riail

Irish

Alternative forms

• riaghail (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle Irish ríagal, from Old Irish ríagol, ríagul (“rule; line, measure”), from Latin rēgula.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɾˠiəlʲ/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈɾˠeːlˠ/, /ˈɾˠeːl̪ˠ/, (older) /ˈɾˠɤːlˠ/

Noun

riail f (genitive singular rialach, nominative plural rialacha)

1. rule, regulation, principle
2. (ecclesiastical) code of discipline
3. (law) order
4. ruler; (typography) rule

Declension

Declension of riail (fifth declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative riail rialacha vocative a riail a rialacha genitive rialach rialacha dative riail rialaigh (archaic, dialectal) rialacha forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an riail na rialacha genitive na rialach na rialacha dative leis an riail leis an rialaigh (archaic, dialectal) don riail don rialaigh (archaic, dialectal) leis na rialacha

Antonyms

• ainriail

Derived terms

• buanriail
• féinriail
• riail chruach (“steel rule”)
• riail chúirte (“rule of court”)
• riail ingir (“plumb-rule”)
• riail lúdraí (“sector”)
• riail na dtríonna (“rule of three”)
• riail ochtréid (“octet rule”)
• riail phráis (“brass rule”)
• riail treorach (“sighting rule”)
• riailbhéas (“regular habit, discipline”)
• riailchíos (“standard rent”)
• riailchiumhais (“straight edge”)
• riailéad (“reglet”)
• riailmhaide (“control rod”)
• rialaigh
• sár-riail

Verb

riail (present analytic rialann, future analytic rialfaidh, verbal noun rial, past participle rialta)

1. (ambitransitive) Alternative form of rialaigh (“rule; govern, control; regulate; govern; line”)

Conjugation

conjugation of riail (first conjugation – A)

verbal noun	rial
past participle	rialta
tense	singular			plural			relative	autonomous
	first	second	third	first	second	third
indicative
present	rialaim	rialann tú; rialair†	rialann sé, sí	rialaimid	rialann sibh	rialann siad; rialaid†	a rialann; a rialas	rialtar
past	riail mé; rialas	riail tú; rialais	riail sé, sí	rialamar; riail muid	riail sibh; rialabhair	riail siad; rialadar	a riail / ar riail*	rialadh
past habitual	rialainn	rialtá	rialadh sé, sí	rialaimis; rialadh muid	rialadh sibh	rialaidís; rialadh siad	a rialadh / a rialadh*	rialtaí
future	rialfaidh mé; rialfad	rialfaidh tú; rialfair†	rialfaidh sé, sí	rialfaimid; rialfaidh muid	rialfaidh sibh	rialfaidh siad; rialfaid†	a rialfaidh; a rialfas	rialfar
conditional	rialfainn	rialfá	rialfadh sé, sí	rialfaimis; rialfadh muid	rialfadh sibh	rialfaidís; rialfadh siad	a rialfadh / a rialfadh*	rialfaí
subjunctive
present	go riala mé; go rialad†	go riala tú; go rialair†	go riala sé, sí	go rialaimid; go riala muid	go riala sibh	go riala siad; go rialaid†	—	go rialtar
past	dá rialainn	dá rialtá	dá rialadh sé, sí	dá rialaimis; dá rialadh muid	dá rialadh sibh	dá rialaidís; dá rialadh siad	—	dá rialtaí
imperative
–	rialaim	riail	rialadh sé, sí	rialaimis	rialaigí; rialaidh†	rialaidís	—	rialtar

* indirect relative
† archaic or dialect form

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “riail”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “riail”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “riail”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2025