{"id":6344,"date":"2022-01-13T17:08:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T17:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/?p=6344"},"modified":"2026-05-05T20:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T19:35:29","slug":"mysterious-secrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/2022\/01\/13\/mysterious-secrets\/","title":{"rendered":"Mysterious Secrets"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this post we’re looking at words for secret<\/strong> and mystery<\/strong>, and related words, in Celtic languages.<\/p>\n

\"Secret<\/p>\n

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*r\u016bn\u0101<\/strong> = secret, mystery, magic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaulish<\/th>\nCobrunus<\/strong> = personal name<\/em>
\ncom(b)runos<\/strong> = (?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leptonic<\/th>\nRunatis<\/strong> = personal name<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\nr\u00fan<\/strong> [r\u0348u\u02d0n] = mystery, secret
\nr\u00fande<\/strong> [\u02c8r\u0348u\u02d0n\u0348de] = mysterious, mystical<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)<\/th>\nr\u00fan, r\u00faun, r\u00fain<\/strong> = something hidden or occult, a mystery, mystic or hidden meaning, a secret, secret thoughts or wishes, intention, purpose, design<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nr\u00fan<\/strong> [\u027e\u02e0u\u02d0n\u02e0] = mystery, secret, intention, purpose, resolution, love, affection
\nr\u00fanach<\/strong> = darling, sweetheart; runic, secret, mysterious
\nr\u00fana\u00ed<\/strong> = secretary, confidant, secretary-bird
\nr\u00fanchara<\/strong> = confidant(e)
\nr\u00fanda<\/strong> = mystical, mysterious, secret, confidential
\nr\u00fandacht<\/strong> = secrecy
\nr\u00fanmhar<\/strong> = close, secretive
\nr\u00fanscr\u00edbhin<\/strong> = runic script, secret writing, cipher
\ncomhr\u00fan<\/strong> = joint secret, common intent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\nr\u00f9n<\/strong> [r\u032a\u02e0u\u02d0n] = secret, intention, design, resolution, motive, purpose, desire, love
\nr\u00f9nach<\/strong> = secretarial, mysterious, mystical, beloved, runic
\nr\u00f9nag<\/strong> = small secret, dearie, sweetie
\nr\u00f9naire<\/strong> = secretary
\nr\u00f9inean<\/strong> = small secret, quietly
\nco-r\u00f9n<\/strong> = collusion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nroon<\/strong> = rune
\nroon-screeu<\/strong> = cipher
\nroonagh<\/strong> = runic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*rrin<\/strong> = mystery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nrin<\/strong> = mystery, charm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nrhin<\/strong> [r\u0325i\u02d0n] = secret, mystery, miracle; privacy, intimacy, intercourse; enchanment, magic spell, charm, sorcery, witchcraft, rune; virtue, attribute, property, quality, essence; secret, private, mysterious, occult
\nrhin(i)af \/ rhin(i)o<\/strong> = to whisper, speak secretly, charm, enchant, secrete
\nrhiniwr<\/strong> = charmer, enchanter, sorcerer, magician
\nrhinaidd<\/strong> = obscure, profound, enchanting
\nrhinwedd<\/strong> = virtue, rectitude, moral excellence, nature, quality
\ncyfrin<\/strong> = mysterious, esoteric; mystic, mystery, secret.
\ncyfrinach<\/strong> = secret, mystery, deliberation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nrin<\/strong> = mystery
\nkevrin(ek)<\/strong> = secret<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton<\/th>\nqueffrin<\/strong> = secret
\nqueffrinez<\/strong> = mystical spirit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg)<\/th>\nrin<\/strong> [r\u0129\u02d0n] = secret, mystery, arcane
\nkevrin<\/strong> [\u02c8ke\u02d0.vr\u0129n] = secret, mystery
\nkevrin(ad)egezh<\/strong> = mysticism
\nkevrinek, kevrinus<\/strong> [ke\u02c8vr\u0129\u02d0nek \/ ke.\u02c8vr\u0129\u02d0.nys] = mystical, mysterious, occult, secret<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *rewHn-<\/em>, from *rewH-\/*r\u0113wH-<\/em> (to roar, grumble, murmur, mumble, whisper). The Proto-Germanic word *r\u016bn\u014d<\/em> (secret, mystery, rune) and related words in modern Germanic languages, including rune<\/strong> in English and Dutch, and runa<\/strong> (rune) in Swedish, possibly come from the same Proto-Celtic root, or from the same PIE root [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*kowdo-<\/strong> = hiding place, concealment
\n*koudeti<\/strong> = hide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*k\u0289\u00f0\u0268d<\/strong> = to hide<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\ncud<\/strong> = concealment, covering, hidden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\ncudd<\/strong> [k\u0268\u00f0\/k\u026a\u00f0] = concealment, hiding-place, secrecy, covering, veil; concealed, hidden, dark, hiding
\ncuddedig<\/strong> = hidden, concealed, unknown, covered,mysterious, secret, dark
\ncuddfa<\/strong> = hiding-place, retreat, hoard
\ncuddiad<\/strong> = a hiding, concealment, secret
\ncuddio<\/strong> = to hide, conceal, bury, cover<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\ncudhe, cidha, citha, cudhb<\/strong> = to hide, conceal, cover
\ncudhygyc<\/strong> = one that conceals himself, bashful, ashamed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nkudh<\/strong> = concealed, hidden, secret
\nkudha (rag)<\/strong> = to conceal, hide (from)
\nkudhlen<\/strong> = cover, veil
\nkudhoberys<\/strong> = underhand
\nkudhva<\/strong> = hideout, lair
\nkudhys<\/strong> = veiled<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Breton<\/th>\ncuzaff<\/strong> = secret, confidential<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breton (Brezhoneg<\/th>\nkuzh<\/strong> = secret, confidential
\nkuzh(iadell) \/ toull-kuzh<\/strong> = hiding place
\nkuzhat<\/strong> = to hide (oneself)
\nkuzhet<\/strong> = masked
\nkuzhadur<\/strong> = eclipse, blanking, concealment
\nkuzhuter<\/strong> = confidant(e)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: from the Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd\u02b0-<\/em> from *(s)kewH-<\/em> (to hide, cover, wrap). Words from the same roots include custodian<\/strong>, hide<\/strong>, house<\/strong>, hut<\/strong> and sky<\/strong> in English [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Proto-Celtic<\/th>\n*sanestos<\/strong> = secret (advice), whisper, counsel, history<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc)<\/th>\nsana(i)s<\/strong> = advice, counsel, whisper, privacy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Irish (Gaeilge)<\/th>\nsanas<\/strong> [\u02c8s\u02e0an\u02e0as\u02e0] = whisper, hint, suggestion, gloss, glossary
\nsanasa\u00ed<\/strong> = etymologist
\nsanasa\u00edocht<\/strong> = etymology<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Scottish Gaelic (G\u00e0idhlig)<\/th>\nsanas<\/strong> [\u02c8san\u0259s] = notice, sign, signal, warning, hint, cue, whisper
\nsanasach<\/strong> = warning, hinting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manx (Gaelg)<\/th>\nsannish<\/strong> = whisper, hint, allusion, suggestion
\nsansheraght<\/strong> = to whisper, annunciate, speak under breath, whispering<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proto-Brythonic<\/th>\n*hanes<\/strong> = history, secret<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)<\/th>\nhanes<\/strong> = history, secret<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welsh (Cymraeg)<\/th>\nhanes<\/strong> [\u02c8han\u025bs\/\u02c8hanas] = history, chronicle, tale, account, narrative, record, report, intelligence; secret, mystery, whisper, murmur
\nhanesaf \/ hanesu<\/strong> = to narrate\/write history
\nhanesydd<\/strong> = historian, historiographer, chronicler<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)<\/th>\nhanas<\/strong> = a low sound, whisper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cornish (Kernewek)<\/th>\nhanas<\/strong> = groan, murmur, sigh, whisper
\nhanasa<\/strong> = to groan, murmur, sigh, whisper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Etymology<\/strong>: uncertain [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources: Wiktionary<\/a>, Am Faclair Beag<\/a>, Online Manx Dictionary<\/a>, Teanglann.ie<\/a>, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language<\/a>, In D\u00fail B\u00e9lrai English – Old Irish glossary<\/a>, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru<\/a>, Gerlyver Kernewek<\/a>, Dictionaire Favereau<\/a>, TermOfis<\/a>, English – ProtoCeltic WordList<\/a> (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this post we’re looking at words for secret and mystery, and related words, in Celtic languages. Words marked with a * are reconstructions. Proto-Celtic *r\u016bn\u0101 = secret, mystery, magic Gaulish Cobrunus = personal name com(b)runos = (?) Leptonic Runatis = personal name Old Irish (Go\u00eddelc) r\u00fan [r\u0348u\u02d0n] = mystery, secret r\u00fande [\u02c8r\u0348u\u02d0n\u0348de] = mysterious, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,26,19,20,25,21,3,4,22,5,6,37,7,27,10,11,12,67,13,23,64,43,18,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-breton","category-kernewek-cornish","category-english","category-etymology","category-gaulish","category-gaeilge-irish","category-language","category-leptonic","category-gaelg-manx","category-middle-breton","category-middle-cornish","category-middle-irish","category-middle-welsh-kymraec","category-nouns","category-old-irish-goidelc","category-proto-brythonic","category-proto-celtic","category-proto-germanic","category-proto-indo-european","category-gaidhlig-scottish-gaelic","category-swedish-svenska","category-verbs","category-cymraeg-welsh","category-words"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6344"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9202,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6344\/revisions\/9202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}