ceist

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish ceist, from Latin quaestiō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /cɛʃtʲ/

Noun

ceist f (genitive singular ceiste, nominative plural ceisteanna)

1. question (+ ar (“for”))

   Tá ceist agam ort. ― I have a question for you.

Declension

Derived terms

Mutation

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ceist”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “ceist”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Entries containing “ceist” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “ceist” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Old Irish

Etymology

From Latin quaestiō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʲesʲtʲ/

Noun

ceist f (genitive cestae, nominative plural cesti)

1. question
   • c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 55^d11

     Amal du·berad nech hi ceist do Dauid: “Húare is móir sléb fírinne Dǽ, cid ara fodmai-siu, ⟨a⟩ Dauid, didiu a ndu imnedaib ⁊ frithoircnib fodaimi? Air it fírián-⟨s⟩u.” Ícaid-som didiu anísin, a n-as·mbeir iudicia Domini abisus multa .i. ataat mesai Dǽ nephchomtetarrachti amal abis ⁊ amal fudumain. Is ed in sin fod·era in n-erígim, cid ara fodaim int aís fírián inna fochaidi, ⁊ cid ara mbiat in pecthaig isnaib soinmechaib.

     As though someone had put as a question to David: “Because God’s righteousness is as great as a mountain, why then, David, dost thou suffer what of afflictions and injuries thou sufferest? For thou art righteous.” He solves that then when he says “iudicia Domini abyssus multa”, i.e. there are judgments of God incomprehensible like an abyss and like a depth. That is what causes the complaint why the righteous folk endure tribulations, and why sinners are in prosperity.

Inflection

Descendants

• Irish: ceist
• Manx: keisht
• Scottish Gaelic: ceist

Mutation

Further reading

• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “ceist”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish ceist, from Latin quaestiō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

ceist f (genitive singular ceiste, plural ceistean)

1. question

   Bu toigh leam beagan cheistean a chur air an duine sin. ― I would like to ask that man a few questions.

   Cha robh ceist air a chur air. ― No question had been put to him.

2. problem, dispute, controversy

   tha, gun cheist ― yes, indeed, undoubtedly

3. darling

   tha, a cheist ― yes, darling

4. regard
5. anxiety
6. puzzle

Derived terms

Mutation

References

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “ceist”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎, 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “ceist”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language