Also in -n, as dyn=a person, dynion=persons. In Irish there is the form cu=a greyhound; Plural cuin. It may be doubted, however, whether -n is not ejected in the singular rather than added in the plural.
Also in -au, Welsh (as pén-au=heads), and in -a, Irish (as cos-a=feet).
In each language there is, in respect to both case and
gender, an equal paucity of inflections. The Irish, however, preserves the Indo-European dative plural in b; as ços-aiv=ped-ibus.
The ordinals in Welsh are expressed by -ved; as saiþ=seven, seiþved=seventh. The ordinals in Irish are expressed by -vad, as seaçt=seven, seaçt-vad=seventh (spelt seachmhadh).
The terminations -n and -g are diminutive in Welsh; as dyn-yn=mannikin, oen-ig=lambkin. They have the same power in Irish; as cnoc-an=a hillock; duil-eog=a leaflet. In Irish, currently spoken, there is no inflection for the comparative degrees;—there is, however, an obsolete form in -d, as glass, glaiside=green, greener. In Welsh the true comparative ends in ç, as main=slender, mainaç=more slender. A form, however, exists in -ed, meaning equality, and so implying comparison, viz., mein-ed=so slender.
As expressive of an agent, the termination -r is common to both languages. Welsh, mor-ûr=a seaman; telynaur=a harpist; Irish, sealg-aire=a hunter; figead-oir=a weaver.
As expressive of "abounding in," the termination -c (or -g) is common in both languages. Welsh, boliûag=abounding in belly; toirteaç=abounding in fruit. In each language a sound of series t, is equivalent to the English -ly. Welsh, mab-aið=boy-like. Irish, duin-eata=manly.
Of the personal terminations it may be said, that those of both the Irish and Welsh are those of the other European tongues, and that they coincide and differ in the same way with those of the Gothic stock: the form in m being the one more constant. For the theory of the personal terminations, the reader is referred to the Eastern Origin of the Celtic Nations, by Dr. Prichard.
The present notices being indicative of grammatical affinities only, the glossarial points of likeness between the Welsh and Irish are omitted.