English

Noun

geas ‎(plural geases)

1. (Gaelic mythology) A vow or obligation placed upon a person.
2. A curse.
3. A mystical compulsion.

Quotations

• 1980 - Stephen Donaldson, The Wounded Land, page 162, The memory came upon him like a geas, overwhelming his revulsion, numbing his heart.
• Neil Gaiman, "Chivalry": "Galaad stood up again and turned to Mrs. Whitaker. 'Gracious lady, keeper of the Holy of Holies, let me now depart this place with the Blessed Chalice, that my journeyings may be ended and my geas fulfilled.'"
• 1989, Roger Zelazny, "Knight of Shadows": "An artifact created by the Pattern. It records everyone who walks it. It can call us back whenever it wants... It can send us where it it will with a task laid upon us—a geas, if you like."

Anagrams

• ages, sage, Sega

Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɟasˠ]

Noun

geas

1. genitive plural of geis

Noun

geas f ‎(genitive singular geise, nominative plural geasa)

1. Alternative form of geis

Declension

Noun

geas m

1. Alternative form of gás ‎(“gas; paraffin oil”)

Mutation

References

• "geas" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish geis, from the same root as guidid ‎(“prays”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡɛʃ/

Noun

geas f ‎(genitive singular geis or geasa, plural geasan)

1. enchantment, sorcery

Derived terms

• fo gheasaibh
• geasachd

See also

• geasachd
• draoidheachd
• drùidheachd