seisear

From Old Irish seisser.

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃɛʃəɾˠ/

seisear m (genitive singular seisir, nominative plural seisir) (triggers no mutation)

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

     Bhí sé pósta ar sheisear ban i ndiaidh a chéile, acht do mharbhuigh sé alig an tsaoghal iad, ar eagla go mbeidheadh páistídhe ar bith aca.

     He was married to six wives, one after another, but he killed all-in-the-world of them for fear they should have any children at all.

• Generally used with the genitive plural when referring to human beings; also sometimes used with other nouns, especially if the things they denote are being personified.

• mórsheisear (“seven people”, literally “big six”)

• sé (“six”) (non-personal)

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “seisear”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “seisser”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Entries containing “seisear” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “seisear” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

From Old Irish seisser.

• IPA^(key): /ʃeʃəɾ/

seisear m (genitive singular seiseir, plural seisearan)

1. six

   Synonym: sianar

• Only used about persons (cf numerical noun).
• Following noun is in the genitive:

  seisear bhalach ― six boys

• Alternatively, de and the dative are used:

  seisear de bhalaich ― six boys

• Prepositional pronouns used are those formed from de and aig

  an seisear dhiubh / aca ― the six of them

• Also used on its own:

  Bha seisear ann. ― There were six.

• sia

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “seisear”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎, 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “seisser”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language