bail1, f. (gs. ~e).1. Prosperity. Ar ~ agus ar biseach, prospering and increasing. ~ Dé oraibh, ~ ó Dhia oraibh, God prosper you. ~ ó Dhia ar an obair, God bless the work. Is breá an leanbh é, ~ (ó Dhia) air, he is a fine child, God bless him. Tá ~ agus bláth ar an áit aige, he has the place in a prosperous condition. Ní bheidh rath ná ~ ar a leithéidí sin, the likes of those cannot prosper. Prov:Is fearr ~ ná iomad, ‘better enough than too much’. 2. Proper condition. Cuir ~ ar an teach, put the house in order. Chuir sí ~ ar a cuid gruaige, a cuid éadaigh, she did her hair, tidied her clothes. Chuir sé ~ ar na bróga dom, he mended the shoes for me. Ag iarraidh ~ a chur ar an saol, trying to settle the affairs of the world. Chuir sé a bhail féin ar an scéal, he told his own version of the story. ~ is críoch = bailchríoch. 3. State. Cén bhail atá oraibh? How are you keeping? Is deas an bhail atá anois orm! I am in a fine predicament now. Ar bhail na ngrást, in a state of grace. Ba mhaith an bhail ort go ndearna tú é, it was well for you that you did it. 4. Treatment. Aon bhail amháin a thabhairt orthu uile, to treat them all alike. Thug sé ~ na madraí orm, he treated me like a dog, roundly abused me. 5. Validity. Ionas go mbeadh ~ ar a fhaoistin, so that his confession might be valid. Gan bhail, invalid, void.
bail2, s. & adv. (In phrases) 1. ~ a mbí grá Dé, where there is the love of God. Fan ina bhail, stay with him. ~ a athair, athar, with his father. 2 = fail2.