leithscéal

Irish

Alternative forms

• leathscéal
• leath-scéal, leath-sceul, leathsgéal, leath-sgéal, leathsgeul, leath-sgeul, leith-scéal, leithsceul, leith-sceul, leithsgéal, leith-sgéal, leithsgeul, leith-sgeul (superseded)

Etymology

From Middle Irish lethscél. By surface analysis, leath- (“half”) +‎ scéal (“story”).

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /lʲaˈsˠciːa̯l̪ˠ/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈl̠ʲeʃceːlˠ/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈl̠ʲeʃceːlˠ/ ~ /l̠ʲiʃceːlˠ/

Noun

leithscéal m (genitive singular leithscéil, nominative plural leithscéalta)

1. excuse (explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement)
2. apology

Declension

Declension of leithscéal (first declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative leithscéal leithscéalta vocative a leithscéil a leithscéalta genitive leithscéil leithscéalta dative leithscéal leithscéalta forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an leithscéal na leithscéalta genitive an leithscéil na leithscéalta dative leis an leithscéal don leithscéal leis na leithscéalta

Derived terms

• gabh mo leithscéal, gabhaigí mo leithscéal (“excuse me, I beg your pardon”)
• leithscéalach (“fond of excuses; apologetic”)

Further reading

• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927) “leiṫscéal”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “leithscéal”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN