ceist

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish ceist, from Latin quaestiō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /cɛʃtʲ/

Noun

ceist f (genitive singular ceiste, nominative plural ceisteanna)

1. question (+ ar (“for”))

   Tá ceist agam ort. ― I have a question for you.

Declension

Declension of ceist

Second declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative ceist ceisteanna Vocative a cheist a cheisteanna Genitive ceiste ceisteanna Dative ceist ceisteanna

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an cheist na ceisteanna Genitive na ceiste na gceisteanna Dative leis an gceist don cheist leis na ceisteanna

Derived terms

• aincheist f (“dilemma”)
• ceisteach (“questioning, interrogative”, adjective)
• ceistigh (“question”, verb)
• croscheist f (“cross-question”)
• focheist f (“minor, subordinate question; odd, occasional inquiry”)
• i gceist (“in question”)

 

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
ceist	cheist	gceist
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ceist”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “ceist”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “ceist”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “ceist”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

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Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish ceist, from Latin quaestiō

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kʰʲeʃtʲ]

Noun

ceist f (genitive singular ceiste, plural ceistean)

1. question

   Bu toigh leam beagan cheistean a chur air an duine sin. ― I would like to ask that man a few questions.

   Cha robh ceist air a chur air. ― No question had been put to him.

2. problem, dispute, controversy

   tha, gun cheist ― yes, indeed, undoubtedly

3. darling

   tha, a cheist ― yes, darling

4. regard
5. anxiety
6. puzzle

Derived terms

• aincheist (“dilemma”)
• ana-ceist (“difficulty, dilemma; puzzle, riddle”)
• ceist-fhacal (“interrogative”)
• ceist-leabhar, leabhar-cheist (“catechism, question-book”)
• ceist-phunc (“note of interrogation”)
• ceisteachan (“questionnaire”)
• ceistean àbhaisteach (“frequently asked questions”)
• dubh-cheist (“enigma”)

 

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Lenition
ceist	cheist
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “ceist”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “ceist”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language