Matheson Collection > Gaelic grammar, containing the parts of speech and the general principles of phonology and etymology, with a chapter on proper and place names

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CÙile 'm faighte fèidh — a long smooth hill, nooks where
deer used to be found : — D. Ban 160, 5
An ro mhaith 'n cinn an stuth —
in which the crop grows very well : — ib. 80, 18
3. Na what, that which is in construction and meaning derived
from ani (neut. sing, of article + i) that which. As to the form,
ni, na-nj, neut. sing, of nech anyone, followed by the relative of
the verb ; and no- the relative preverb, sometimes written na-
in M.G., contributed to evolve the modem na.
4. Nach that . . . not, is a development of the O.G. dependent
negative na, nach. In M.G. it became the nom. of the negative
relative pronoun. In O.G. nach was the negative particle almost
invariably used with an infixed pronoun, or with an infixed re-
lative particle -n- e.g.
Connach (-n-) rancatar — so that they reached him not.
Hence in Modem Irish it causes eclipsis, and in G. except in
N. Inverness, it reduces -t- to -d- :
Ciod e nach d' thig ( =tig) a Glaschu ! —
What will not come from Glasgow I — Teacht. i. 5
Nach tugadh each an sgiath chùil deth —
Whose back wing others would not take off him ; — ^S.O. 50*8
Bu neònach leis nach tàinig iad —
He was astonished that they had not come : — ib. ISO^'u
So agaibh brigh na ceisde dh'a nach d' thugadh ( =tugadh)
freagradh — Here you have the gist of a question that has
not been answered : — Cos. 28
nach d'thig ( =tig) thu chaoidh nan cian —
Since thou wilt never never come : — Ross 19
Nach d' thug ( =tug) mi dhut do shaorsa ? —
Have I not given you your freedom ? : — ^Arab. i. 34
but it does not affect other consonants :
Is fuar an càirdeas nach caoidh bàs caraid — Cold is the
friendship that weeps not the death of a friend : — L.C. 254
Is ainneamh iad nach feud an gearan bochd so a dheanamh —
Few are they that cannot make this poor complaint : — ib.
5. Na (negative Ipv.) ecHpses a following initial -t- :
Na tog mi gus an tuit mi —
Do not lift me till / /a// :— N.G.R 331. §14