mether

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛðɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɛðə/
• Rhymes: -ɛðə(ɹ)

Etymology 1

From Cumbric numerals; compare Welsh mhedwar, the nasal mutation of pedwar (“four”).

Alternative forms

• methera (Weardale, Borrowdale)

Numeral

mether

1. (dialect) Four in the old counting system of Northern England.

Derived terms

• mether-a-dick
• mether-a-bumfit

Etymology 2

From Irish meadar, from Old Irish metar, from Latin metrum. Doublet of metre, meter, and metron.

Alternative forms

• medar, meather, madder

Noun

mether (plural methers)

1. (historical, Ireland) A communal drinking vessel used in Gaelic times for drinking mead. It had squared sides and one drank from a corner. Also, a trophy in this shape.
   • 1912 James Henry Cousins, "The Loving Cup" I (Etain the Beloved and Other Poems, p.84) (Maunsel & Co):

     I raise to you, O Queen, this Loving Cup, this Mether,

     Filled with Mead

     Made from honey of the heather

   • 1912 "Our Lady Correspondent" "Fashions at Leopardstown" The Irish Times 27 August 1912, p.8:

     Lord Herbert and Mr. Luke White were to be seen on the roof pouring water down the chimney, while the Marchioness of Ormonde was seen carrying the Regimental Cup (the silver Irish mether to be competed for) from the scene of the fire.

Translations

drinking vessel

• Irish: meadar f

  Middle Irish: metar m

  Old Irish: metar m

References

• P. W. Joyce A Social History of Ancient Ireland (Longmans, Green, and Co; 1903) Vol.2 Chap.XX p.75
• electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language (RIA) M col.117 lin.43

Cornish

Etymology

From Old Cornish maidor. By surface analysis, meth (“nourishing”) +‎ -er

Noun

mether m (plural methoryon)

1. caterer
2. victualler

Mutation

Mutation of mether

radical	soft	aspirate	hard	mixed
mether	vether	unchanged	unchanged	fether, vether*

* after 'th
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Cornish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛθɛr/

Verb

mether

1. (literary) impersonal subjunctive/imperative of methu

Mutation

Mutated forms of mether

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
mether	fether	unchanged	unchanged

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