cúis1, f. (gs. ~e, pl. ~eanna). Cause. 1. Reason, matter, for. ~ a bheith agat le rud (a dhéanamh), to have cause, reason, for (doing) sth. Bheith i do chúis le rud, to be a cause of sth. An té, an rud, is ~ leis, whoever, whatever, is the cause of it. Clásal ~e, causal clause. Mé féin is ~ leis, I myself am to blame for it. Tá a chúis (lena chois) aige, he has good reason for it. An chúis ar labhair mé, the reason I spoke. Tá ~ ghearáin aige, he has cause for complaint. ~ áthais, bhróid, matter for joy, for pride. ~ gháire, ghoil, laughing, crying, matter. ~ gháire chugainn! That’s a good joke! Ní beag de chúis é, it is a good enough reason. Mórán cainte ar bheagán ~e, much ado about nothing. As deireadh na ~e, finally, in the heel of the hunt. Ag éileamh ~e, seeking an excuse. Níl uaidh ach ‘Iarraim ~’, he is only looking for an excuse. 2. Case, charge. ~ dlí, lawsuit. ~ a bheith agat ar dhuine, to have a case against s.o. ~ a chur in aghaidh duine, to lay a charge against s.o. ~ duine a phlé, to plead s.o.’s case. Tá ~ bháis, a chrochta, air, he could be put to death, hanged, for the matter with which he is charged. Tá ~ amuigh agam air, I have a score to settle with him. Tá ~ amháin agam ina aghaidh sin, I have one case, argument, against that. Níl aon chúis agam ort as sin, I don’t blame you for that. Nuair a chuaigh an chúis go cnámh na huillinne, when it came to the crucial test. 3. Movement, cause to be served. ~ na saoirse, na teanga, na síochána, the cause of freedom, of the language, of peace. Thug sé a anam ar son na ~e, he gave his life for the cause. Lucht ~e, supporters of a cause. 4. Déanfaidh sé ~, it will meet the case, it will do. Ní dhéanfadh sin ~, that wouldn’t do. 5. Merit, worth. Ní raibh aon chúis ann, it was no good. Níl aon chúis ann, he is not well at all.
cúis2, f. (gs. ~e). Conscience. Dar mo chúis! By my conscience! Thug sé a chúis leis, he swore to it.