Focal an Lae #105
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: gnáth (GNAW, GRAW) [gnaː], [graː]
Meaning: gnáth = custom, usual thing, routine
Usage:
- de ghnáth (duh GHRAW) [də ghraː] = usually, as a rule
- as an ngnáth (ahs uhng RAW) [as əŋ raː] = out of the ordinary
- Is searbh gach gnáth. (ish SHAR-uhv gakh GRAW) [is s′ærəv gax graː] = Familiarity breeds contempt. (lit., tis bitter every routine thing)
History: Old Irish “gnáth” (well-known; a custom) and Welsh “gnawd” (customary; nature) derive from Indo-European *gnō-to- (known),
from the root *gnō- (to know).
English cognates include “know” and “notice”, the latter from Latin “notus” (known).
Scottish Gaelic: gnàth