Blair Collection > Gaelic dictionary, in two parts

THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.
ADJECTIVES OF THE SECOND DECLENSION.
These adjectives are characterized by i, and they form their cases like substantives of the second declension.
•Some adjectives of two syllables, of both declensions, are contracted in the plural; as, reamhara, conlr. reamhra,/a/ ;
milise, contr. milse, sweet.
The initial form of the adjective depends, (1) on the gender of its noun, (2) on its termination, (3) on its sense being
definite or indefinite.*
Example of an Adjective with a Masculine Siihstdiitive, imlejiiiitc, of the First Declension.
Fear marbh.
Sitig. PL
Notn. Fear marbh, a dead man, Nom. Fir mharbha, dead men.
Gen. Fir rahuirbh, ufa dead man. Gen. Fheara niarbha, of dead men.
Dat. Fear marbh, to a dead man. Dat. Fhearaibh marbha, to dead men.
Voc. Fhir mhairbh, dead man. Voc. Fheara marbha, dead men.
The same Words declined with the Article.
Sing. PL
Nom. Am fear marbh, the dead man, Nom. Na fhir mharbha, <Ae rfead men.
Gen. An fhir mhairbh, of the dead man. Gen. Nam fear marbha, of the dead men.
Dat. An, 'n fhear mharbh, to the dead inan, Dat. Na fearaibh marbha, to the dead men.
Example of a Noun Feminine and Adjective of the First Declension, indefinite.
Beann rahòr.
Sing. PL
Nom. Beann mhor, a high hill, Nom. Beanntan mora, high hills.
Gen. Beinne moire, of a high hill. Gen. Bea.r\n mora., of high lulls.
Dat. Beinn mhoire, to a high hill, Dat. Beanntaibh mora, to high hills.
Voc. Bheann mhor, high hill, Voc. Bheannta mora, high hills.
The same Words declined with the Article.
Sing. PL
Nom. A bheann mhor, the high hill, Nom. Na beanntan mora, the high hills.
Gen. iiaheinne moire, of the high hill. Gen. THamhemm mora, of the high hills.
Dat. An, 'n bheinn mhoir, to the high hill, Dat. Na beanntaibh mora, to the high hills.
Rule. — .\ substantive preceded by its adjective, is aspirated, and both are declined as one word ; as,
Sgòr-bheann, s.f. a rocky hill.
INDEFINITE.
OF THE COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.
In Gaelic there are three degrees or states of comparison ; the Positive, Comparative, and Superlative.
The Positive merely expresses the quality ; as, tha 'n dath so dearg, this colour is red.
The Comparative enlarges or diminishes the quality ; as, is e so dath is deirge, this is the redder colour.
The Superlative expresses the quality of an object in the highest degree ; as, is e so an dath is deirge dhiubh uile,
this is the reddest colour of them all.
* If a substantive feminine ends in n, and its adjective begins witli d, there is no initial change in tlie adjective ; as, cailimi dubh,
ailinn donn.
d