Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1841 to 1870 > Stéidhean a' Ghràmair Ghaëlig

162 ETYMOLOGY.
FOCLACHADH.
of several Adjectives is used as abstract Nouns ; as, buige, soft-
ness, humidity. Doille, blindness. — Gen. xix. 11.
Aid, — Several feminine Nouns are forraed froin other Nouns
and Adjectives, by adding-az'J/ as, glag, a noise ; glagaid, a
noisy or clamorous woman. Briosg, brisk, brittle ; briosgaid, a
biscuit.
PATRONYMIC AND GENTILE AINMEARAN FINEACHAIL ? U8
NOUNS. TIREIL.
Patronymics and Gentiles are formed by adding -ach to
tbe proper names of persons and places ; as, Friseal,
Fraser; Frisealach, a Fraser, a man ofthe name of Fraser.
Dònull, Donald. Dònullach, a Macdonald. Ban-Fhris-
ealach, a woman of the name of Fraser. Ban-Dònullach.
Bana-Chamaronach.
Albainn, Scotland; Albannach, a Scotchman. Sasunn
(from Saxon), England ; Sasunnach, an Englishman. Ei-
rionn, Ireland; Eirionnach, an Irishman. Eudailt, Italy ;
Eudailteach, an Itaììan. Ban-Albannach, a Scotchwoman.
Ban-Fhràngach. Ban-Sasunnach. Ban-Duitseach. Ei-
phit, Egypt; Eiphiteach.
When a country derives its name from a river, or
any other place, the gentile is formed from the name of
the river, or that place ; as, Srath-ghlais, Strathglass
(from srath, a vale, and Glas, its river). Glaiseach, a
Strathglass man ; Bana-Ghlaiseach, a Strathglass woman.
Srath-Chonain (from srath, a vale, and Conan, its river).
Conanach, Bana-Chonanach. Loch-Abair, Lochaber ;
Abrach, a Lochaber man ; Ban-Abrach.
OF DIMINUTIVES. MU CHRINEANAIBH.
Diminutive Nouns are formed from other Nouns, by
adding -an for the masculine, and -ag for the feminine ;
as, balach, a lad; balaclKm, a boy. Bòrd, a table, or board;
bòrdan, a lìttle table. Balg, a bag ; balgmz, a little bag.
Caile, a girl; caile^, a little gìrl. Bean, a wife; bean^,
a little wife. Sùil, an eye ; sùile^, a little eye. Clach, a
stone ; clachay, a small stone.