Stifter, David (2018) The stars look very different today. Eriu, 68. pp. 29-54. ISSN 0332-0758

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Abstract

This article studies the semantic field of generic words for ‘stars’, ‘constella-tions’, and ‘planets’ in Early Irish. The Old Irish items discussed are: 1. the hapax ser, 2. rind, 3. the doubtful rét, 4. rétglu, 5. get, and 6. airndrethach. The items are subjected to a close semantic scrutiny, in order to modify the lexi-con definitions in cases where this is necessary. In addition, the etymologies of these words are discussed, which results in new or phonologically and morphologically more precise explanations for some of them. In Appendix 1, a potentially Proto-Celtic poetic formula involving a word for ‘star’ is reconstructed. Appendix 2 is concerned with Old Irish stíall*, a loan from Latin stella ‘star’, which only occurs in the name of the feast of the Epiphany.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	stars; different; today;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Arts,Celtic Studies and Philosophy > School of Celtic Studies > Early Irish (Sean Ghaeilge)
Item ID:	11406
Depositing User:	Prof. David Stifter
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2019 14:42
Journal or Publication Title:	Eriu
Publisher:	Royal Irish Academy
Refereed:	No
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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