díabul

Old Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈdʲia̯.vul]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *dwēblos (“double”), a full-grade derivative of Proto-Indo-European *dwi- (“two”). Compare Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐍆𐌻 (tweifl, “doubt”) and Latin duplus.

Adjective

díabul

2. double
   • c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 97^d10

     Is peccad díabul lesom .i. fodord doib di dommatu, ⁊ du·fúairthed ní leu fora sáith din main, ⁊ todlugud inna féulæ ɔ amairis nánda·tibérad Día doïb, ⁊ nach coimnacuir ⁊ issi dano insin ind frescissiu co fochaid.

     It is a double sin in his opinion, i.e. the murmuring by them of want, although there remained some of the manna with them upon their satiety, and demanding the meat with faithlessness that Good would not give it to them, and [even] that he could not; therefore that is the expectation with testing.

   • c. 845, St Gall Glosses on Priscian, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1975, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. II, pp. 49–224, Sg. 8^a6

     a buith ar chonsain diabuil

     its being for a double consonant

Inflection

o/ā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	díabul	díabul	díabul
Vocative	díabuil* díabul**
Accusative	díabul	díabuil
Genitive	díabuil	díabuile	díabuil
Dative	díabul	díabuil	díabul
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	díabuil	díabla
Vocative	díablu díabla†
Accusative	díablu díabla†
Genitive	díabul
Dative	díablaib
Notes	*modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative **modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative † not when substantivized

Descendants

• Middle Irish: díabul

Etymology 2

From Latin diabolus (“devil”), from Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos, “slanderer”).

Noun

díabul m (genitive díabuil)

2. the devil
   • c. 800, Würzburg Glosses on the Pauline Epistles, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 499–712, Wb. 22^d11

     Gaibid armma Dǽ foirib do chathugud fri diabol!

     Take up the arms of God upon you to fight against the Devil!

   • c. 815-840, “The Monastery of Tallaght”, in Edward J. Gwynn, Walter J. Purton, transl., Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, volume 29, Royal Irish Academy, published 1911-1912, paragraph 21, pages 115-179:

     Tunc dixit Mocholmocc: "Ba ro-fattai ind re-sin do scarad fri diabul & do neph-tuidechd co Dia, ar is and do·tháod-som im muindterus nDé intan asind·geldai."

     Then Mocholmocc said: "That is too long of a time to part from the Devil but not come to God, for it is when he makes such a vow that a man comes into membership of God’s family.

Inflection

Masculine o-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	díabul	díabulL	díabuilL
Vocative	díabuil	díabulL	díabluH
Accusative	díabulN	díabulL	díabluH
Genitive	díabuilL	díabul	díabulN
Dative	díabulL	díablaib	díablaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: H = triggers aspiration L = triggers lenition N = triggers nasalization

Descendants

• Middle Irish: díabul
  • Irish: diabhal
  • Scottish Gaelic: diabhal
  • Manx: jouyl

Mutation

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
díabul	díabul pronounced with /ð(ʲ)-/	ndíabul
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “1 díabul ("double")”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “2 díabul ("devil")”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language