paith

Welsh

Etymology

According to the GPC, a corruption from earlier diffaith (“derelict, desolate”), itself a borrowing from Latin defectus (“emptiness, absence”). The evolution of the initial consonant remains unclear; perhaps from f to p through an intermediary b. Compare the second element of gobaith (“trust, hope”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pai̯θ/

Noun

paith m (plural peithiau)

1. desert, wilderness
2. pampas, plain

   Synonyms: peithdir, gwastatir

Derived terms

• (Patagonia) ysgyfarnog y paith (“Patagonian mara”)

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
paith	baith	mhaith	phaith
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.