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dóbair. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dóbair, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dóbair in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dóbair you have here. The definition of the word
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Irish
Alternative forms
Etymology
From the past tense d'fhóbair of fóbair (“to attack, approach, attempt”).
Pronunciation
Adverb
dóbair
- almost (in the past tense); it almost happened
Dóbair dom é a bhriseadh.- I almost broke it.
Dóbair gur bhris mé é.- I almost broke it.
Ba dhóbair dom é a bhriseadh.- I almost broke it.
Ba dhóbair gur bhris mé é.- I almost broke it.
Usage notes
Followed by do (“to”) plus the subject plus a verbal noun or by a clause introduced by go (“that”); see usage examples above. Also appears after ba (past copula) as ba dhóbair as if it were a noun.
References
Further reading
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “fúabair, fóbair”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “dóbair”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN