féidir

Irish

Etymology

From both Middle Irish éitir (“strength”) and the autonomous ("passive") form of fétaid (“be able”). The initial "f" is a reanalysing of the verb to match féad, and akin to the added "f" in forms such as feic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʲeːdʲəɾʲ/

Noun

féidir (defective)

1. ability
2. possibility

Usage notes

• This noun is used in two places in Irish:

1. The expression is féidir le (“to be able”)
2. The expression b’fhéidir (“maybe”)

Derived terms

• féideartha (“possible, potential, feasible”)

See also

• féad

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
féidir	fhéidir	bhféidir
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “féidir”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Entries containing “féidir” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “féidir” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.