Today we’re looking at words for knowledge, and related words, in Celtic languages.
| Proto-Celtic | *wissus = act of discovering, finding out, knowledge |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | fius(s) [fʲiu̯s] = knowledge, information, message |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | fis(s) [fʲis] = knowledge, information, message |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | fios [fʲɪsˠ] = knowledge feasach / fiosach = knowing, knowledgeable, well-informed fiosaigh = to know fiosaíocht = occult knowledge, clairvoyance fiosrach = inquiring, inquisitive fiosraigh = to inquire fiosraitheoir = inquirer, inquisitive person, visitor fiosrú = inquiry, visitation fiosúil = knowing, knowledgeable, well-mannered, well-spoken ainbhiosach = ignorant, stupid uilefheasach = omniscient uilefhios = omniscience bean/cailleach feasa = wise woman, fortune-teller fear feasa = seer, soothsayer |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | fios [fis] = knowledge, information, notice, notification, indication, news fiosrach = (well-)informed, aware, learned, versed, knowledgeable fiosraich = to ascertain, find out, inquire fiosaiche = prophet, fortune-teller, soothsayer, seer, scout ainbhiosach = ignorant, illiterate ainbhiosrach = ignorant, unintelligent uil-fhiosrach = all-knowing, omniscient uil-fhiosrachd = omniscience |
| Manx (Gaelg) | fys = advice, cognisance, cognition, information, intelligence, knowledge, notice fysseraght = inquisitiveness, premonition, supernatural knowledge fysseree = clairvoyance, data, foreknowledge, information, prescience, science; communications; knowledge, inquisition fyssoil = knowing ooilley-fysseragh = omniscient ooilley-fysseraght = omniscience |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwɨs = knowledge, research |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | guys / gwys = summons, citation, call to arms |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwŷs [ɡwɨːs/ɡwiːs] = summons, writ, call to arms, citation, notice |
Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wéydtus, from *weyd- (to see, discover) [source], which is also the root of such English words as wise, wit, view, vision, video, guide, druid and history [source].
| Proto-Celtic | *windeti = to find, experience |
|---|---|
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | ro·finnadar [r͈oˈfʲin͈aðar] = to find out, discover, to know |
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | finnaid [ˈfʲin͈əðʲ/ˈfʲin͈əɣʲ] = to find out |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | fionn [fʲɪsˠ] = to ascertain, discover fionnadh = ascertainment, discovery |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | fionn [fjũːn̪ˠ] = to flay, skin; examine, look, see, know by investigation fionnadh = flaying, skinning, trying, searching, examining |
| Manx (Gaelg) | feddyn = to find feddyn magh = to ascertain, determine, dig out, discover |
| Proto-Brythonic | *gwɨs = knowledge, research *gwɨbod [ɡwɨˈboːd] = knowing, to know |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | guys / gwys = summons, citation, call to arms guibit / guybi / gvybot / gwybot = to know |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | gwybod = to know, perceive, be aware of, discern gwybodaeth = knowledge, acquaintance, perception, familiarity, cognition, comprehension |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | godhvos = ability, knowledge; to acknowledge, can, know; to be qualified to godhvos a = to know about godhvedhys = known |
| Old Breton | gudbut = to know |
| Middle Breton | gouzuout = to know |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | gouzout = to know gouiziegezh = knowledge, erudition, acquaintance |
Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *windo- (to find, experience), from the PIE root *weyd- (see above) [source]
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, logainm.ie, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic
