eithaf

Middle Welsh

Etymology

From Old Welsh heitham, from Proto-Brythonic *eiθaβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *extamos. Cognate with Latin extimus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈei̯θav/

Adjective

eithaf

1. farthest, most distant
   • 14th century, anonymous author, edited by R. L. Thomson, Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet (Mediaeval and Modern Welsh Series; vol. I), Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, published 1980, page 4, lines 102–3:

     Yn oet y nos honno, kystal y doi y gof y’r dyn eithaf yn yr holl gyuoeth yr oet ac idaw ynteu.

     And when that night came, it was remembered even by those who lived in the furthest part of his dominions.

     (literally, “…its memory came as well to the farthest person…”)

     (translation by Charlotte Guest)

Descendants

• Welsh: eithaf

Mutation

Mutated forms of eithaf

radical	soft	nasal	h-prothesis
eithaf	unchanged	unchanged	heithaf

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

Welsh

Alternative forms

• eitha (pronunciation spelling)

Etymology

From Middle Welsh eithaf, from Old Welsh heitham, from Proto-Brythonic *eiθaβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *extamos. Cognate with Latin extimus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈei̯θa(v)/

Adjective

eithaf (feminine singular eithaf, plural eithafion, not comparable)

1. extreme
2. (grammar) superlative

Derived terms

• cosb eithaf (“death penalty”)
• eithafiaeth (“extremism”)
• eithafol (“extremist”, adjective)
• eithafwr (“extremist”, noun)

Adverb

eithaf

1. quite, rather, somewhat

   O'n nhw'n eitha grymus yn y dechrau ond yn y diwedd ro'n ni'n rhy gryf iddyn nhw.

   They were quite powerful at the start but in the end we were too strong for them.

Usage notes

As an adverb of degree, eitha(f) is used without the linking particle yn. It comes before the adjective and does not trigger soft mutation:

Wel, mae e'n eitha golygus ond dydy e ddim yn olygus iawn. ― Well, he's somewhat handsome but he's not very handsome.

By contrast, the more literary adverbial expression i'r eithaf ("to the extreme") follows the adjective:

Ac mae'r modd y collodd ei fywyd yn drist i'r eithaf. ― And the way he lost his life was extremely sad.

Noun

eithaf m (plural eithafion or eithafoedd)

1. extremity, limit

   eithafoedd y ddaear ― the ends of the earth

Derived terms

• i'r eithaf (“extremely”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of eithaf

radical	soft	nasal	h-prothesis
eithaf	unchanged	unchanged	heithaf

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

Further reading

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “eithaf”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “eithaf”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies