In this post we’re looking at words for straight, direct and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | díriuch [ˈd̠ʲiː.ɾʲux] = direct, straight, straightforward, upright strong>dírgid = to direct, guide, straighten |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | díriuch, dírech = direct, straight, straightforward, upright, just, right dírgas = righteousness, uprightness dírge, dírga = directing, straightness, directness dírgid = to straighten, to make straight, to direct, to aim, to guide |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | díreach [ˈdʲiːɾʲəx / ˈdʲiːɾʲa(h)] = straight, straightforwardness, straight course; straight, direct, just, exact(ly) díríocht = straightness, directness, uprightness díritheach = directing, rectifying díritheoir = director |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | dìreach [dʲiːrʲəx] = straight, direct, just, directly, vertical, erect, upright, forthright dìreachadh [dʲiːrʲəxəɣ] = (act of) making straight, straightening dìreachd [dʲirʲəxg] = straightness dìrich [dʲiːrʲɪç] = make straight, straighten |
| Manx (Gaelg) | jeeragh [ˈdʒiːrax] = straight, straightforward, rigid, lineal, sincere, faithful, candid, honest, frank, direct, just, true, due, strict, exact, precise, erect, plumb, point-blank jeereyder = director, straightener jeerid = straightness, directness, strictness, sincerity, honesty jeerys = right, straightness, justice, rigidity |
Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Celtic *rego- (to extend, stretch, straighten), from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵ-u-s ~ *h₃r̥ǵ-éw-s (straight), from *h₃réǵ (to straighten, to righten) [source]. Words from the same PIE root possibly include reacht (law) in Irish, cyfraith (law) in Welsh, direzione (direction, way, course) in Italian, and adress, adroit, correct, direct, dress, regular and right in English [source].
| Proto-Celtic | * = |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | seta = tall |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | seta, seda = long, slender, graceful |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | seada = long, slender, graceful (graceful) |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | syth, seth = straight, direct sythu = to straighten, stand up, stiffen sythter. sythder = straightness, erectness, rigidity, stiffness sythyedic = fixed, stiffened, starched |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | syth [sɨːθ / siːθ] = straight, direct, immediate, upright, erect, vertical, perpendicular, steep, stiff, rigid, unbending, steady, righteous, honest sythaf, sythu = to straighten, stand up, stiffen sythder = straightness, erectness, rigidity, stiffness syth(i)edig = fixed, stiffened, starched |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | syth, seth = direct, upright |
Etymology: from Proto-Indo-European *sísdeti (to be sitting down), from *sed- (to sit) [source]. [source].
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | diŵyr, diwyr = straight, direct diwyro = to straighten, turn back |
|---|---|
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | diwyr, di-ŵyr [ˈdɪ.ʊɨ̯r / ˈdiː.ʊi̯r] = undeviating, straight, direct, unbiased, regular, constant, correct diwyraf, diwyro = to straighten, turn back diwyredd = straight, direct diwyro = without deviating or bending, unswerving, unerring, straight, direct |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | diwirhaval = unlikely, improbable |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | diguis, diuir = cruel |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | diwir [ˈdiwir / ˈdiɥːir] = cruel, disloyal, unfair, false, deceitful diwirdik = one who is not sensitive diwirheñvel = unbelievable, improbable diwiridikaat = numb diwirion = inauthentic, insincere, unrealistic |
Etymology: from Proto-Brythonic *gwuɨr, from Proto-Celtic *weiros (crooked), from the Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros (turned, twisted), from *weh₁y- (to twist, wrap) [source]. See also the post about words for Crooked.
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, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
