bealach, m. (gs. -aigh, pl. -aí).1. Way. (a) Road, track. ~ mór, highway. ~ cúil, by-way. ~ iarainn, railway. ~ iompair, runway. ~ uisce, water-way. ~ coise, footway, track. ~ cise, corduroy road. ~ na Bó Finne, the Milky Way. Ag siúl an bhealaigh, walking the road. Bhí dhá thaobh an bhealaigh leis, he was zig-zagging, staggering, along the road. Litir, teachtaire, a chur chun bealaigh, to dispatch a letter, a messenger. Cuireadh chun bealaigh, chun an bhealaigh mhóir, é, he was sent off, sacked. Fágadh, cuireadh, ar dhroim an bhealaigh mhóir iad, they were left homeless, driven out on the road. S.a. aicearra 1. (b) Route. ~ aeir, bus, éalaithe, mara, trádála, air, bus, escape, sea, trade, route. Com:Bealaí imdháilte, distribution channels. Dul ~ na farraige, an tsléibhe, to go by the sea, mountain, route. Tá sé ar a bhealach abhaile, he is on the way, coming, home. Do bhealach a dhéanamh, to find one’s way. Eolas an bhealaigh a chur, to ask one’s way. Thug sé eolas an bhealaigh dom, he put me on the right road, showed me where to go. Tá fios a bhealaigh aige, he knows where he is going, what he is doing. Duine a chur ar bhealach a leasa, a aimhleasa, to advise s.o. for his own good, to lead s.o. astray. Má thagann sé i do bhealach gar a dhéanamh dom, if you get an opportunity to do me a favour. Is iomaí rud a chuir an fear sin i mo bhealach, that man has put many benefits in my way. S.a. cor11(a), máirseáil12. (c) Passage, thoroughfare. ~ análaithe, respiratory tract. ~ isteach, amach, way in, out. Bheith, teacht, i m~ duine, sa bhealach ar dhuine, to be, get, in s.o.’s way. Is mór sa bhealach thú, you are in everybody’s way. Tóg as mo bhealach é, take it out of my way. Fág an ~ aige, get out of his way, let him pass. Tabhair cead an bhealaigh dó, let him have his way, do as he pleases. ~ dúnta, road closed; no thoroughfare. (d) Direction. Tar an ~ seo, come this way. Bhí mé ag amharc an ~ eile, I was looking the other way. Ní raibh mé riamh an ~ sin, sna bealaí sin, I never went in that direction, was never in those parts. (e) Distance, journey. Is fada an ~ é, it is a long way, distance. Tá ~ fada romhat, you have a long way to go. Chuaigh mé cuid den bhealach leis, I accompanied him part of the way. I rith an bhealaigh, all the way. (f) Manner, method. ~ oibre, way, manner, of working. Déan ar do rogha ~ é, do it any way you like. Níl ach aon bhealach amháin air, there is only one way to do it. Tá ~ maith maireachtála acu, they have a good way of living. Tá a bhealach féin leis, he has his own way (of doing, saying, things). Tá bealaí (beaga) dó féin aige, he has his own (little) peculiarities. Sin an ~ atá leis, that is his manner. Tá bealaí ann, he is deceitful. (g)As ~, out of the way; wrong. Ná cuir thú féin as do bhealach leis, don’t put yourself out about it. Ní raibh mé i bhfad as ~, I was not far out (in my reckoning). Tá tú scilling as ~, you are a shilling out. Rud a dhéanamh, a rá, as ~, to do, say, sth. wrong. Níl an tairiscint sin as ~ ar chor ar bith, that offer is not at all unreasonable. (h) Manner, respect. Ar bhealach, in a way. Ar chéad ~, in many ways. Ar gach uile bhealach, in every way. Ar bhealach éigin, somehow. Ar aon bhealach, at any rate. 2. Top:(a) Pass. (b) Passage, sound.