geal1, m. (gs. gil).White, bright(ness). S.a. dubh11(a).
geal2, a1. 1. White, bright. (a) (Of brilliant white colour) Éadach ~, white cloth. Plúr ~, white flour. S.a. arán 1. Fiacla ~a, white teeth. Rudaí a ní go ~, to wash things white. Chomh ~ leis an aol, leis an eala, le cúr sceite, le sneachta na haon oíche, as white as lime, as a swan, as falling foam, as overnight snow. (b) (Of fair skin) Craiceann, muineál, ~, white skin, neck. (c) (Of clear light) Solas ~, bright light. An ghrian gheal, the bright sun. Bhí an lá ~ ann, it was clear dawn. I lár an lae ghil, in broad daylight. (d) (Of liquid) Uisce ~, clear water. (e) (Of silver) Bonn ~, silver coin. S.a. airgead 2, gabha, lionn 1(b), síolta1. (f) (Of vividness) Loinnir gheal, bright sheen. (g)Lit: (Of fallowness) Gort ~, fallow field. 2. Fig: Bright, pure; glad, happy; dear, beloved, fond. (a) (Of purity) Anam ~, pure soul. (b) (Of gladness) Croí ~, glad, merry, heart. Fáilte gheal, joyous welcome. Gáirí ~a, happy smiles. Is ~ an scéal liom é, it is glad news to me. Ba gheal an lá dó é, it was a fortunate day for him. (c) (Of fondness) Bheith ~ do, ar, dhuine, to be well-disposed towards, fond of s.o. A ghrá geal! My dearest! Níl sé rógheal dúinn dá bharr, he is not very pleased with us on account of it. Is ~ leis a bhfeiceann sé, he likes what he sees; he sees things through rose-coloured glasses. Is é an péarla ~ ag a mháthair é, he is his mother’s precious jewel. S.a. fiach2.
geal3, v.t. & i. 1. Whiten, brighten. Balla a ghealadh, to whiten a wall. Éadach a ghealadh, to bleach cloth. Gheal a haghaidh, her face brightened. Tá an spéir ag ~adh, the sky is clearing. Nuair a gheal an lá, when day dawned. Tá na sceacha ag ~adh, the hawthorns are blooming. Gheal an fharraige, the sea foamed. Mar a ngealann grian, where the sun shines bright. Tá mo cheann ag ~adh, my head is growing grey. Tá an fómhar ag ~adh, the harvest is ripening. 2. Fig: Make, become, glad, happy, fond. ~ann sé mo chroí, it gladdens my heart. Níor gheal mé riamh leo, I never warmed to them. An rud nach ngealann an intinn, what does not cheer, appeal to, the mind.