Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
máel. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
máel, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
máel in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
máel you have here. The definition of the word
máel will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
máel, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Old Irish
Etymology
From Proto-Celtic *mailos; cognate with Welsh moel.
Pronunciation
Adjective
máel
- bald, bare, shaved, shorn, tonsured
- (pre-Christian) as of a slave.
- (after the introduction of Christianity to Ireland) as of someone who is devoted (to God or to a given saint)
- hornless (of cattle)
- blunt, flattened, obtuse, pointless
- bare, exposed, defenceless (of places)
Inflection
o/ā-stem
|
Singular
|
Masculine
|
Feminine
|
Neuter
|
Nominative
|
máel
|
máel
|
máel
|
Vocative
|
maíl* máel**
|
Accusative
|
máel
|
maíl
|
Genitive
|
maíl
|
maíle
|
maíl
|
Dative
|
máel
|
maíl
|
máel
|
Plural
|
Masculine
|
Feminine/neuter
|
Nominative
|
maíl
|
máela
|
Vocative
|
máelu máela†
|
Accusative
|
máelu máela†
|
Genitive
|
máel
|
Dative
|
máelaib
|
Notes
|
*modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative
**modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative
† not when substantivized
|
Noun
máel f (genitive maíle, nominative plural máela)
- A head or shaved head.
- bare or blunt object.
- A rounded or convex surface; a flat-topped hillock.
Inflection
Feminine ā-stem
|
|
Singular
|
Dual
|
Plural
|
Nominative
|
máelL
|
maílL
|
máelaH
|
Vocative
|
máelL
|
maílL
|
máelaH
|
Accusative
|
maílN
|
maílL
|
máelaH
|
Genitive
|
maíleH
|
máelL
|
máelN
|
Dative
|
maílL
|
máelaib
|
máelaib
|
Initial mutations of a following adjective:
- H = triggers aspiration
- L = triggers lenition
- N = triggers nasalization
|
Descendants
Mutation
Mutation of máel
radical |
lenition |
nasalization
|
máel also mmáel after a proclitic ending in a vowel
|
máel pronounced with /β̃(ʲ)-/
|
unchanged
|
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Old Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.
Further reading
- Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 mael ‘bald’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 mael ‘shaved head’”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language