dóbair

• hóbair (Cois Fharraige, Ulster)

From the past tense d'fhóbair of fóbair (“to attack, approach, attempt”).[1]

• IPA^(key): /ˈd̪ˠoːbˠəɾʲ/[2]

dóbair

1. almost (in the past tense); it almost happened

   Dóbair dom é a bhriseadh.

   I almost broke it.

   Dóbair gur bhris mé é.

   I almost broke it.

   Ba dhóbair dom é a bhriseadh.

   I almost broke it.

   Ba dhóbair gur bhris mé é.

   I almost broke it.

Followed by do (“to”) plus the subject plus a verbal noun or by a clause introduced by go (“that”); see usage examples above. Also appears after ba (past copula) as ba dhóbair as if it were a noun.

• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “fúabair, fóbair”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “dóbair”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN