-ail

Etymology

Inherited from Latin -āculum. Cognate to French -acle, which is borrowed from Latin -āculum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aj/

Suffix

-ail

1. Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having the sense of ‘tool, object for a specific purpose’.

   éventer (“to ventilate”) → éventail (“fan”)

2. Forming masculine nouns from verbs and nouns, having a collective sense.

   bête (“animal”) → bétail (“cattle”)

Alternative forms

• (slender) -eil

Etymology

From Middle Irish -amhail (compare Irish -úil, Manx -oil), from Old Irish -amail.

Suffix

-ail

1. Of or pertaining to an adjectival suffix applied to various words, usually nouns, to make an adjective.

   modh (“good manners, breeding, civility, courtesy”) → modhail

   • 'S glè mhodhail sin dhe. ― That's very kind of him.