am1, m. (gs. ~a, pl. ~anna).Time. 1. Measured time. An t-~, the time (by clock, etc.). ~ na gréine, the time by the sun. ~ na réaltaí, sidereal time. An t-~ luath, nua, summer-time. An t-~ mall, old time. Tá an clog ar an ~, the clock shows the correct time. Níl an t-~ agam, I don’t know the time; I have no timepiece. Cén t-~ é? Cad é an t-~ atá sé? What time is it? 2. Point of time, occasion. An t-~ de lá, the time of day. An t-~ seo inné, this time yesterday. Faoin ~ seo, by this time. An t-~ a chonaic mé iad, the time I saw them. Cá h~ nó cá huair a tharla sin? When ever did that happen? 3. Usual, set, time. ~ lóin, lunch-time. ~ luí, bedtime. Bí in ~ ag do dhinnéar, be in time for your dinner. Nuair ab ~ dúinn imeacht, when it was time for us to go. Tá sé thar ~ agat, it is high time for you. 4. Due, proper, time. In ~ trátha, at the proper time. Gach uile rud ina ~ féin, everything in due course. Fan le d’~, wait your turn. I ndiaidh an ~a, after the event. Ní thiocfaidh sé in ~ ná in uair, he will be hopelessly late in coming. 5. Scheduled time. ~ oibre, working-time. Ag obair de réir an ~a, working to time. ~ scoir, time to knock off. Tá an t-~ istigh, time is up. Leabhar ~a, time-book. S.a. clár19. 6. Opportune, inopportune, time. Cabhair in ~, timely help. Seo d’~! Seo an t-~ agat! Now is your chance! Is é an t-~ agat é! Is é ~ duit é! What a time you choose! 7. Available time. Ag cur thart an ~a, passing the time. Glac, tóg, d’~ leis, take your time at it. Níl an t-~ agam lena dhéanamh, I haven’t the time to do it. 8. Season. An t-~ seo den bhliain, (at) this time of year. ~ na neadacha, nesting-time. In ~ agus in an-~, in and out of season. 9. Portion of time, period. An t-~ i láthair, the present time. San ~ atá le teacht, in the time to come. San ~ fadó, in olden times. In ~ an chogaidh, during the war. Is beag an t-~ ó bhí sí ina leanbh, it is only a short time since she was a child. Le h~, tríd ~, in course of time. 10. Time of life. In ~ a bhearrtha, when he was old enough to shave. Tá sé san ~ agat pósadh, it is time for you to get married. Tháinig an t-~ dóibh ciall a bheith acu, it is time they learned sense. 11. Span of life. Ár n-~ ar an saol seo, our span of life here on earth. I m’~sa, in my time, 12. Time of gestation. Tá ~ na bó istigh, the cow has gone her time. 13. Time of death. Nuair a tháinig a n-~, when their time came. 14. Person’s experience at particular time. Bhí ~ breá againn ann, we had a fine time there. Is againn a bhí an t-~! What a time we had! Thug siad ~ crua dó, they made things hard for him. 15. (General, adverbial, usages) An t-~, when. (In) ~ ar bith, at any time. In ~ go leor, time enough. Ó ~ go h~, from time to time. ~ eile, ~ éigin eile, another, some other, time. I rith, ar feadh, an ~a, all the time. San ~, ag an ~, céanna, at the same time. In aon ~, at one time; together. 16. Gram:Clásal ~a, temporal clause.
Tá sé in am agatsa a bheith ag déanamh cnaipí, (i) you had better run for it, hurry to your destination, (ii) you had better prepare yourself for trouble.