cynifer

Welsh

Etymology

From cyn (“as, so”) +‎ nifer (“number”).[1]

Adjective

cynifer (feminine singular cynifer, plural cynifer, not comparable)

  1. so many, such a number
    • 1938, John Pierce, “foreword”, in Dan Lenni'r Nos [Under Cover of Night], Liverpool: Gwasg y Brython, page 5:
      Gan i'r dull a gymerais o'r blaen, o gyrraedd amrywiol ddosbarthiadau o ddarllenwyr, ei gymeradwyo ei hun i gynifer, glynais wrtho, a rhoi cyfieithiadau a ffurfiau llenyddol ar waelod y tudalennau.
      As the method I had taken before, of reaching various classes of readers, appealed to so many, I stuck to it, and put translations and learned forms at the bottom of the pages.
  2. as many
  3. even (divisible by two)
    Antonym: od

Usage notes

This is a rare example of an equative adjective derived from a noun. No simple, comparative or superlative forms exist.

Mutation

Mutated forms of cynifer
radical soft nasal aspirate
cynifer gynifer nghynifer chynifer

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

References

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

Further reading

  • D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “cynifer”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
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