beir, v.t. & i. (p. rug, fut. béarfaidh, vn. breith, pp. ~the). 1. Bear, give birth to. (a) (Of animals) Lao, uan, searrach, a bhreith, to give birth to a calf, a lamb, a foal. Rug an bhó, the cow calved. (b) (Of persons, usually autonomously with do) Rugadh leanbh, duine clainne, di, she bore a child. Rug sí mac óg; rugadh mac óg di, she had a baby boy. An lá a rugadh é, the day he was born. Chomh soineanta leis an leanbh a rugadh aréir, as innocent as a new-born babe. Níl aon fhear ~the a dhéanfadh é, no man born, alive, could do it. Nach cuma ~the cé a rinne é? It doesn’t matter in the least who did it. S.a. beo21.(c)Rugadh an rath, an saibhreas, leis, he was born lucky, born to fortune. 2. (Of birds) Lay. Ubh a bhreith, to lay an egg. Tá na cearca ag breith, the hens are laying. 3. Bear away, win. Bua a bhreith, to win a victory. Rug sé a mbua, he defeated them, got the better of them. Rug sé barr orthu, uathu, he surpassed them. Rug sí barr áille orthu, she excelled them in beauty. Rug sé an chraobh leis, he won (the match, etc.). Rug siad an lá uainn, they defeated us. Rug sé na cosa, na sála, leis, he took to his heels; he got away. Tá sé ag breith leis sa Laidin, he is doing well at Latin. Tá an seanduine ag breith (na haimsire) leis go maith, the old man is wearing (his years) well. Bheith ~the le rud, to gain by sth. Beifear ~the nó caillte leis, win or lose it shall be attempted. Ní raibh ann ach breith nó fág, it was neck or nothing. 4. Bring, take. Rud a bhreith chuig duine, ó dhuine, to bring sth. to s.o., take sth. away from s.o. ~ buíochas uaim, please accept my thanks. ~ uaim thú, take yourself off; I don’t want you around. ~leat é, bring, take, it with you. Ná ~ leat go bhfuil fearg orm, don’t go off with the idea that I am angry. ~ as é, take it away. ~ as tú! Go away! You don’t mean it! Rug siad as an oíche mar sin, in that way they passed the night. ~ mo bheannacht chucu, give them my regards. ~ a thuairisc chugainn, bring us tidings of him. ~ do bhreith air, bring in your verdict, pass your judgment, on it. Lit:Céim a bhreith (thar, i gcoinne), to take a step (over, towards). S.a. rogha 1. 5. (With ar) Catch; overtake. Breith ar rud, to catch, take hold of, sth. Rug sé ar lámh, greim láimhe, orm, he caught, gripped, me by the hand. Rug na gardaí air, the guards caught him. ~ idir do lámha air, take it in your hands, arms. ~ isteach air, get to close grips with him. Fan go mbeire sé ar a ghreamanna, wait until he gets his grips, until he gets going properly. Breith gearr, gairid, ar dhuine, to take s.o. at short notice, abruptly. Breith amuigh ar dhuine, to catch s.o. out, unprepared. Breith gan fhios ar dhuine, to take s.o. by surprise. Breith maol, san fhoghail, ar dhuine, to catch s.o. red-handed. ~ ort féin, remember yourself. ~ ar do chiall, ar do stuaim, have sense, patience. Breith beo ar dhuine, to catch, reach, s.o. alive. ~ beo ort féin, look alive. Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís, may we live to see this time next year. ~ bog ort féin, take it easy. Breith ar fhocal, to catch, grasp the meaning of, a word. Breith ar bhus, to catch a bus. Breith ar dhuine i rás, to overtake s.o. in a race. Rug an oíche orainn, the night came on us. Béarfaidh tú air (ar an obair, etc.), it (the work, etc.) is time enough. Béarfaidh an saol ort, take life easy. Gach lá dá mbeireann orainn, every day we live. Má bheireann an lá, an sagart, air, if he lives till daylight, until the priest comes. Rug an baisteadh air, he lived to be baptized. Dá mbéarfadh ort, if you should be in a fix. Béarfaidh an madra ort, the dog will bite you. Níl pingin ag breith ar an bpingin eile aige, he spends every penny as fast as he earns it. 6. (a) Proceed, advance. Ag breith as, making off. Ag breith (amach) ar an domhain, bearing out to sea. Tá siad ag breith uainn, they are drawing away from us. ~ leat abhaile, get off home. Tá sé ag breith suas ar a naoi (a chlog), it is getting on for nine (o’clock). (b) (With chun) Tá an tuile ag breith chuici, the flood is receding. Tá sé ag breith chuige féin, he is getting cautious, drawing in his horns.