int
of n
s. masc. which occurs before vowels.
The forms na, inna g
s.
fem., n
p. fem. and neut., and a
p.
of all genders, geminate follg. consonants and prefix h to
vowels (but this h is very rarely written in O.Ir. Cf., however,
inna hirise,
Sg. 209b24
).
Before the dual the art. always has the form in, -n except
ind da la,
Thes. ii 33.21
(Bv.).
The dat. forms without preposition, in, ind, int, occur
in the formation of advv., see II (a) below.
Irregularities are not uncommon, e.g. ind for int, int for
ind, etc. See Strachan,
ZCP iv 62
-
3
and
Zeuss, loc. cit.
The original initial s- appears only in the dat. and acc.
after prepositions which originally ended in a consonant,
with which it unites to produce -ss-, e.g.
cossin n-óin,
Wb.
2a21
.
isin anmim,
9c30
. The s- does not remain after
OC though this does not lenite a follg. subst. TRE lenites
a subst. but the s- of the art. remains, perhaps through
analogy. After FOR, which did not originally lenite, occur
forms both with and without -s-, those with -s- being the
more usual:
forsin dígail,
Wb. 1d2
.
fornaib gnímaib,
5a5
. After prepositions originally and in O.Ir. ending in
vowels both the initial s- and the vowel of the article are
lost:
ón bunud,
Sg. 33b2
.
dind insci,
Wb. 5c16
. dont
lathur, ib. With OC occur ocin(d) (so always in Wb.) and
ocon(d); with IMM, immin and immun.
In medial position -nd- had become -nn- by the O.Ir.
period but in a few archaic examples, -nd- is written:
indá
érrend gl. stigmata,
Wb. 20d5
(a prima manu). inda fodb
gl. exuias,
Thes. ii 47.24
(see Thurneysen,
ZCP iii 53
).
dundaib abstolaib,
Thes. ii 247.12
(Camb.).
dendibh Airgiallaib,
AU i 178.8 (A.D. 726)
. After prepositions the
-n- is single even between vowels: cosnaib, frisna, donaib.
Occasionally even in the O.Ir. glosses the first syllable of
the dissyllabic form is dropped, and this becomes the rule
later:
na teora persana,
Wb. 9c30
.
na cétne tuisten,
21b4
.
na cetnae rainne,
Sg. 18b1
. For other exx. see below. In
the follg. instances from Sg., in (acc.) seems to have dropped
out after -r and before a numeral, leaving an eclipsing n.
etar ṅdi rainn `between the two parts,'
Sg. 2b2
.
etar ṅdá
n-ulla
,
45b19
. far n-óeṅdeilb `according to the same paradigm,'
90b2
.
for n-óin ṅdeilb,
201b6
.
The forms in -d (ind, -sind, -nd) remain only before
vowels and before lenited f, r, l, n and, in Wb., sometimes
also before lenited m and b.
In forms such as
dinab fochidib,
Wb. 11b4
,
dinab gabalib,
13d33
,
arnab uilib cumactib,
21a13
, the quality of the final
-b of the article is assimilated to that of the following
initial. d
p. forms without the final -b developed from
such examples as
donaballaib,
Wb. 12b2
,
huana fochaidib,
Ml. 54a18
,
hona mainénaib,
69c5
, where the final of the
article became assimilated to a following initial labial.
These forms, however, are still infrequent in the O.Ir.
period. Three times in the glosses the n
p. fem. and neut.
form occurs as masc.:
inna leomain,
Ml. 80a10
.
na tri
recte,
Wb. 29a16
.
na sothe,
Sg. 64a14
(see
GOI
§ 309
).
The art. is regularly sg. before collectives and personal
numerals.
When an ordinal numeral adj. follows the art., in the older
texts the inflection is regular:
na dechmaide bliadna,
IT
iii 54 § 99.
inna treisi dūalchae,
ZCP iii 25.35
(but see
2 tress).
inna cōicthe dūalche,
26.26
; but later it varied,
the masc. form of the art. being somet. used before a fem.
noun: n
s
f.
in ochtmad taidbsi,
PH 6716
; but cf.
in cethramad taidbsi,
6702
.
is í so in t-ochtmad plāg,
7653
. g
s
f.
na hochtmadi oesi,
3582
.
i gcionn an treas bliadhna,
Keat.
iii 1919.
The chief changes occurring in the form of the article in
Mid.Ir. are
(i) The n
p. masc. forms ind, in, int gradually
disappear and are replaced by the forms common to the
fem. and neut., inna, na.
(ii) By 1000 A.D., a n- in the n
s.
and a
s. neut. has virtually disappeared, the only certain
examples in SR being:
a lleth n-aill,
SR 5152
,
a mbé,
5974
(see Strachan,
Phil. Soc. Trans. p. 7
).
(iii) -(s)naib in the d
p.
gives way to -(s)na.
(iv) the -d forms are less common.
(v) the monosyllabic na tends to displace inna.
In Mod. Ir. in, ind > an, an t-.
I Forms (divided into (a) forms from O.Ir. glosses, (b)
forms from other texts).
Sing.
nom.
masc.
(a)
in fer,
Wb. 22c9
.
in corp,
Ml. 22d9
.
in ball,
Wb.
12b11
.
in senduine,
27b8
.
int athir,
4b13
.
(b)
int othrus,
Críth G. 47.
in sluag,
LU 4563.
in
t-ara,
4507
.
in cing,
347
.
in fer,
PH 92.
in t-espuc,
25
.
in slog,
7237
.
an samhradh,
TSh. 6345.
an t-adhaltrach,
6482
.
an ciste,
2951
.
fem.
(a)
ind leire,
Wb. 13d15
.
ind nóibe,
9c30
.
ind rún,
Ml. 45a3
.
ind fáilte,
Wb. 16b2
.
in fírinne,
9c30
.
ind almsan,
17a3
.
in ben,
22c9
.
ind bendacht,
19b15
.
in tol,
Ml.
18c9
.
in chiall,
Sg. 27a8
.
int ṡillab,
25a1
. cf.
ind sillab,
26a4
.
(b)
ind ḟlaith,
Críth G. 573.
ind ingen,
LU 4525.
ind rígan,
5205
.
ind lánamain,
5403
.
in tslige,
5077
.
inn
orcuin,
BDD² 493.
ind aimser,
PH 5032.
in eclais,
86
.
in tslanti,
275
.
in rīghan,
ML² 45.
an aislinge,
69
.
an
chiall,
TSh. 985.
neut.
(a)
a n-accobor,
Wb. 3d3
.
a mbás,
15b28
.
a teg n-oiged,
4a7
.
a ndede n-isiu,
Ml. 62c3
.
a laithe,
21c3
.
a folad,
Sg.
3a2
.
a rrind,
70b7
.
a nnu-iedniss,
Wb. 15b2
.
(b)
a n-ag,
LL 112b31
(Sc.MMD).
a n-ude,
LU 4866.
a llá-sa,
5039
.
in laa,
5057
.
a llathe,
9743
.
a n-ainm,
6182
.
in n-écosc,
PH 6442.
a sessed ngrad,
6246
. (Cf.
in t-ochtmad grad,
6251
).
in ainm,
672
.
in iach-lind,
381
.
in
ní,
897
.
ind ni,
5251
.
an ni,
6194
.
Acc.
masc. and fem.
(a)
frissin popul,
Ml. 46b26
.
trisin recht,
46c20
.
in digail,
40c3
.
in soscéle,
Wb. 18c10
.
frisin n-iarfaigid,
Ml. 20c9
.
in n-almsin,
Wb. 16d7
.
tresin n-aimsir,
Sg. 188a26
.
(b)
fón slóg,
LU 4654.
lasin n-íngin,
4522
.
in domon
ndron,
3566
.
in mbelra,
PH 2619.
frisin ṅdeilb,
125
.
in anmain,
2068
.
romolsadar in t-ardrīg,
ZCP v 25 § 10.
ro gab naire in t-airdrigh,
Stair Erc. 1135.
gurab é Dia
... do-rinne an bás,
TSh. 1052.
an cheist,
2855
.
neut.
(a)
a mbúaid
,
Wb. 11a6
.
tresa n-acomol,
Sg. 32a8
.
trissa ndede-se,
Ml. 123c5
.
cossa laa-sa,
Wb. 23a17
.
(b)
isa tír,
Imr. Brain § 62.
a fér,
LU 4733.
lasa comérge,
4880
.
isin n-ármag,
4943
.
issa sudiu,
9080
.
isi[n] sudi,
9082
.
in n-aicned doennai,
PH 179.
in mboimm,
2373
.
Gen.
masc. and neut.
(a)
in betho,
Wb. 1a3
.
in cháich,
2b11
.
ind lóge,
3c1
.
ind rechto,
15a34
.
ind fir,
13a12
.
ind ḟolaid,
Sg. 28b19
.
ind apstail,
Ml. 26a2
.
int soirtha,
46b26
. (cf.
ind senduini,
Wb. 27b8
.
ind ṡrotho,
Sg. 35b7
).
int srotho,
Ml. 93b11
.
in tairmchrutto,
Wb. 15b6
.
(b)
in muilt,
Críth G. 73.
in tairb,
LU 4610.
in chon,
5013
.
in pheta eóin,
5289
.
ind ríg,
4757
.
in rothclessa,
8844
.
ind laí,
4858
.
in locha,
9098
.
ind athig,
4684
.
ind
fir,
4765
.
in tṡeuin,
4508
.
ind rig,
PH 4365.
an fhir,
1177
.
in apstail,
1991
.
ind ecraibthig,
6062
.
ind imdibe,
5652
.
in t-sacairt,
2508
.
in slaníceda,
5146
.
an fhedhma,
ML² 20
.
ind fhir,
TTebe 1544
.
and fhir,
2433
.
inn eich,
2278
.
en foulachtae,
CMT² 60 § 133
.
an bhrátha,
TSh. 1014.
an tsein-reachta,
404
.
fem.
(a)
inna deacte,
Wb. 5c16
.
inna flaithemnachtae,
Sg.
2a1
.
inna aidche,
Ml. 21c3
.
na aimsire,
Sg. 188a28
.
inna
hirise,
209b24
.
(b)
na llongsi,
IT i 77.3
.
na mmucci,
LL 112b43
(
ScM.
§ 8
).
inna conaire,
LU 4710.
na glassi,
4797
.
na haidche,
9058
.
ina óidche,
PH 1490.
na hindsci,
6213
.
na colna,
TSh. 947.
na haithne,
1009
.
Dat. m., f. and n.
(a)
isin chétne tuiste,
Wb. 1a1
.
forsind immarmus,
1d2
.
dind fiur,
22c9
.
dind failti,
Ml. 21c3
.
isin anmim,
Wb. 9c30
.
huant firinni,
Ml. 57d8
.
isind laithiu,
21c3
.
dont lathur,
Wb. 5c16
.
isint saltair,
Ml. 23c19
.
isind salm,
50d4
.
isin biuth,
Wb. 12c16
.
dind béstatu,
5c16
.
don
duini,
4b3
.
dond macc,
7c13
.
(b)
don chath,
LU 4557.
isin phupull,
4620
.
iarsind
frecra,
4772
.
don tslúag,
4570
.
don ṡlúag,
4748
.
dond
ríg,
BDD² 99.
don ríg,
85
.
asind aimsir,
PH 4928.
isin
eclais,
3181
.
don tsacart,
3140
.
assin sinagoig,
110
.
asind
lucc,
4099
.
donn ītadhach,
ZCP viii 215 § 75.
don fhíréan,
TSh. 1146.
don pheacthach,
1137
.
don tsaidhbhir,
954
.
san bhioth,
832
. (cf.
san mbioth,
837
.
san Sabboit,
4114
).
Plur.
nom.
masc.
(a)
in phreceptori,
Wb. 5a2
.
in chnamai,
Ml. 22d7
.
in
pecthaig,
55d11
.
ind rig,
85d10
.
ind apstail,
42b7
.
ind
fir,
Wb. 5a5
.
ind ḟilid,
Sg. 162a3
.
int soirthi,
Ml. 19b11
.
inna leomain,
80a10
.
na tri recte,
Wb. 29a16
.
(b)
na trí maccáin,
Fél. Aug. 2.
inna druing-sea,
Fél.
Ep. 285.
(All other examples in Fél. follow strict O. Ir.
paradigm, Stokes).
inda sacairt,
Mon. Tall. 134.11
.
in
doíni,
TBFr. 55.
na doíni,
306
.
in maic,
LU 4900.
ind
eich,
4733
.
na heich,
5070
.
in tṡlóig,
4609
.
inn óicc,
BDD² 896.
na heóin,
142
.
ind eolaig,
PH 7313.
in augtair,
6944
.
na noim,
3649
.
na hapstail,
1826
.
inda hapstail,
5371
.
ind apstail,
6720
.
ind ēcis uile,
Anecd. iv 93.10
(Corm.).
na tri coicait,
LL 114a29
(
ScM. § 21b
).
na
trenmilid,
TTebe 4478
.
na cinn,
TSh. 73.
na haidhmillte,
6088
.
fem. and neut.
(a)
indá érrend (gl. stigmata),
Wb. 20d5
(a prima manu).
inna briathra,
Ml. 22c5
.
inna ancride,
27b15
.
inna anmmann,
Sg. 28b18
.
(b)
na tigi,
IT i 74.7
.
inna buidne,
LU 4685.
na bai,
5398
.
na cenna,
4806
.
na mna,
PH 4997.
na créachta,
TSh. 1013.
Acc. m. f. and n.
(a)
inna fíraingliu,
Wb. 9c10
.
frisna preceptori,
14d37
.
lasna fileda,
Sg. 63b4
.
na rúna,
Wb. 12c11
.
lasna anmmann,
Sg. 51b10
.
(b)
na firu,
LU 4626.
inna heonu,
5159
.
inna echraidí,
4712
.
na pecdachdu,
PH 3619.
na briathra,
3660
.
na
cóic ṡéotu,
Críth G. 162.
inna .vii. sa,
307
.
na teasta,
TSh. 6771.
Gen. m. f. and n.
(a)
inna ndóine,
Wb. 5c16
.
inna fer,
7c8
.
inna mban,
22c10
.
na n-abstal,
18d14
.
na sacardd,
Sg. 54a11
.
na
conson,
9a19
.
na forcetal,
Wb. 16a12
.
inna rrath,
15c3
.
(b)
ina ndescipul,
Hib. Min. 54.
inna muccaide,
LU
4670.
na nGalión,
4648
.
na fíren,
PH 437.
na ḟer (sic
leg.),
1017
.
na mbeo,
3648
.
na n-ilberla,
5484
.
airdena
ana cóic la ndéc ria mBrath,
RC xxviii 310 § 1.
inna fer,
TTebe 1845
.
na n-ánrad,
951
.
na bpeacthach,
TSh. 991.
na sácramainteadh,
1561
.
Dat. m. f. and n.
(a)
donaib ballaib,
Wb. 7d14
.
donaballaib ailib,
12b2
.
arnab uilib cumactib,
21a13
.
dinaib fochaidib,
Ml. 19b11
.
isnaib consonaib,
Sg. 9a22
.
donab huilib doinib,
189b9
.
forsna huilib remṡuidigthib,
212a13
.
ocnafothaircthib
palnacdib,
217a4
.
honai gabalaib,
Ml. 54b25
.
donab
nemindithib,
Thes. ii 33.28
(Bv.).
(b)
oconaibh insibh,
AU 851.
donaib Galionaib,
LU
4659.
dinib collaib,
4937
.
dona druídib,
5061
.
dina lecaib,
5889
(H).
forna bochtaib,
PH 3603.
dona noemaib,
3620
.
donaib maithib ┐ dona holcaib,
Ériu iii 2.13
.
fornaib coic
cathrachuib,
ii 140.5
.
dona hōgaib,
ML² 173.
dona
daoinibh,
TSh. 968.
arna heasbadhaibh,
973
.
Dual.
(a) In the O.Ir. glosses, before the dual, the art. always
has the form in, -n: Nom. m.
in da fersin,
Ml. 58a11
. f.
in
di bai,
2b11
. n.
in da n-ainm,
34d6
. Acc. m.
in da airdigtha,
Sg. 77a8
. f.
etir in dí ṡillaib,
59a17
. Gen. m.
cechtar in da
popul,
Ml. 46b30
. n.
cechtar in da leithe,
Sg. 25b6
. Dat. f.
isin dib bliadnib,
Thes. ii 30.35
(Bcr.). n.
isin dib desmrechtaib-so,
Ml. 114b1
. (
ind da la occurs in the Vienna
Beda,
Thes. ii 33.21
.).
(b) Later the art. preceding the dual is sometimes na,
but in remains more common:
in dá erred (g.),
LU 8057.
na dá ech (a.),
8590
.
na da ban (g.),
8375
.
na dá Maine
(n.),
BDD² 106.
in da gilla chétna (a.),
TBC-LL¹ 677.
túath
in dá Maine (g.),
BDD² 210.
na da ánrath ┐ na da rind
n-agha (n.),
TTr.² 583.
na dá n-ug n-urchoidech (g.),
MR
110.4
.
na dá neirrech (g.),
Laws iv 336.16
.
an dā rīg (na,
v.l.) (n.),
ML² 776.
asna dib berlaib,
Lec. 167d31
.
don
da thóisech,
Ériu v 152.126
.
II Article used in formation of adverbs (
GOI § 251.3
and
§ 379
,
§ 382
.
Zeuss 608
-
9
).
(a) When nouns of time and manner are used adverbially
in the dat. sg., they may be preceded by the article, e.g.
in
chruth as coir,
Wb. 7b1
.
in chruth sin,
7d16
.
ind echt sa,
3a7
; but cf.
cruth ro pridchissem,
24c17
.
inni rombatar
riam hí tempul,
Ml. 62b2
.
(b) In O. and Mid. Ir. the article (but see alternative
explanation,
GOI § 379
) was used with an adj.
in the dat. sing. neut. and with some participles in -de to
form an adverb. The follg. list is illustrative only: in
biucc gl. paulatim,
Sg. 12b1
.
in mór,
Wb. 14b21
. in már
gl. adeo,
Sg. 8a2
. in deurb `
certainly
,'
Ml. 70b2
. ind fír
`
truly
,'
Wb. 14c32
.
ind ḟír,
Sg. 106a5
. in demin gl. quidem,
Ml. 37a13
. int soer gl. libere,
31b18
.
int sainriud,
54a22
.
in chomocus `
nearby
,'
Sg. 188a19
. ind imdu gl. passim,
Ml. 35b5
. in fortgidiu `
covertly
,'
30a3
.
in chlidiu,
50c13
.
in chotarsnu gl. e contrario,
Sg. 17b9
. ind ulcc male,
Hib. Min. 432.
ind infholach
secretly
,
PH 6085.
in infholuch,
7998
. In a few exx. the form of the adj. is that of the nom.:
ind utmall,
Wb. 26b10
(but this form may also have been
used for dat.).
in madae,
19d16
.
ind immdae,
Sg. 26a5
.
Pedersen Vgl. Gr. ii § 419
explains this as being due to the similarity
of nom. and dat. masc. and neut. forms in some adjj. Cf.
also:
in tsainrethaig,
LU 5514.
With compar. and superl. of adjj. to form comparative
advv.: ind ichtarchu gl. inferius,
Ml. 24d30
. int serbu gl.
amarius,
24c10
. in máam gl. primum,
Wb. 1c20
. ind
luindiu gl. commotius,
Ml. 32d1
. ind feliu gl. uericondius,
58b1
. ind lugu gl. minus,
123c12
.
in mó ┐ in mó,
Trip.² 2108
,
2628
.
in mor-mo,
PH 3369
,
3605
. See
GOI § 382.
(c) In the case of adjj. in -d(a)e (except imdae) and
participles in -th(a)e (but see in fortgidiu, in chlidiu, above),
instead of the dative a form in -id, -ith combines with the
art. to form the adv. A few instances also occur of advv.
formed in this way from substantives. From adjj.: in
doracdid `in the Doric fashion,'
Sg. 204b9
. in chorpdid
gl. corporaliter,
Wb. 27a12
. ind óindid
once
,
Ml. 29a3
. int
slanidid `
salutarily
,'
71a1
. in tuailngigthid `
deigningly
,'
78c1
. ind inchlidid gl. latenter,
100c7
. in tuasailcthid
`
absolutely
,'
32d5
. From substt.: in mesid (<mess) gl.
iudicialiter,
Ml. 51c21
. ind frithoircnid (<frithorcun)
`
offensively
,'
127c23
. in diglaid (<dígal) gl. ulciscenter,
62d3
. ind áirmith (<árim) `
numerically
,'
Sg. 27a17
.
III Usage.
The article is always proclitic and is used before a substantive to express the definite character of that substantive
unless this is already apparent either from the nature of
the substantive itself, as in the case of proper names, or
from some accompanying defining word or phrase, e.g.
when the substantive is followed by a definite genitive, or
preceded by a possessive adjective.
A Exx. of the ordinary use of def. art.: accaldam auctor
ind recto `an address to the teachers of the Law,'
Wb. 3c4
.
risiu rocloammar in fogur `before we hear the sound,'
Ml.
112b12
. intan labratar ind ḟilid `when the poets speak,'
Sg. 162a3
.
oc déscin na macraide,
LU 4859.
in trénfir ┐
ind láith gaile,
8104
.
an cúigeadh cinéal, na mairtírigh,
TSh. 4842.
In: amal in scrissid .i. amal in n-altain n-áith
`as a scraper i.e., as a sharp razor,'
Ml. 72b8
, translate:
as the scraper etc., regarding it as a type of instrument
rather than a single instrument of its kind?
The article is used
(a) in the sense of each, every, also a single
in such phrases
as:
ced fan fer,
Stair Erc. 1471.
1532
. berad-sa anam a
flaithess duit a n-agaidh an ruainde da fuil ad brat `for
every thread in thy cloak,'
BCC 358.14
. is assu duinni in
fer cech laí andás a cét cach n-aidchi one man every day,
LU 5622.
(b) sometimes with cách, when this is followed by a
relative clause: ní lat in cách forsa mmitter `not thine is
everyone on whom thou passest judgment,'
Wb. 6b22
.
úar in
cách dodechaid úad,
Trip.² 1198.
congnamh lásan ccách
nó chathaighfeadh dar cenn an chreidimh,
AFM vi 2290.22
.
(c) with oen-, intensifying the idea of singleness: nabīd
D. fut ind ṡamlāi oc breith na hēnbrethi `giving a single
judgment,'
ZCP xiii 179.1
.
con-accai ni ... .i. in n-aenmnái
for fertais in charpait,
TBC-LL¹ 202.
hespach do neoch a thríall
acht dond oen ḟialluch,
415
.
(d) in speaking of two things (cf. Fr. l'un, Germ. der
eine): focherded a líathróit ┐ focherded a loirg ... Níbo
moo in band oldas a chéle one stroke was not greater than the
other,
LU 5006.
timchillid a teach ón dorus colaile,
RC
xxiv 145.14
.
dā ṡenrand ... dun rand díb ... don rund aile,
Fianaig. 48 § 14
,
§ 15
.
(e) frequently, and particularly after verbs of seeing,
before a noun which is logically indefinite to draw attention
to it and to render the narrative more vivid (for an alternative explanation see
GOI § 470
): co facatar in
tsentuinne they saw an old woman,
Corm. Y 1059.43
.
co
n-acca ara chind in fer ┐ leth a chind fair,
LU 4933.
co
n-aca Cú in n-ócben cuchi,
6082
.
co n-acca in tech find,
MacCongl. 67.12
.
co n-accas na trí coícait ban co n-inaraib
corcraib,
TBFr. 258.
rataiges in triar marcach dochom in
tige,
LU 6779.
is and dosnarraid in fer máeldub,
6820
.
doringni in mac bec in tres gním `eine dritte That,'
TBC-LL¹
1068.
duscōtar īarum condusrulai isin mag n-ālaind co
n-acatar an rīghrāith isin [maig],
ZCP iii 459.18
.
is iarum
bert in Liath Macha na tri dergruathra,
RC iii 181.36
.
(f) before nouns followed by the demonstratives so,
sin, tall, ucut:
in chrud sin,
Wb. 13a6
. tarsin corp sin
15c16
.
in teintide tall,
ZCP v 25 § 7.
isin tsalm tall,
Ml.
58a11
.
don mac so,
BDD² 107.
in tan sin,
130
.
in triar
ucut,
295
.
B The article is not usually used before
(a) personal names.
In O. Ir. names of individuals take the article only when
they are qualified by an adj. or a demonstrative, or when
used as common nouns (e.g. á ṅIacob the name Jacob,
Ml.
34d6
):
ol Duaid,
Ml. 95d7
. mad la Cirine `according to
Jerome,'
74d13
.
ho Isaác,
Wb. 4c7
.
for érlam Patraic,
Thes.
ii 305.5
; but: in Scip Emelendae gl. Emilianus Scipio
Sg. 31a2
. in Caesar Octauienda gl. Octauianus Caesar,
31a3
.
in Fiac sin,
Thes. ii 307.3
.
co tech in Dubthaig sin,
ib. 9
. Exceptionally:
Nabál sin slebi Carmil,
SR 6307.
In Mid. Ir. it is somet. used with anaphoric force:
a n-Inis
meic Uchen robai in Gartnan,
Anecd. i 1.3
.
in Cathal,
MacCongl. 41.28
.
iman Mormael,
Ériu xii 190 § 23.
do
marbsad in tEochaid andsin,
ZCP viii 274.13
.
ba rí hi
Temair in Fīachu Sraptine amal adrubrumar,
317.16
.
(b) place-names:
i Corint,
Wb. 14b5
.
i nEgipt,
Ml.
88a12
.
téicht do Róim,
Thes. ii 296.3
.
co nōgaib Hérenn,
306.1
; but:
ind Róm fil hí Constantinopoil ... inna Rómae,
Sg. 174a1
. In Mid. Ir. the article became more common
particularly before a noun in the genitive, but the omission
of the article was still much more frequent than its use:
ind Eriu,
LU 4042.
íar sligi na Temrach,
BDD² 131.
do
Themraig,
149
.
fonaidm ṅgíall Temrach,
164
.
sethnu na
Hérind,
608
.
i tír Hérend,
690
.
i nOenuch na Crúachna,
LU 2888.
hi cathair Cruachna,
2886
.
isin Taltin,
2894
.
hi Taltin,
2896
. In Mod. Ir. some geographical names
regularly take the article, e.g. an Fhrainnc, an Spáinn.
Others sometimes take the article, but in the gen. only:
Éire, i nÉirinn, tír na hÉireann. Alba, muinntear na
hAlban; but cf. lucht cuarta Éireann, Dáil Éireann (Dinneen, s.v. Éire).
(c) names of peoples and patronymics:
arindí atrebat
Romáin and,
Sg. 33a11
.
atrebat Laitnóri and,
14
.
di Romanaib,
33a10
.
Romoldai,
31b4
.
la Ebreu,
Ml. 26c1
.
di Iudéib,
Wb. 27d4
.
fri Saxanu,
Críth G. 523.
la hUltu,
BDD² 977.
do ríg Rómán,
LU 6389
; but:
ind Romain,
Sg. 31b5
.
int Ṡabindai,
28a10
.
forsna Egiptacdu,
Ml.
96c11
.
do choscc inna nIsrahélde,
Wb. 5a16
.
na nDéisi,
Thes. ii 297.5
.
in Galióin,
LU 4656.
co tríchait chét na
nGalión,
4648
. The absence of the article would seem
to be the earlier usage, cf. la Féniu (a phrase common
throughout the law-tracts),
Críth G. 125.
chórus Féne,
588
.
(d) nouns that refer to things of which there is one only,
or one outstanding example (these nouns approach in
meaning to proper names):
is samlid dano gniith demun,
Wb. 21b2
.
amal indocbáil dáe,
21a10
. as tualang deacht
todiusgud Crist `the Godhead,'
13c15
.
i tempul,
26a8
.
hi fudumnaib talman,
Ml. 40d16
.
di chosecrad tabernacuil,
48b11
. gein maicc hua athair `the birth of the Son from the
Father,'
85b11
. conapad firdía mac `that the Son should not
be true God,'
21c12
.
amal as toisegiu grián indáas laithe,
85b11
.
o hescgu co grein,
SR 113.
o thosuch domuin,
517
.
dochuaid diliu don domon,
2592
.
co lluid trít co
talmain,
LU 5767.
do diabul,
PH 4889.
nī dlig sāire ...
i tūaith nā i n-eclais amongst the laity or in the church,
Ériu
i 218 § 2.
roaithbeōaig Cairbri ō marbaib from the dead,
ACL iii 225.v
.
Siuir agus Máigh ag gréin dá ngeimhliughadh,
DDána 109 § 11.
for fairgi,
Corm. Y 1059.14
.
fri tīr,
ib. 15
. slánaigh le hóigh t'oileamhain `make good
to the Virgin her nursing of Thee,'
Aithd. D. 67 § 26.
Here belong the names of parts of the body:
ho giun
et ... hi cridiu,
Wb. 5d14
. ind foisitiu i ngiun `the confession
in the mouth,'
4d33
.
a n-asberid hó bélib,
7d10
. a lleth o
laim deiss `the half from the right hand,'
Sg. 17b2
. risiu
rocloammar in fogur hua chluasaib with the ears,
Ml. 112b12
.
anuas co imlind,
LU 5780
; but cf.
intan citambí ind lám
in terochraic,
Ml. 36b1
. in geno gl. oris,
82c5
.
(e) a noun occurring in apposition to a proper name as
a sobriquet:
for Lomnae Drúth,
BDD² 705.
Suibne
Geilt,
Thes. ii 294.10
.
for Tamun drúth,
LU 6670.
Cauland cerdd,
4975
.
aided Redg cáinte,
5803
.
(f) the names of abstract ideas, virtues, vices, etc.;
nachin rogba úall `that pride may not seize us,'
Wb. 15d40
.
is asse dúib maid do denum,
4a4
.
inne maith ł uilcc,
Sg.
39a32
.
nephdenum neich di ulc fri nech dogní olc frit,
Ml. 23c20
.
dechair eter olcc is maith,
SR 1255.
erig, ...
córu achāch duit mormenma,
TBC-LL¹ 3978.
ni rabi a samail
... ar maisse ┐ míne ┐ mórdacht,
TTr. 621.
ní fhuil nert
agud gun techt lium,
ZCP vi 48.12
.
na ndenad (leg.
denad) uaill na diumus,
PH 4255.
Exx. with the article are:
ind huall gl. arrogantia,
Ml. 51a11
. gl. elatio,
28a1
.
frisin
noibi ┐ in glaini,
98d2
. ised a nnert foirbthe imgabail cech
huilc this is perfect virtue,
35d14
.
immeradi a n-olc,
33d2
.
a mundit[i]a .i. ōn gloine,
Corm. Y 900.
attach inísel ...
tairnid in díumus `superbiam excludit,'
PH 8035.
sanntaiged
in rig ... in fírinde,
4254
. ro coimnertaigiss an coir `thou
hast strengthened justice,'
Stair Erc. 429.
(g) a subst. followed by a definite genitive. (The article
is used when the gen. is attributive rather than defining,
e.g.
á cenele ndoine,
Wb. 5c16
.
a llaa mbrithemnacte sin,
6b26
.
forsa cenélae metir sin,
Sg. 8a13
. in Briccriu Conaill
Chernaig (name of a shield),
BDD² 977.
in Brug mna
Elcmair,
Ériu viii 175.9
.
an Iodh Morainn
,
Keat. ii 3659.
as an gCraoibh Dheirg Chonchubhair,
ib. 3086
).
The gen. is a proper name:
ar iriss Crist,
Wb. 25a10
.
di doiri Babelon,
Ml. 46b26
.
ó Thuind Clidnai,
BDD² 1087.
la firu Hérenn,
123
; or approaches in meaning to a proper
name:
precept soscéli,
Wb. 1b10
. Exceptions are rare:
in tṡlóig Herend,
LU 4609.
gol mo matharsa so ┐ na mban
mBoine,
TBFr. App. § 20
(= ... ┐ bantrochta Boínni, text).
The gen. is preceded by the def. art.:
ar meinci inna
indithme,
Ml. 85d1
.
ardlathi in betho,
Wb. 1a3
.
dar cenn
ind Iudidi,
2a4
.
tri hiris in cháich,
2b11
.
fri bás inna clóen,
Thes. ii 320.1
.
for lorg in tslóig,
LU 4782.
lucht in baile,
PH 49.
In O. Ir. there are a great many exceptions to this
rule but in Mid. Ir., comparatively few, and fewer still in
Early Mod. Ir.:
inna ndánae in spirito,
Wb. 21c2
.
in pian
inna diglae,
Ml. 28c19
.
din chamull in diumsa,
Tur. 60.
in
dluthe ind flechuid,
Ml. 81c8
.
in dán inna litredachte,
Sg.
33a28
.
an fír-thsochraidecht an bethadh suthain,
Ir. Lit.
26.18
.
leth in orba in athar,
Laws iv 46.24 Comm.
in prīm-cathraig mōrglain ... in dúnaid,
MacCongl. 87.27
.
an dara
cuing an catha,
Irish Texts ii 9 § 24.
issind aurlaind in dúine,
TBFr. 60.
isin sinagoig moir na nEbraide,
PH 48.
na cuic
cuicidh na hEirenn,
ZCP xi 43 § 31.
oc saigid na cána in
domnaig,
Ériu ii 208.15
.
in mér medhon na láime clí,
O'Gr. Cat. 270.29.
in fer na tocla,
TTebe 1601
.
ingen in rig na
nEberda,
4645
. In PH there are two cases where this rule
does not apply (a) when the governing noun has a demonstrative suffix
¤sa or
¤sin, (b) when it is defined by an
ordinal. Exx. (a)
na scéla-sin in aingil,
PH 2975.
in rath-sa
na n-ilberla,
5484
. cf. O. Ir.:
don dlúim máir sin inna pecthach,
Wb. 9d5
.
in gnim sin in tengad,
Ml. 31b24
. (b)
in
cetna mís na bliadna,
PH 3516.
isin tress uair ina óidche,
1490
. In
TTebe, s.v. in
, Calder notes that while a few
instances of the double use of the article occur this is
especially the case when the governed noun is followed by
sin. The use of the double article when the governing noun
is defined by an ordinal though very common is not invariable:
cosin tres mac imlesan na hoensúla,
BDD² 641.
in treas rann sesgat ind uile,
Laws ii 370.21
-
22 Comm.
an
tres gaisgedach na Tiabanda,
TTebe 4879
; but cf.:
dorumalt
Moisi ... | ann tresraind a aimsire,
SR 3784.
tres ṅdírime
na tána,
TBC-LL¹ 2656.
i tres boin in brugad,
Laws v 402.7
Comm.
The gen. is preceded by a possessive adj.:
di foirbthetu for nirisse,
Wb. 1a9
.
lóg a pecthe,
1c3
.
do thudidin
do menman,
1c15
.
do ind a oenláime,
TBC-LL¹ 676.
lín a
teglaich,
TBFr. 8.
Exception:
lasin flaith far mbretha
ifos,
SR 1215.
The gen. is defined by cech (Mid. Ir. cach), nach:
du thuistin cech dulo,
Ml. 85b16
.
imfolang nach gnima,
80d2
.
tri thesbaid naich baill,
Sg. 5a5
.
fo cosmailis nacha
cat[h]rach,
Hib. Min. 219.
céol cach ḟir,
LL 207a18
.
cend
cech ḟir díb,
TBC-LL¹ 682.
i tossuch cach dúnaid,
571
.
The gen. is defined by a further definite genitive:
ó
soilsi deachte Crist,
Wb. 26a17
.
irchre fla[tho] Román,
26a5
.
co maithib fer nÉrenn,
BDD² 1441.
An exception
is:
dar fíartharsna in dunaid fer nÉrend,
LU 6291.
C The article is optional before an ordinal adjective:
isin chétne tuiste,
Wb. 1a1
. cetnae accuis inso `this is the
first cause,'
Ml. 118d12
. co nómád n-aó `to the ninth generation,'
Críth G. 327.
cetna gnim gnisset,
SR 4197.
cethramad gnim,
4209
. (The omissions in SR are necessitated
by the metre). Cf.
in chethramad accuis,
Ml. 118d18
.
ón chétna duini,
SR 7889.
in tres gnim,
4205
. Cf. ll. 83 ff.
col. 183 above.
D As a rule substantives defined by a relative sentence
take the art. unless they are preceded by is é, conid é, is
inunn, etc. (However, before words like airm, baile used
adverbially the article is omitted:
ría ríg Hérenn airm hi
foí,
BDD² 488.
co ránic na díberga baili i rabatar,
647
.
tancattar na hingena airm a mbói Hiruath,
PH 905.
bail hita a athair,
1380
):
dund óis nad chaithi cach
tuari,
Wb. 6c11
.
a forcell doberam,
25d21
.
isind huiliu
labramar-ni,
Ml. 31b23
(exceptionally:
ra mbía ... carpat
bas dech bess i n-Aii,
LU 5587
); but:
is hé cruth inso
áem no-s-messammar,
Wb. 9c10
.
is inunn chiall isindi as
scit ┐ as nōuit
,
Ml. 114b1
.
issí inne fil hi cechtar de,
114b1
.
is he titul fil i ndreich ...,
Hib. Min. 1.
is é óencharpat insin nad foglentais dirmand na hecrada,
LU
10177
-
8
.
is tú láech as dech fil i nHerind,
5768
.
is ed gen
n-imarbága fil la firu Hérind,
BDD² 1135.
is é céadchrann
tarla dhó, soileach,
Keat. ii 2687.
is é áit ar ghabhadar
tír, i gCúan an Bhainbh,
iii 5055
.
is e recht ro buí isin
Libia in n-inbuidh sin,
Stair Erc. 1101.
When the antecedent of the relative sentence is qualified by an ordinal the
article sometimes occurs:
fá hé Colum ... an céadduine
do thógaibh mainistear i n-oiléan Í,
Keat. iii 1344.
ionnus
gurab é an treas fear do chreid ...,
ii 5372
.
conidh e sin an
cedcath do cuir Ercuil,
Stair Erc. 966
; but:
gurab é C.C.
céaddoctúir do chuaidh,
Keat. iii 1347.
is si sin cedmainistir
caillech ndub ro buí isin Teib,
Stair Erc. 890.