-aeth
Welsh
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Proto-Brythonic *-aɨθ, from Insular Celtic *-axtā, suffixal use of Proto-Celtic *axtā. Cognate with Cornish -eth, Breton -ezh, Irish -acht, Scottish Gaelic -achd and Manx -aght.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "cy-N" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /aɨ̯θ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "cy-S" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ai̯θ/
Suffix
-aeth f (plural -aethau)
- Forms abstract nouns.
- aelod (“member”) + -aeth → aelodaeth (“membership”)
- cyflog (“wage”) + -aeth → cyflogaeth (“employment”)
- meddyg (“doctor”) + -aeth → meddygaeth (“medicine”)
- amau (“to doubt”) + -aeth → amheuaeth (“doubt”)
- territory controlled by, -ship, -age, -y, -dom
- ymherodr (“emperor”) + -aeth → ymerodraeth (“empire”)
- esgob (“bishop”) + -aeth → esgobaeth (“diocese, bishopric”)
Usage notes
- With names of leaders, -aeth can be both concrete and abstract, for instance iarllaeth (“earldom”) is both the rank of being an earl and the territory controlled by one.
- Most nouns in -aeth are feminine. Common exceptions are gwasanaeth (“service”) and hiraeth (“longing, homesickness”).
Derived terms
References
R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “-aeth”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies