ainnir

Irish

Alternative forms

• ainnear

Etymology

From Old Irish ainder (“non-virgin, married woman; virgin, maiden”), from Proto-Celtic *anderā.

Pronunciation

• (Aran) IPA^(key): /ˈæn̠ʲəɾˠ/ (corresponding to alternative form ainnear)

Noun

ainnir f (genitive singular ainnire, nominative plural ainnireacha)

1. (poetic) girl, maiden, lass; young woman

   Synonyms: bruinneall, cailín óg, ógbhean

2. attractive woman

   Synonyms: bé, bruinneall, spéirbhean, spéirbhruinneall

Declension

Declension of ainnir

Second declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative ainnir ainnireacha Vocative a ainnir a ainnireacha Genitive ainnire ainnireacha Dative ainnir ainnireacha

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an ainnir na hainnireacha Genitive na hainnire na n-ainnireacha Dative leis an ainnir don ainnir leis na hainnireacha

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Eclipsis	with h-prothesis	with t-prothesis
ainnir	n-ainnir	hainnir	not applicable
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ainnir”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “ainder”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “ainnir”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 14
• Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 25

Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms

• aindear
• ainnear

Etymology

From Old Irish ainder (“non-virgin, married woman; virgin, maiden”), from Proto-Celtic *anderā.

Noun

ainnir f (genitive singular ainnire, plural ainnirean)

1. maiden, virgin, young woman

   Synonyms: cailin, gruagach, maighdeann, nighean, òigh, rìbhinn

2. nymph
3. marriageable woman

References

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “ainnir”, 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), “ainder”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language