ceannasach

Irish

Alternative forms

ceannascach

Etymology

From ceannas (“headship, sovereignty; authority, command; forwardness, self-assertiveness”) +‎ -ach.

Pronunciation

(Munster, Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈcan̪ˠəsˠəx/
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈcan̪ˠəsˠa(h)/

Adjective

ceannasach (genitive singular masculine ceannasaigh, genitive singular feminine ceannasaí, plural ceannasacha, comparative ceannasaí)

ruling, sovereign
Synonym: ardcheannasach
commanding, masterful
forward, self-assertive; bold, assured
(music) dominant

Declension

Declension of *ceannasach*
Positive	singular		plural
Positive	masculine	feminine	strong noun	weak noun
nominative	ceannasach	cheannasach	ceannasacha; cheannasacha²
vocative	cheannasaigh	cheannasach	ceannasacha
genitive	cheannasaigh	ceannasaí	ceannasacha	ceannasach
dative	ceannasach; cheannasach¹	cheannasach; cheannasaigh (archaic)	ceannasacha; cheannasacha²

Comparative	níos ceannasaí
Superlative	is ceannasaí

¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Derived terms

focheannasach (“subdominant”)
tréith cheannasach (“dominant trait”)

Noun

ceannasach m (genitive singular ceannasaigh, nominative plural ceannasaigh)

(music) dominant

Derived terms

focheannasach (“subdominant”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of *ceannasach*
radical	lenition	eclipsis
ceannasach	cheannasach	gceannasach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ceannasach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “cennasach”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “ceannasach”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
“ceannasach”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2025

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish cennasach. By surface analysis, ceannas +‎ -ach.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈkʰʲan̪ˠəs̪əx/

Adjective

ceannasach (genitive singular masculine ceannasaich, comparative ceannasaiche)

dominant, superior
absolute (ruler, power, etc.)

Mutation

Mutation of *ceannasach*
radical	lenition
ceannasach	cheannasach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Scottish Gaelic.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

Edward Dwelly (1911) “ceannasach”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “cennasach”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language