geanas

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1589

In Cnósach Focal ó Bhaile Bhúirne, p197, there is this:

Quote:

sathach (=soitheach): sothí muc, iad folamh ocrach deaghláin, agus gur dheocair geanas do chuir ortha.

It's difficult to understand this, but soitheach is a word for an animal's womb. Pigs' wombs? Empty, hungry (how can a womb be hungry?), capacious, and.....?
Geanas is listed in Ó Dónall's dictionary as a literary word for "procreation, conception". Oddly this word isn't in Dinneen's dictionary, unless it is the same word meaning "purity, chastity" and Dinneen didn't recognise any other meaning for it?
Could "agus gur dheocair geanas do chuir ortha" mean "it is difficult to get them pregnant"? Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Fri 30 Aug 2024 2:35 pm

djwebb2021 wrote:

Could "agus gur dheocair geanas do chuir ortha" mean "it is difficult to get them pregnant"? Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?

If geanas means chastity, than I would perhaps translate this as 'it is difficult to keep them from getting pregnant' or 'it is difficult to keep them chaste', but I could be completely wrong.

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1589

Séamus O'Neill wrote:

djwebb2021 wrote:

Could "agus gur dheocair geanas do chuir ortha" mean "it is difficult to get them pregnant"? Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?

If geanas means chastity, than I would perhaps translate this as 'it is difficult to keep them from getting pregnant' or 'it is difficult to keep them chaste', but I could be completely wrong.

Thank you. It could be that. If I find out more, I'll let you know.

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1589

Séamus O'Neill wrote:

djwebb2021 wrote:

Could "agus gur dheocair geanas do chuir ortha" mean "it is difficult to get them pregnant"? Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?

If geanas means chastity, than I would perhaps translate this as 'it is difficult to keep them from getting pregnant' or 'it is difficult to keep them chaste', but I could be completely wrong.

I've now been told by a reliable person that this sentence was wrongly include by Brian Ó Cuív under sathach. Sutha means an insatiable person, and geanas here means "contentment"!!!!!!

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Sat 31 Aug 2024 4:16 am

That makes so much more sense! Imagine how ridiculous we would have sounded if we went around saying those words, thinking that they had completely different meanings than they actually have!

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1589

Séamus O'Neill wrote:

:facepalm: That makes so much more sense! Imagine how ridiculous we would have sounded if we went around saying those words, thinking that they had completely different meanings than they actually have!

Yes, and it is also a serious reminder that some things in Cnósach Focal need to be taken with a degree of caution. Brian Ó Cuív didn't get everything right.

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Sat 31 Aug 2024 12:57 pm

If you don't mind me asking, from whom did you learn that this was a mistake?

djwebb2021 · **Joined:** Thu 27 May 2021 3:22 am **Posts:** 1589

Well I don't like to name-drop, but an Irish academic told me. I'll send you an email.

Séamus O'Neill · **Posted:** Sat 31 Aug 2024 1:41 pm

Go roibh míle.

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