dewis

Cornish

Etymology

From Middle Cornish dyuys, dywys, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵews- (to taste, try, choose), possibly via Proto-Celtic *to-guseti (compare Old Irish do·goa). Cognate with Breton diuz and Welsh dewis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛwis/

Noun

dewis m (plural dewisyow)

  1. choice, option, pick, selection
    Synonym: ethol

Verb

dewis

  1. to choose, elect, pick, select, take
    Synonym: etholi

Conjugation

Conjugation of dewis
singular plural impersonal
first second third first second third
indicative present/future dewisav dewisydh dewis dewisyn dewisowgh dewisons dewisir
preterite dewisis dewissys dewisas dewissyn dewissowgh dewissons dewisas
imperfect dewisyn dewisys dewisi dewisyn dewisewgh dewisens dewisys
pluperfect dewissen dewisses dewissa dewissen dewissewgh dewissens dewissys
subjunctive present/future dewissiv dewissi dewisso dewissyn dewissowgh dewissons dewisser
imperfect dewissen dewisses dewissa dewissen dewissewgh dewissens dewissys
imperative - dewis dewises dewisyn dewisewgh dewisens -
non-finite forms present participle ow tewis verbal adjective dewisys

Derived terms

  • astewis (adopt, verb)
  • dewis gwarioryon (casting)
  • dewisadow (eligible)
  • dewisel (optional)
  • dewisyans (ballot, election)
  • ken dewis (alternative, noun)

Mutation

Mutation of dewis
unmutated soft aspirate hard mixed mixed after 'th
dewis dhewis unchanged tewis tewis tewis

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

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *ǵews- (to taste, try, choose), possibly via Proto-Celtic *to-guseti (compare Old Irish do·goa). Cognate with Cornish dewis, Breton diuz.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛu̯is/
  • Rhymes: -ɛu̯is

Noun

dewis m (plural dewision)

  1. choice

Verb

dewis (first-person singular present dewisaf)

  1. to choose, to select

Usage notes

As with other nouns such as diolch (thanks), elw (profit), lles (benefit) and rhagor (more (of a countable quantity)), there is a derived comparative adjective: dewisach. However, no equative or superlative forms exist.

Conjugation

Conjugation (literary)
singular plural impersonal
first second third first second third
present indicative/future dewisaf dewisi dewis, dewisa dewiswn dewiswch dewisant dewisir
imperfect (indicative/subjunctive)/
conditional
dewiswn dewisit dewisai dewisem dewisech dewisent dewisid
preterite dewisais dewisaist dewisodd dewisasom dewisasoch dewisasant dewiswyd
pluperfect dewisaswn dewisasit dewisasai dewisasem dewisasech dewisasent dewisasid, dewisesid
present subjunctive dewiswyf dewisych dewiso dewisom dewisoch dewisont dewiser
imperative dewis, dewisa dewised dewiswn dewiswch dewisent dewiser
verbal noun dewis
verbal adjectives dewisedig
dewisadwy
Conjugation (colloquial)
inflected
colloquial forms
singular plural
first second third first second third
future dewisa i,
dewisaf i
dewisi di dewisith o/e/hi,
dewisiff e/hi
dewiswn ni dewiswch chi dewisan nhw
conditional dewiswn i,
dewisswn i
dewiset ti,
dewisset ti
dewisai fo/fe/hi,
dewissai fo/fe/hi
dewisen ni,
dewissen ni
dewisech chi,
dewissech chi
dewisen nhw,
dewissen nhw
preterite dewisais i,
dewises i
dewisaist ti,
dewisest ti
dewisodd o/e/hi dewison ni dewisoch chi dewison nhw
imperative dewisa dewiswch

Note: All other forms are periphrastic, as usual in colloquial Welsh.

Derived terms

  • dewisach (choicer, perferable)
  • dewisol (choice, optional, adjective)

Mutation

Mutated forms of dewis
radical soft nasal aspirate
dewis ddewis newis unchanged

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

Further reading

  • D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “dewis”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin
  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “dewis”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies