Focal an Lae #309
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: dian (JEE-uhn) [d′iːən]
Meaning: dian = intense, severe
Usage:
- Ná bí dian air. (NAW BEE JEE-uhn ehr) [naː b′iː d′iːən er′] = Don’t be hard on him.
- Tá an comórtas dian anois. (TAW uhn KU-mohr-tuhs JEE-uhn uh-NISH) [taː ən kumoːrtəs d′iːən ən′is′] = The competition is intense now.
- Tá mé ag obair go dian. (TAW may uhg O-bwihr guh JEE-uhn) [taː m′eː əg obir′ gə d′iːən] = I’m working hard.
History: Old Irish “dían” (swift, vehement) comes from the Indo-European root *deyə- (to swing oneself, whirl around, hurry).
There is an Ogam inscription DENAVEC
[A], which has been interpreted as “fast fighting”.
The DENA corresponds to OI “dían” and the VECA would be cognate with OI “fichid” (fights) and “fecht” (fight, attack, hosting, etc.),
from Indo-European *weik- (to fight, conquer).
Scottish Gaelic: dian