caint, f. (gs. ~e, pl. ~eanna).1. Speech, talk. (a) Faculty of speech. ~, an chaint, a fháil, to learn to talk. Tá an chaint aige, he can talk. Tháinig an chaint leis, dó, he managed to speak, recovered his speech. Chaill sé an chaint, he lost his speech. Baineadh an chaint díom, I was left speechless. Gan chaint, speechless, unable to speak. D’aithin mé a chaint, I recognized his speech, voice. ~ mhall, ghéar, bhriste, slow, sharp, broken, speech. (b) Spoken word. ~ na ndaoine, common speech. Ní mar sin atá sé sa chaint, that is not the spoken version, it is not spoken like that. (c) Expression. Leagan, teilgean, ~e, mode of expression. Rud a chur i g~, to express sth. Tá ~eanna deasa aige, he has nice expressions. Ná bí ar na ~eanna sin, don’t use those expressions. Gram:Ranna ~e, parts of speech. (d) Conversation. Dul chun ~e le duine (faoi rud), to enter into conversation with s.o. (about sth.). ~ a chur ar dhuine, to address, accost, s.o. ~ a thabhairt do dhuine, a choinneáil le duine, to make conversation with s.o., keep s.o.in conversation. ~ a bhaint as duine, to get s.o. to talk. Tá ~ is comhrá aige, he is a sociable talker. Déan do chaint is do chomhrá, have a good chat. (e) Address, discourse. ~ a dhéanamh ar, faoi, rud, to speak about sth. D’éirigh sé chun ~e, he rose to speak. Tabhair cead ~e dó, give him leave to speak. Bhí sé ag stealladh ~e as, he was talking volubly. Mórán ~e ar bheagán cúise, much ado about nothing. Le beagán ~e, in a few words. Níl gar i g~, it’s no use talking. Cad é an chaint atá ort? What are you talking about? Why talk about that? (f) Statement. ~ a chur síos do dhuine, to attribute a statement to s.o. Is é do chaint féin é, it is your own statement. (g) Rumour, gossip. Níl ann ach ~, it is only talk, gossip. Ná déan ~ ar bith de, don’t speak, gossip, about it. ~ san aer, baseless talk, nonsense. 2. (As vn)(a)Ag ~ (le duine, ar rud), talking (to s.o., about sth.) Ós ag ~ air sin é, talking of that. Ós air a bhíomar ag ~, to revert to our subject. Ní fiú a bheith ag ~ air, it is not worth mentioning. Níl siad ag ~ le chéile, they are not on speaking terms. Bíonn sé ag ~ leis féin, he talks to himself. Cá bhfuil mé ag ~? What am I saying? Why do I say that? Ná bí ag ~ liom air, don’t talk to me about it; it is beyond discussion. Níl ach a bheith ag ~ ar pháistí! Why talk about, blame, children? Ag ~ as Gaeilge, talking in Irish. (b)Ag ~ Gaeilge, talking Irish.