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, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Euphemistic alteration of God.
Interjection
gad
- An exclamation roughly equivalent to by God, goodness gracious, for goodness' sake.
1905, Edith Wharton, chapter 13, in The House of Mirth:That's the trouble — it was too easy for you — you got reckless — thought you could turn me inside out, and chuck me in the gutter like an empty purse. But, by gad, that ain't playing fair: that's dodging the rules of the game.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Middle English gadden (“to hurry, to rush about”).
Verb
gad (third-person singular simple present gads, present participle gadding, simple past and past participle gadded)
- (intransitive) To move from one location to another in an apparently random and frivolous manner.
- Synonym: gallivant
1852, Alice Cary, Clovernook ....:This, I suppose, is the virgin who abideth still in the house with you. She is not given, I hope, to gadding overmuch, nor to vain and foolish decorations of her person with ear-rings and finger-rings, and crisping-pins: for such are unprofitable, yea, abominable.
- 1903, Howard Pyle, The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, Part III, Chapter Fourth, page 123
- So when he saw King Arthur he said: "Thou knave! Wherefore didst thou quit thy work to go a-gadding?"
1888–1891, Herman Melville, “[Billy Budd, Foretopman.] Chapter [HTTP://GUTENBERG.NET.AU/EBOOKS06/0608511H.HTML 19].”, in Billy Budd and Other Stories, London: John Lehmann, published 1951, →OCLC:But there is no telling the sacrament, seldom if in any case revealed to the gadding world, wherever under circumstances at all akin to those here attempted to be set forth, two of great Nature's nobler order embrace.
1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XIII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:If you are on the board of governors of a school and have contracted to supply an orator for the great day of the year, you can be forgiven for feeling a trifle jumpy when you learn that the silver-tongued one has gadded off to the metropolis, leaving no word as to when he will be returning, if ever.
- (of cattle) To run with the tail in the air, bent over the back, usually in an attempt to escape the warble fly.
Derived terms
Translations
to move about at random with seemingly little purpose
Noun
gad (plural gads)
- One who roams about idly; a gadabout.
Etymology 3
From Middle English gade (“a fool, simpleton, rascal, scoundrel; bastard”), from Old English gada (“fellow, companion, comrade, associate”), from Proto-West Germanic *gadō, from Proto-Germanic *gadô, *gagadô (“companion, associate”), related to Proto-West Germanic *gaduling (“kinsman”). Cognate with Dutch gade (“spouse”), German Gatte (“male spouse, husband”). See also gadling.
Alternative forms
Noun
gad (plural gads)
- (Northern England, Scotland, derogatory) A greedy and/or stupid person.
Get over here, ye good-for-nothing gadǃ
1913, George Gordon, The Auld Clay Biggin:Ye greedy ged, ye have taken the very breath out o' me.
References
Etymology 4
From Middle English gad, gadde, borrowed from Old Norse gaddr (“goad, spike”), from Proto-Germanic *gazdaz (“spike, rod, stake”).
Noun
gad (plural gads)
- (especially UK, US, dialect) A goad, a sharp-pointed rod for driving cattle, horses, etc, or one with a whip or thong on the end for the same purpose.
- Hyponym: goad
- 1684, Meriton, Praise Ale, l. 100, in 1851, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, The Yorkshire Anthology: A Collection of Ancient and Modern Ballads, Poems and Songs, Relating to the County of Yorkshire, page 71:
- Ist yoakes and bowes and gad and yoaksticks there?
c. 1844, Prairie Farmer:Does your cow kick? Do not fly into a passion and pound her with a handspike, or trim her with a gad or a cow-hide.
1885 December 17, Detroit Free Press:Twain finds his voice after a short search for it and when he impels it forward it is a good, strong, steady voice in harness until the driver becomes absent-minded, when it stops to rest, and then the gad must be used to drive it on again.
1888, “Robin Spraggon's Auld Grey Mare”, in The Monthly Chronicle of North-country Lore and Legend, page 171:Our thrifty dame, Mally, she rises soon at morn, She goes and tells the master I'm pulling up the corn; He clicks up the oxen gad and sair belabours me, For I'm Robin Spraggon's auld grey mare, ae how he's guided me!
1908, Folklore Society (Great Britain), Publications, page 288:On the morning of Palm-Sunday, the gamekeeper, some servant on the estate, brings with him a large gad or whip, with a long thong; the stock is made of the mountain ash, […]
- (UK, US, dialect) A rod or stick, such as a fishing rod or a measuring rod.
1836, A Collection of Right Merrie Garlands for North Country Anglers, page 4:And we'll prepare our limber gads,
Lang lines, and braw brass wheels;
1876, Armstrong, Wanny Blossoms, page 33:Seek out thy tackle, thy creel and thy gad.
1879, William Henderson, Folklore Society (Great Britain), Notes on the Folk-lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders:Woe to the lad / without a rowen-tree gad.
1896, Proudlock, Borderland Muse, page 268:We'll splice oor gads nigh Barra Mill, Beneath yon auld birk tree.
- (especially mining) A pointed metal tool for breaking or chiselling rock.
c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :I will go get a leaf of brass, / And with a gad of steel will write these words.
2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 327:Frank was able to keep his eyes open long enough to check his bed with a miner's gad and douse the electric lamp
- (obsolete) A metal bar.
1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book XV:they sette uppon hym and drew oute their swerdys to have slayne hym – but there wolde no swerde byghte on hym more than uppon a gadde of steele, for the Hyghe Lorde which he served, He hym preserved.
1677–1683, Joseph Moxon, “(please specify the page)”, in Mechanick Exercises, or The Doctrine of Handy-Works, , volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Joseph Moxon, published 1678–1683, →OCLC:Flemish steel […] some in bars and some in gads.
1836, Walter Scott, Guy Mannering, Or, The Astrologer: With the Author's Last Notes and Additions, page 372:When a man received sentence of death, he was put upon the gad as it was called, that is, secured to the bar of iron in the manner mentioned in the text. The practice subsisted in Edinburgh […]
- (dated, metallurgy) An indeterminate measure of metal produced by a furnace, sometimes equivalent to a bloom weighing around 100 pounds.
1957, H.R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry, page 146:Twice a day a 'gad' of iron, i.e., a bloom weighing 1 cwt. was produced, which took from six to seven hours.
- A spike on a gauntlet; a gadling.
- Synonyms: gadling, spike
1840, Charles Henry Hartshorne, An Endeavor to Classify the Sepulchral Remains in Northamptonshire, Or, a Discourse on Funeral Monuments in that County: Delivered Before the Members of the Religious and Useful Knowledge Society, at Northampton, page 35:Sometimes we see the knuckles ornamented with gads or gadlings.
1842, Ecclesiological Society, Illustrations of Monumental Brasses ..., page 70:His gauntlets have embroidered cuffs; there are gads or gadlings on the fingers.
1858, Edward Cave, The Gentleman's Magazine: Or, Monthly Intelligencer: Volume the first , for the year 1731 ..., page 215:Another curious device was that of arming the knuckles of the gauntlets with spikes (gads or gadlings), by which they became weapons as well as defences.
1992, Sir Guy Francis Laking, A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries, page 214:On both finger joints are gads, which are beautifully faceted and brought to a point.
Derived terms
Translations
A sharp-pointed object; a goad
See also
Anagrams
Afar
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɡad/,
- Hyphenation: gad
Noun
gád m (plural gadoowá f or gaditté f or gadoodá f)
- song
- sung poetry
Declension
Declension of gád
|
absolutive
|
gád
|
predicative
|
gáda
|
subjective
|
gád
|
genitive
|
gaddí
|
|
References
- E. M. Parker, R. J. Hayward (1985) “gad”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN
- Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie), Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)
Danish
Pronunciation
Verb
gad
- past of gide
Irish
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Old Irish gat, from Proto-Celtic *gazdo-, from late Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰasto- or *ǵʰasdʰo- (“branch ~ spear, sharp spine”), a root also connected to Proto-Germanic *gazdaz (“spike”), Latin hasta (“spear”).
Noun
gad m (genitive singular gaid, nominative plural gaid)
- withe
- string, rope, band
- Obsolete spelling of goid
- Obsolete spelling of cad
Declension
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From Old Irish gataid (“takes away, removes, pulls or snatches away; takes away (something from someone), deprives of; of carrying off booty; takes away the expectation, hope of (something, an event); steals”).
Verb
gad (present analytic gadann, future analytic gadfaidh, verbal noun gad, past participle gadta)
- (transitive, intransitive, literary) take away, remove; snatch, carry off
- Alternative form of goid
Conjugation
|
singular
|
plural
|
relative
|
autonomous
|
first
|
second
|
third
|
first
|
second
|
third
|
indicative
|
present
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gadaim
|
gadann tú; gadair†
|
gadann sé, sí
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gadaimid
|
gadann sibh
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gadann siad; gadaid†
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a ghadann; a ghadas / a ngadann*; a ngadas*
|
gadtar
|
past
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ghad mé; ghadas
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ghad tú; ghadais
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ghad sé, sí
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ghadamar; ghad muid
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ghad sibh; ghadabhair
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ghad siad; ghadadar
|
a ghad / ar ghad*
|
gadadh
|
past habitual
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ghadainn / ngadainn‡‡
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ghadtá / ngadtᇇ
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ghadadh sé, sí / ngadadh sé, s퇇
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ghadaimis; ghadadh muid / ngadaimis‡‡; ngadadh muid‡‡
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ghadadh sibh / ngadadh sibh‡‡
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ghadaidís; ghadadh siad / ngadaidís‡‡; ngadadh siad‡‡
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a ghadadh / a ngadadh*
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ghadtaí / ngadta퇇
|
future
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gadfaidh mé; gadfad
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gadfaidh tú; gadfair†
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gadfaidh sé, sí
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gadfaimid; gadfaidh muid
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gadfaidh sibh
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gadfaidh siad; gadfaid†
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a ghadfaidh; a ghadfas / a ngadfaidh*; a ngadfas*
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gadfar
|
conditional
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ghadfainn / ngadfainn‡‡
|
ghadfá / ngadfᇇ
|
ghadfadh sé, sí / ngadfadh sé, s퇇
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ghadfaimis; ghadfadh muid / ngadfaimis‡‡; ngadfadh muid‡‡
|
ghadfadh sibh / ngadfadh sibh‡‡
|
ghadfaidís; ghadfadh siad / ngadfaidís‡‡; ngadfadh siad‡‡
|
a ghadfadh / a ngadfadh*
|
ghadfaí / ngadfa퇇
|
subjunctive
|
present
|
go ngada mé; go ngadad†
|
go ngada tú; go ngadair†
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go ngada sé, sí
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go ngadaimid; go ngada muid
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go ngada sibh
|
go ngada siad; go ngadaid†
|
—
|
go ngadtar
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past
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dá ngadainn
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dá ngadtá
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dá ngadadh sé, sí
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dá ngadaimis; dá ngadadh muid
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dá ngadadh sibh
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dá ngadaidís; dá ngadadh siad
|
—
|
dá ngadtaí
|
imperative
|
gadaim
|
gad
|
gadadh sé, sí
|
gadaimis
|
gadaigí; gadaidh†
|
gadaidís
|
—
|
gadtar
|
verbal noun
|
gad
|
past participle
|
gadta
|
* indirect relative
† archaic or dialect form
‡‡ dependent form used with particles that trigger eclipsis
Mutation
Irish mutation
|
Radical
|
Lenition
|
Eclipsis
|
gad
|
ghad
|
ngad
|
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.
|
Further reading
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “gad”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “gad”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 344
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “gat”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “gataid (‘take away, steal’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Entries containing “gad” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
- Entries containing “gad” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.
- Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 48
Lower Sorbian
Etymology
From Proto-Slavic *gadъ (“serpent”).
Pronunciation
Noun
gad m animal
- (archaic) venomous snake, viper, adder
Declension
Noun
gad m inan
- poison, venom
Declension
Further reading
- Muka, Arnošt (1921, 1928) “gad”, in Słownik dolnoserbskeje rěcy a jeje narěcow (in German), St. Petersburg, Prague: ОРЯС РАН, ČAVU; Reprinted Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag, 2008
- Starosta, Manfred (1999) “gad”, in Dolnoserbsko-nimski słownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (in German), Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag
Navajo
Pronunciation
Noun
gad
- juniper, cedar (especially Juniperus deppeana)
Polish
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *gadъ.
Pronunciation
Noun
gad m animal
- reptile (cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia)
Declension
Derived terms
Noun
gad m pers
- scoundrel (villain)
Declension
Further reading
- gad in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- gad in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Scots
Etymology 1
Unknown. Possibly from gaud (“a bar of iron; a rod”). Alternatively, compare Icelandic gaddr (“packed snow”). Attested from the 19th century.
Noun
gad (plural gads)
- a mass of ice
Etymology 2
Unknown. Attested from the 20th century. Compare caddle, cad (“stones used to play the game of cherry pit”). Compare also Scottish Gaelic gad (“a twig, stick”).
Noun
gad (plural gads)
- a ball of wood or cork used to play shinty
See also
References
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology 1
Pronunciation
Pronoun
gad
- you (informal singular, direct object)
- Bruidhinn nas labhaire, chan eil mi gad chluinntinn ceart. ― Speak louder, I don't hear you well.
Usage notes
Related terms
Etymology 2
From Old Irish gat, from Proto-Celtic *gazdo-, from late Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰasto- or *ǵʰasdʰo- (“branch ~ spear, sharp spine”), a root also connected to Proto-Germanic *gazdaz (“spike”), Latin hasta (“spear”).
Noun
gad m (genitive singular gaid, plural gaid or gadan)
- withy, withe
Etymology 3
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Conjunction
gad
- Alternative form of ged
Mutation
Scottish Gaelic mutation
|
Radical
|
Lenition
|
gad |
ghad
|
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.
|
Serbo-Croatian
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *gadъ.
Noun
gȁd m (Cyrillic spelling га̏д)
- a repulsive person
- scoundrel
- cad
- asshole
- snake; lizard
Declension
Somali
Verb
gad
- to buy
Torres Strait Creole
Noun
gad
- (eastern dialect) an immature coconut
Usage notes
Gad or smol koknat is the third stage of coconut growth. It is preceded by giru (eastern dialect) or musu koknat (western dialect), and followed by kopespes.
Veps
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian гад (gad).
Noun
gad
- snake
Inflection
Volapük
Noun
gad (nominative plural gads)
- garden
Declension
declension of gad
- 1 status as a case is disputed
- 2 in later, non-classical Volapük only
Derived terms
Welsh
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Noun
gad
- Soft mutation of cad.
Mutation
Etymology 2
Alternative forms
Verb
gad
- (literary) second-person singular imperative of gadael
Mutation
Western Apache
Pronunciation
Noun
gad
- cedar or juniper tree, especially Juniperus deppeana.
References