paith

Welsh

Etymology

According to the GPC, a corruption from earlier diffaith (“derelict, desolate”), itself a borrowing from Latin defectus (“emptiness, absence”). The evolution of the initial consonant remains unclear; perhaps from f to p through an intermediary b. Compare the second element of gobaith (“trust, hope”).^[1]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /pai̯θ/

Noun

paith m (plural peithiau)

desert, wilderness
pampas, plain
Synonyms: peithdir, gwastatir

Derived terms

peithwellt (“pampas grass”)
(Patagonia) ysgyfarnog y paith (“Patagonian mara”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of *paith*
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
paith	baith	mhaith	phaith

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

^ R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “paith”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

[1] R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “paith”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

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