eithaf

Welsh

Alternative forms
  • eitha (pronunciation spelling)

Etymology

Old Welsh heitham, from Proto-Celtic *extamos. Cognate with Latin extimus.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈei̯θa(v)/

Adjective

eithaf (feminine singular eithaf, plural eithafion, not comparable)

  1. extreme
  2. (grammar) superlative

Derived terms
  • eithafiaeth (“extremism”)
  • eithafwr (“extremist”)

Adverb

eithaf

  1. quite, rather, somewhat
    O'n nhw'n eitha grymus yn y dechrau ond yn y diwedd ro'n ni'n rhy gryf iddyn nhw.
    They were quite powerful at the start but in the end we were too strong for them.

Usage notes

As an adverb of degree, eitha(f) is used without the linking particle yn. It comes before the adjective and does not trigger soft mutation:

Wel, mae e'n eitha golygus ond dydy e ddim yn olygus iawn. ― Well, he's somewhat handsome but he's not very handsome.

By contrast, the more literary adverbial expression i'r eithaf ("to the extreme") follows the adjective:

Ac mae'r modd y collodd ei fywyd yn drist i'r eithaf. ― And the way he lost his life was extremely sad.

Noun

eithaf m (plural eithafion or eithafoedd)

  1. extremity, limit
    eithafoedd y ddaear ― the ends of the earth

Derived terms
  • i'r eithaf (“extremely”)

Mutation
Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal h-prothesis
eithaf unchanged unchanged heithaf
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References
  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “eithaf”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
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