Words for abbot and related things in Celtic languages.
Words marked with a * are reconstructions.
| Old Irish (Goídelc) | ap [ab] = abbot, leader, lord |
|---|---|
| Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg) | ap, abb, abbadh, apid = abbot, pope, lord apdaine = status or office of an abbot or pope |
| Irish (Gaeilge) | ab [abˠ] = abbot banab, máthairab = abbess abdaine = abbacy |
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | aba [abə] = abbot ban-aba [ban abə] = abbes abachd [abəxg] = abbey abaid [abɪdʲ] = abbey, abbot abaideachd [abɪdʲəxg] = abbacy |
| Manx (Gaelg) | abb = abbot, abbey abb-voir, ben abb, moir abb = abbess abbaght = abbacy abban = abbey |
| Proto-Brythonic | *abad = abbot |
| Middle Welsh (Kymraec) | abad, abat = abbot abad(i)aeth = abbotship, abbotship, abaty abadaidd = abbatial abades = abbess abbatyr = abbey demesne albate, abattia, abatty = abbey, monastry, priory |
| Welsh (Cymraeg) | âb [ab] = abbot abad [ˈabad] = abbot abadwr = abbot abad(i)aeth = abbotship, abbotship, abaty abadaidd, abadol = abbatial abades = abbess abadesty = abbey for nuns, convent, nunnery abatir = abbey demesne abaty = abbey, monastry, priory |
| Middle Cornish (Cernewec) | abat, abbas = abbot |
| Cornish (Kernewek) | abas [ˈabas / ˈæbɐz] = abbot abasel = abbatial abases = abbess abatti = abbey |
| Middle Breton (Brezonec) | abat, abbat = abbot abades = abbess |
| Breton (Brezhoneg) | abad [ˈɑː.bat] = abbot abadez = abbess abadiezh = abbot’s office abati [aˈbatː.i] = abbey abatiaj = the benefit of an abbey |
Etymology: from Ecclesiastical Latin abbās (abbot), from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶ(ς) (abbâ(s) – father, abbot), from Aramaic אַבָּא (’abbā – father, ancestor, progenitor, teacher, chief, leader, author, originator), from Proto-Semitic *ʔabw- (father), from Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab (?) – ultimately an onomatopoeic nursery word [source].
Words from the same roots include abbot in English, abate (abbot) in Italian, abad (abbot) in Spanish, Abat (abbot) in German, opat (abbot) in Czech, ùbā (father, head, leader, patron) in Hausa, abbá (father, chief, director) in Afar, and אַבָּא (ába – dad, papa) in Hebrew [source].
Sources: Wiktionary, Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, Teanglann.ie, Am Faclair Beag, An etymological dictionary of the Gaelic language, Fockleyreen: Manx – English Dictionary, Online Manx Dictionary, Gaelg Corpus, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Lexicon cornu-britannicum : a dictionary of the ancient Celtic language of Cornwall, Gerlyver Kernewek, Devri : Le dictionaire diachronique du breton, Dictionnaires bilingues de Francis Favereau / Edition Skol Vreizh, TermOfis
