Words for weak, feeble and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Proto-Celtic | *lubros = weak |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | lobur = weak, sick, infirm |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | lobar, lobur, lobor = weak, infirm, sick, afflicted lobrae = weakness, infirmity, sickness lobrán = weakling, weak person, afflicted person loburda = sickly, ailing loibríne = weak little one |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | lobhar [tʲasˠ/tʲæsˠ] = leper, (literary) weak, ailing person, afflicted person lobhra = leprosy, (literary) weakness, infirmity, affliction lobhrach = leprous, (literary) weak, ailing, afflicted lobhrán = leper, (literary) weakling, afflicted person |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | lobhar [l̪ˠo.ər] = leper, disgusting wretch lobhar-leigheas = antiseptic |
| Manx (Gaelg) | lourane = heat, warmth louraanagh, louranagh, louraneagh = leprous loihrey, lourey; louraanys, louraneys = leprosy |
| Proto-Brythonic | *lluβr = (?) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | llwfyr, llwrf, llwfr = cowardly, craven, timid |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | llwfr = cowardly, craven, timid, faint-hearted, unadventurous, apathetic, shy, mean, idle, lazy, improvident; damp; coward llwfrgalon, llyfrgalon = timid, faint-hearted |
| Middle Breton (Brrezhonec) | loffr, lofr = leper, leprous, oaf lovradur = leprosy |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | lovr = leper, oaf lovrezh = leprosy lovrañ = to contract/give leprosy |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *luprós and *lewp- (to peel, strip) [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *wannos = weak |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | fann = helpless, weak |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | fann = weak, helpless, soft, pliant fannach = weak, weakling fannaid = weakens, grows weak fanntaise = a swoon, faintness |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | fann [fanˠ] = faint, weak, languid fannaigh = to weaken, enfeeble, grow weak fannán = gentle breeze fanntais = faaint, swoon, fainting-fit |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | fann [fãũn̪ˠ] = weak, feeble, faint, helpless, delicate fannachadh [fan̪ˠəxəɣ] = becoming/making weak, fainting fannachd [fan̪ˠəxg] = weakness, state of being off/spoilt (food) fanntas [fãũn̪ˠdəs] = weakness, faintness |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | guan, gvann, gwan(n) = weak, feeble guander, gvander, gwan(n)der = weakness, feebleness, debility guanhau, gwanhau = to grow weak, weaken, languish |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwan [ɡwan] =weak, feeble, languid, faint, mild, gentle, lenient, sad, depressing, gloomy, unlucky, foolish, simple, credulous, timid gwander = weakness, feebleness, debility gwanedu = to dilute gwanedig = enfeebled, enervated, faint gwanhad = weakening, enfeeblement, enervation gwanhau = to grow weak, weaken, languish |
| Old Cornish | guan = weak |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | guan, gwan = weak, feeble, infirm, poor gwander = weakness, infirmity, debility |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | gwann, gwadn = faint, frail, weak gwanna, gwadna = to weaken gwannhe, gwadnhe = to weaken gwannliwek, gwadnliwek = pale |
| Old Breton | guoaean = weak |
| Middle Breton (Brezhonec) | guan, goan, goann = weak goanaff, goano = to weaken |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gwan [ˈɡwãːn] = weak, intransitive gwanaat [ɡwãˈnɑːt] = to weaken gwanadenn, gwanded, gwander = weakness gwanadur = weakening, dimming gwanaj = weak gwanded [ˈɡwãn.det] = weakness |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂-sn (to disappear, vanish), *h₁weh₂- (to leave, abandon, give out). English words from the same PIE root include vacant, vacuum, vain, void, wane, want and waste [source]
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Lexicon Cornu-britannicum: A Dictionary of the Ancient Celtic Language of Cornwall, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic