87
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Sproinn, a three- or four-pronged fork. Dat. of spronn.
Cois claiḋe. It is not necessary to use go dtí: cf. ṫáinig criannġail an árṫrtaiġ isteaċ cois tráġa, the ship's rigging came (was washed) ashore.
Sé an méid. Méid in S.L. is usually masculine, except in [cai]dé an ṁeid. [Probably poss. pro. a “its amount,” not the article.— De H.]
LITIR AN SGOLÁIRE.
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Dr. Henebry, with the assistance of the Composition Class in Modern Irish, at the Iol-Scoil na Muṁan, Ring, composed this letter. I have not interfered with the spelling.
Such phrases as a ċara, a ċara ḋilis, le meas mór, mise agus meas mór agam ort, are simply translations of the English “my dear so-and-so.” “yours respectfully,” etc, and should not be transferred to Irish. If one were in the habit of using the words a ċara in ordinary conversation, one might use them somewhere in the body of the letter. The letter if addressed to any one in high position, should by its phrasing or general tone sufficiently convey the expression of the writer's respect or esteem.
Ag gaḃáilt na gaoiṫe, drawing or catching the wind.
Rinn, a jut of land, a promontory.
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Barraḋa, prátaḋa for barraí, prátaí.
Cailce, bright.
Spéireaṁail, airy, with good head-room.
Ṡéideas, relative present.
An-ġleiṫeapánaċ, very busy.
Do’n dul so, on this occasion.
SGÉAL AN ĊUITÍN AGUS AN LUIĊÍN.
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Go dtí an ḃó After go dtí the noun is in the nom. case, but in the Déisiḃ and in other parts of Munster go dtí is treated as a preposition and eclipses when followed by the article and a noun in the singular, but aspirates (in the Déisiḃ) if the noun begins with c or p. Exactly the same rule holds for ag, do, in (sa). Further, go dtí is separated from the possessive pros. by n. I have not inserted these peculiarities in the text.