beag

== English == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Old English bēag (“circular jewelry worn on the body: ring, armlet, crown, collar”), from Proto-West Germanic *baug, from Proto-Germanic *baugaz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewgʰ- (“to bend”). Cognate with dialectal German Baug (“ring, collar”), Icelandic baugur (“ring, circle”). Doublet of bee (“ring”). Related to bagel. === Noun === beag (plural beags) (historical) A ring. === Anagrams === Bega, EGBA, Egba, Gabe, bega == Irish == === Etymology === From Old Irish bec (“small, little”) (compare Manx beg, Scottish Gaelic beag), from Proto-Celtic *biggos (“small”) (compare Breton bihan and Welsh bach, bychan). === Pronunciation === (East Munster) IPA(key): /bʲeɡ/ (Munster, Connacht) IPA(key): /bʲɞɡ/ (Ulster) IPA(key): /bʲɨɡ/ === Adjective === beag (genitive singular masculine big, genitive singular feminine bige, plural beaga, comparative lú) small, little junior, lesser, minor few (with singular or plural noun) le blianta beaga anuas ― for the past few years ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== === Noun === beag m (genitive singular big, nominative plural beaganna) little; small amount (with copula) few ==== Declension ==== === Mutation === === References === === Further reading === Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “beag”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959), “beag”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm “beag”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2026 == Old English == === Alternative forms === bēah, bǣg === Etymology === From Proto-West Germanic *baug, from Proto-Germanic *baugaz, derived from *beuganą (“to bend”). Cognate with Old Frisian bāg, Old Saxon bōg, Old High German boug, and Old Norse baugr. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bæ͜ɑːɡ/, [bæ͜ɑːɣ] === Noun === bēag m circular object worn on the body, especially one made of gold or silver: ring, armlet, crown, collar, torque c. 897, King Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care Late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 38:18 ==== Usage notes ==== Since Proto-Germanic times, different kinds of bēag were often disambiguated with compounds: earmbēag (“armlet”), hēafodbēag (“crown”), swēorbēag (“collar”). *Fingerbēag is not attested and may not have existed, perhaps because hring was already a specific word for "ring." During the 10th century, cynehelm begins to become the normal word for "crown." ==== Declension ==== Strong a-stem: ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== Middle English: beigh, beiȝ, bē, biȝ, by English: bee → English: beag (learned) == Scottish Gaelic == === Etymology === From Old Irish bec (“small, little”) (compare Manx beg, Irish beag), from Proto-Celtic *biggos (“small”) (compare Breton bic’han and Welsh bach, bychan). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /b̥ek/, [b̥ëk] (Lewis) IPA(key): /b̥ɤk/ === Adjective === beag (genitive singular masculine big, genitive singular feminine bige, nominative plural beaga, comparative nas bige or nas lugha, superlative as bige or as lugha) small, little, short, diminutive duine beag ― a small man ùine bheag ― a short time disagreeable Is beag orm thu. ― I hate you. (literally, “You are disagreeable to me.”) light, trifling, insignificant Is beag seo. ― This is a trifling thing. young na sionnaich bheaga ― the young foxes sordid, miserly, niggardly Is beag sin de Ghàidhlig. ― That is a poor sort of Gaelic. Tha e fìor bheag 'n a nàdar. ― He has a very niggardly disposition. ==== Declension ==== ==== Synonyms ==== bìodach mean meanbh mion ==== Derived terms ==== === Mutation === === References === === Further reading === Edward Dwelly (1911), “beag”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN MacLennan, Malcolm (1925), A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Edinburgh: J. Grant, →OCLC