gwiw

Welsh

Etymology

Inherited from Middle Welsh gwiw, from Proto-Brythonic *gwiw, from Proto-Celtic *wesus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁wésus (“excellent”). Cognate to Old Irish fíu, Sanskrit वसु (vásu, “excellent, good, beneficent”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡwɪu̯/
  • Rhymes: -ɪu̯

Adjective

gwiw (feminine singular gwiw, plural gwiwion, equative gwiwed, comparative gwiwach, superlative gwiwaf)

  1. fit, meet, worthy
    Synonyms: addas, cymwys, priodol, gweddus, teilwng
  2. useful, availing
    Synonyms: buddiol, llesol, o werth
  3. excellent, good, fine
    Synonyms: gwych, da, rhagorol, hardd

Derived terms

  • ni wiw (“in vain, to no purpose; [one] dares not”)
  • pa wiw (“what does it avail?”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of gwiw
radical soft nasal aspirate
gwiw wiw ngwiw unchanged

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