Focal an Lae #140
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: brí (BREE) [b′r′iː]
Meaning: brí = strength, force; sense, meaning
Usage:
- brí an fhocail (BREE uhn OK-wihl) [b′r′iː ən okil′] = the meaning of the word
- Tá sé in ísle brí. (TAW shay uhn EESH-luh BREE) [taː s′seː ən iːs′l′ə b′r′iː] = He’s run-down, in bad shape. (lit., he’s in lowness of-strength)
- dá bhrí sin (DAW VREE shihn) [daː v′r′iː s′in′] = therefore (lit., from the force of that, from-its force that)
History: Old Irish “bríg”, Welsh “bri” (fame, distinction) and Gaulish “brīgo-” (power) derive from Common Celtic *brīgo- (strength),
which comes from Indo-European *gwrī-g-, the suffixed extended form of the root *gwerə- (heavy).
Cognates found in English include “brio”, “blitz
krieg” and “guru” (from Sanskrit: “heavy; serious; venerable”).
Scottish Gaelic: brìgh