elw

Welsh

Etymology

Variant of helw, from Proto-Celtic *selwā (“gain, profit”) (whence also Irish seilbh (“possession”)), from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁- (“take”).[1][2]

Pronunciation

Noun

elw m (plural elwau)

  1. profit, gain

Usage notes

As with other nouns such as dewis (“choice”), diolch (“thanks”), lles (“benefit”) and rhagor (“more (of a countable quantity)”), there is a derived comparative adjective: elwach. However, no equative or superlative forms exist.

Derived terms

  • elw crynswth (“gross profit”)
  • elw net (“net profit”)
  • elwa (“to profit”)
  • elwach (“better off”)
  • elwog (“profitable”)
  • dielw (“profitless”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of elw
radical soft nasal h-prothesis
elw unchanged unchanged helw

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), “elw”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
  2. ^ Morris Jones, John (1913), A Welsh Grammar, Historical and Comparative, Oxford: Clarendon Press, § 149 i (1)

Further reading

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