cenn

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Middle Irish

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old Irish cenn, from Proto-Celtic *kʷennom.

Pronunciation

Noun

cenn m (genitive cinn, plural cenna or cinn)

  1. head
  2. end

Descendants

  • Irish: ceann
  • Manx: kione
  • Scottish Gaelic: ceann

Mutation

Mutation of cenn
radical lenition nasalization
cenn chenn cenn
pronounced with /ɡ(ʲ)-/

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Middle Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

Old Irish

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *kʷennom, whence also conn (leader). Compare Welsh pen, Breton penn.

Noun

cenn n (genitive cinn, nominative plural cenna)

  1. head
    • 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. 89c11
      Mani ro{i}ma fora cenn, ní mema forsna bullu.
      If their head is not defeated, the members will not be defeated.
  2. end
    • 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. 74c20
      Húare ro·comallada inna imneda ⁊ fo·ruirmed cenn forsnaib cotarsnaib du·rairngirt-siu, is fíri{ri}én trá fuä n-indas sin tabart díglae foraibsom.
      Because the troubles have been fulfilled, and an end has been put to the adversities that you sg have promised, it is just, then, to inflict vengeance on them in that way.
Inflection
Neuter o-stem
Singular Dual Plural
Nominative cennN cennN cennL, cenna
Vocative cennN cennN cennL, cenna
Accusative cennN cennN cennL, cenna
Genitive cinnL cenn cennN
Dative ciunnL cennaib cennaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective:
  • H = triggers aspiration
  • L = triggers lenition
  • N = triggers nasalization
Derived terms
Descendants

Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *kennos. Cognate with Welsh cen (scale).

Noun

cenn f

  1. skin, covering
    • c. 845, St Gall Glosses on Priscian, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1975, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. II, pp. 49–224, Sg. 52b2
      hua cheinnglossing Latin a testa
Usage notes

This word fell out of use in its simple form during the Old Irish period due to being a homophone with the word meaning "head". It is only attested in the St. Gall Priscian glosses, glossing Latin testa.

Inflection
Feminine ā-stem
Singular Dual Plural
Nominative cennL ceinnL cennaH
Vocative cennL ceinnL cennaH
Accusative ceinnN ceinnL cennaH
Genitive ceinneH cennL cennN
Dative ceinnL cennaib cennaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective:
  • H = triggers aspiration
  • L = triggers lenition
  • N = triggers nasalization
Derived terms
Descendants

Mutation

Mutation of cenn
radical lenition nasalization
cenn chenn cenn
pronounced with /ɡ(ʲ)-/

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Old Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading