seanscéal

seanscéal

Irish

Etymology

From Middle Irish senscél; synchronically analyzable as sean (“old”) +‎ scéal (“story”)

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ʃan̪ˠˈʃcial̪ˠ/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈʃanˠʃceːlˠ/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈʃanˠʃcelˠ/

Noun

seanscéal m (genitive singular seanscéil, nominative plural seanscéalta)

1. legend, folktale
   • 1894 March 1, Peadar Mac Fionnlaoigh, “An rí nach robh le fagháil bháis”, in Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge, volume 1:5, Dublin: Gaelic Union, pages 185–88:

     Bhí rí ann i bhfad ó shoin ⁊ bhí sé le bheith beó ariam go n‑innseóchadh a mhac féin sean-sgéal do.

     There was long ago a king who was to be alive ever till his own son should tell him an old story (a wonder or romance).

2. chestnut (old, worn out joke or story)

Declension

Declension of seanscéal

First declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative seanscéal seanscéalta Vocative a sheanscéil a sheanscéalta Genitive seanscéil seanscéalta Dative seanscéal seanscéalta

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an seanscéal na seanscéalta Genitive an tseanscéil na seanscéalta Dative leis an seanscéal don seanscéal leis na seanscéalta

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
seanscéal	sheanscéal after an, tseanscéal	not applicable
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• C. Marstrander, E. G. Quin et al., editors (1913–76), “1 sen”, in Dictionary of the Irish Language: Based Mainly on Old and Middle Irish Materials, Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, →ISBN
• “seanscéal” at the Historical Irish Corpus, 1600–1926 of the Royal Irish Academy.
• “seanscéal” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 1st ed., 1904, by Patrick S. Dinneen, page 629.
• "seanscéal" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• Entries containing “seanscéal” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.