First Things First

Words for first, before, previous, and related things in Celtic languages.

first things first

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic *kentus = first
*kentuslongos = early meal
*kentusamonyos, *kintusamīnos, *kintusamonis = beginning of summer, May
*kentusedom = first seat
Gaulish cintus = first (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc) cét- [ˈkʲeː.d] = first
cétaín [ˈkʲeː.dai̯nʲ] = Wednesday (“first fast”)
cétmuinter = spouse, wife
cétnae = first, same
cétóir = first time, beginning
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) cét- [kax / kex] = first, early, primary, former
cétad = seat, couch
cétaín [ˈkʲeː.dai̯nʲ] = Wednesday
cétlongad = fasting
Irish (Gaeilge) céad [ciːa̯d̪ˠ / ceːd̪ˠ] = first
Céadaoin [ˈceːd̪ˠiːnʲ] = Wednesday
céalacan = moring fast
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) ciad [kʲiad] = first
ciadaineach [kʲiədɪn̪ʲəx] = pertaining to Wednesday, falling on a Wednesday
DiCiadain [dʲɪˈkʲiədɪn̪ʲ] = Wednesday
Manx (Gaelg) kied = first, primary, senior
chied = first, initial, primary
kied chouyr = first aid
Crean = Mercury, Wednesday
Proto-Brythonic *kɨnt = earlier, sooner, before, former, previous
*kɨntüheð = porch, entry, court (?)
*kɨntühaβ̃in = beginning of summer, first month of summer, May (?)
Middle Welsh (Kymraec) cin, kin, kyn(n), cynn = before, previous to, preceding
cynda(i)d = ancestor, forefather
kynt, cynt = earlier, sooner, former(ly), previous(ly), before, quicker, faster, swifter, rather (than)
kyn(n)hayaf, kynhaeaf, cynhaeaf = harvest(-time), autumn
kantaf, kyntaf, kyntaw, kentaf = swiftest, quickest, fastest, fleetest, first, foremost, chief, principal
cyntedd = porch, lobby, vestibule, entry, court, forecourt
kintevin, kynteuin, kyntefin = beginning of summer, first month of summer, May, spring, summer
kythlwng = fasting, hunger
Welsh (Cymraeg) cyn [kɨ̞n / kɪn] = before, previous to, preceding
cynt [kɨ̞nt / kɪnt] = earlier, sooner, former(ly), previous(ly), before, quicker, faster, swifter, rather (than)
cyntaf = swiftest, quickest, fastest, fleetest, first, foremost, chief, principal
cynhaeaf = harvest(-time), autumn
cyntedd [ˈkəntɛð] = porch, lobby, vestibule, entry, court, forecourt
cyntefin [kənˈtɛvɪn] = beginning of summer, first month of summer, May, spring, summer
cythlwng = fasting, hunger
Old Cornish kyniaf = harvest(-time), autumn
Middle Cornish (Cernewec) cyn, cen, ken = first, before (that)
cens, kens = before, formerly, rather
cenzhoha, kenzhoha = the morning
cynsa, censa, kensa = the first, chief
cyniaf, kyniaw, cidniadh, cidniaz = autumn, harvest, time (“before winter”)
Cornish (Kernewek) kyns, kens = former, previous, sooner, earlier, formerly, rather, before
kyns ena, kens ena = previously, before then
kynsa, kensa = first, initial
kynser(es) = apprentice
kynserneth = apprenticeship
kynsistorek = prehistoric
Middle Breton (Brezonec) quent = before
quentaff = first
Breton (Brezhoneg) kent [ˈkɛ̃nt] = before, previously, rather, preferably, prevous, prior
kantad = ancestor
kantael = primitive, primary
kantaenn = principle
kantañ [ˈkẽn.tã] = first, main, next, soon
kentannezer = pioneer, pathfinder
kentanv = first name
kentocʼh [ˈkẽntɔx] = rather, instead
kerkent [ˈkɛrkɛnt] = immediately, as soon as

Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *kéntus, from *ken- (to arise, begin) [Source]. Words from the same roots possibly include begin, recent in English, beginnen (to begin, commence, start) in German, cenau (cub, pup, whelp, rascal) in Welsh, cana (cub, whelp) in Irish, szczenię (puppy, cub) in Polish, and reciente (recent) in Spanish [Source].
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Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, TermOfis




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