Focal an Lae #182
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: éadan (AY-duhn) [eːdən]
Meaning: éadan = face, forehead; front; end; impudence, nerve
Usage:
- Bhí éadan air chomh fada le bliain. (VEE AY-duhn ehr khoh FAH-duh luh BLEE-ihn) [v′iː eːdən er′ xoː fadə lə b′l′iːən′]
= He looked like he just lost his best friend. (lit., was face on-him as long as a year)
- ag rith in éadan na gaoithe (uh RIH uhn YAY-duhn nuh GWEE-huh) [ə rih ə n′eːdaən nə giːhə]
= running against the wind (lit., in the face of the wind)
- Nach dána an t-éadan atá ort! (nahkh DAH-nuh uhn CHAY-duhn uh-TAW ORT) [nax daːnə ən t′eːdən ətaː ort]
= You have some nerve! (lit., is-not bold the face that-is on-you?)
History: Old Irish “étan” comes from Indo-European *ant- (front, forehead).
Cognates in English include “end” and the prefixes “anti-” and “ante-”.
Scottish Gaelic: aodann