leathan

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish lethan, from Proto-Celtic *ɸlitanos (“broad”) (compare Welsh llydan, Cornish and Breton ledan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈl̠ʲahənˠ/

Adjective

leathan (genitive singular masculine leathain, genitive singular feminine leithne, plural leathana, comparative leithne)

1. broad; wide, extensive

Declension

Declension of leathan

First Declension

	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
Nominative	leathan	leathan¹	leathana³
Vocative	leathain¹	leathan¹	leathana
Genitive	leathain¹	leithne	leathana	leathan
Dative	leathan²	leathan¹; (archaic) leathain¹	leathana³
Comparative	leithne

¹ This form is lenited after a noun if possible.
² This form is lenited if possible when the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
³ This form is lenited if possible when the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Derived terms

Terms derived from leathan

• barrleathan (“wide at top; square-toed”)
• claíomh leathan (“broadsword”)
• leathanach (“page”)
• leathanaigeanta (“broad-minded”)
• leathanduilleach (“broad-leaved; broad-brimmed”)
• leathanghiallach (“square-jawed”)
• leathanghuailleach (“broad-shouldered, square-shouldered”)

• leathanlannach (“broadbladed”)
• leathanmhogallach (“wide-meshed”)
• leathanteangach (“having a broad accent; thick of speech”)
• leathantónach (“broad-bottomed”)
• leathanuchtach (“broad-chested”)
• leathnaigh (“widen, extend”, verb)
• leathnóg (“plump low-sized woman”)

Related terms

• leathantas (“wide extent, wideness”)

Noun

leathan m (genitive singular leathain, nominative plural leathain)

1. broad part
2. flat open space

Declension

Declension of leathan

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative leathan leathain Vocative a leathain a leathana Genitive leathain leathan Dative leathan leathain

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an leathan na leathain Genitive an leathain na leathan Dative leis an leathan don leathan leis na leathain

Further reading

• "leathan" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• Entries containing “leathan” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “leathan” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.