spéir

See also: speir

Irish

Etymology

From Middle Irish spéir, from Latin sphēra, sphaera (“ball, globe, sphere”), from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaîra, “ball, globe”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spʲeːɾʲ/

Noun

spéir f (genitive singular spéire, nominative plural spéartha)

1. sky; air
2. airiness, brightness, light
3. (literary)
   1. sphere, circle
   2. orbit

Declension

Declension of spéir

Second declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative spéir spéartha Vocative a spéir a spéartha Genitive spéire spéartha Dative spéir spéartha

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an spéir na spéartha Genitive na spéire na spéartha Dative leis an spéir don spéir leis na spéartha

Synonyms

• (sky, air): aer

Derived terms

Terms derived from spéir

• spéirbhean (“beautiful woman, fair lady”)
• spéirbhruinneall (“beautiful girl”)

• spéir dhroim an ronnaigh, spéir ronnach (“mackerel sky”)
• spéirghealach (“starry light”)

• spéirghlan (“clear-skied”, adjective)
• spéirghorm (“sky blue”, adjective)

• spéiriúil (“airy; bright, lightsome; gay, cheerful; graceful, beautiful”, adjective)
• spéirléas (“skylight”)

Further reading

• "spéir" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.