Focal an Lae #230
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fáth (FAW) [faː]
Meaning: fáth = reason, cause
Usage:
- Cén fáth? (KAYN FAW) [k′eːn faː] = Why? (lit., what-the reason?)
- Níl fáth agam le fanacht. (NEEL FAW AH-guhm luh FAH-nuhkht) [n′iːl′ faː agəm lə fanəxt] = I have no reason to stay.
History: Old Irish “fáth” (cause; subject matter; prophecy) and Welsh “gwawd” (song, praise, poetry)
come from Indo-European *wātu- (inspired utterance) from the root *wet- (to blow, inspire, arouse spiritually).
A cognate in English is “vatic”, from Latin “vates” (prophet, poet).
The name of the Norse god variously known as Odin, Wotan and Woden comes from this same IE root, as does the Irish word “fáidh” (prophet, seer).
Scottish Gaelic: fàth