EXACT MATCHES
IN FOCLÓIR GAEILGE—BÉARLA
roimh, prep. (Pron. forms: romham, romhat, roimhe m, roimpi f, romhainn, romhaibh, rompu) (Lenites. S.a. an1) Before. 1. (a) In front of. Cuir marc ~e, put a mark in front of it. An bia a cuireadh romhainn, the food which was set before us. Romham amach, out, right, in front of me. (b) Ahead of. Shiúil siad romhainn, they walked ahead of us. An bhfuilimid rompu nó ina ndiaidh? Are we before or after them? (c) Preceding. Tá sé ar an leathanach ~e sin, it is on the page before that. Ag an stad ~ an scoil, at the stop before (coming to) the school. An rann sin romhainn, the foregoing stanza. (d) Foremost. Cuir an ceann caol de ~e, put the thin end of it foremost. (e) Driven forward by. Teitheadh ~ an tóir, to fly before the chase. Tiomáin romhat iad, drive them before you. Bhí siad ina raon maidhme ~e, they were in headlong flight before him. (f) Leading. Gabh thusa romhainn, you go ahead of us, take the lead. Críost romham, may Christ lead me. (g) Barring the way. Bhí an abhainn rompu, the river was in front of them, in their way. Tá mala mhór romhainn go fóill, there is a steep incline still ahead of us. 2. (Pron. form used reflexively) (a) Bhí sé ag siúl ~e, he was walking along. Téigh caol díreach romhat, go straight ahead. Bí á léamh romhat, read it as you go along. (b)Amharc, breathnaigh, dearc, romhat, look ahead, where you are going, to the future. S.a. cuir roimh. 3. Earlier in time than. (a) ~(an) Nollaig, before Christmas. ~ a seacht (a chlog), before seven (o’clock). ~ Chríost, R.Ch., before Christ, B.C. Cailleadh ~ a aois é, he died prematurely. S.a. ré1 2 (d). (b) (In reference to future) Beidh siad anseo ~ an oíche, they will be here before night. ~ sheachtain, within a week. ~ i bhfad, before long. (c) (Of line of descent) Ár n-aithreacha romhainn, our fathers before us. An mhuintir a tháinig rompu, the people who came before them. (d) Yet to come. San am atá romhainn, in time to come. Tá a saol rompu, they have their whole life in front of them. Bhí bliain chrua romhainn, we had a hard year ahead of us. Tá (sé uile) romhat; is romhat atá, it is all ahead of you; time will tell. Ní bheidh sé romhat arís, you will have had it over and done with. An rud atá romhainn, what is in store for us. 4. (a) In anticipation of, in preparation for. Bheith ullamh ~ dhuine, to be prepared for s.o.’s coming. Oscail an doras ~e, open the door to receive him. Leag sé an bhearna ~ an eallach, he lowered the gap to let the cattle through. (b) Awaiting, meeting. Bí romham ag an stáisiún, be at the station to meet me. Bhí slua mór rompu, there was a big crowd waiting for them. Rinne siad luíochán ~ an namhaid, they laid an ambush for the enemy. A leithéid de radharc a bhí romhainn! What a scene met our eyes! 5. (With tar, téigh) (a) Intercept, stop. Tháinig sé romham faoi bhealach, he intercepted me on the way. Téigh ~ na caoirigh agus cor isteach sa pháirc iad, get in front of the sheep and head them into the field. (b) Anticipate, forestall. Dul ~ chontúirt, to anticipate danger. Is féidir teacht ~ an aicíd sin, that disease can be prevented. (c) Interrupt. Ná bí ag teacht romham ar gach focal, don’t interrupt me every time I say a word. Ní ag teacht romhat é, pardon my interrupting you. 6. (a) (In expressions of gladness, welcome) Fáiltiú ~ dhuine, to welcome s.o. Fáilte romhat, you are welcome. Bhí lúcháir orthu romhainn, they were glad to see us. (b) (In expressions of fear, dislike, etc.) Eagla a bheith ort ~ rud, to be afraid of sth. Bhí uamhan orthu ~e, they were in terror of him. Tá doicheall romhainn anseo, we are unwelcome here. Ní raibh drogall air ~ an airgead, he was not averse to taking the money. Scanraigh na páistí ~ an toirneach, the children were frightened at the thunder. 7. (Used with vn.) ~ éirí ar maidin, before getting up in the morning. ~ imeacht dom, prior to my going. ~ theacht Phádraig go hÉirinn, before St. Patrick’s coming to Ireland. (Var: roim, non-leniting in general reference)
PHRASES
IN FOCLÓIR GAEILGE—BÉARLA
Bhí sé romham ag teacht dom, he met me when I was coming.
Tá sé romhat ~, you will experience it yet.
Is fearr ~ amháin romhat ná dhá ~ i do dhiaidh, foresight is better than hindsight.
ag, ar, faoi, le, ó, roimh, thar, trí, um eclipses
Chonaic mé an fear romham, I saw (to my surprise) a man in front of me.
Roimh a ~, before his time, prematurely.
Ár n-aithreacha romhainn, our fathers before us.
Ag cruinniú roimhe is ag bailiú ina dhiaidh, gathering up everything he can lay hands on.
Níor ~eadh Mí de Mhaigh Uisnigh roimhe sin, the plain of Uisneach was not called Meath before then.
Tá eagla a bháis air (roimh thaibhsí, go mbuailfear é), he is in mortal fear (of ghosts, that he will be beaten).
Bhí sé i m~ an tseoil romham, he was there when I came along.
Tá ~ fada romhat, you have a long way to go.
Tá an bhearna réidh roimhe, it is all plain sailing for him.
Fáilte roimh bhocht is nocht, everybody is welcome (regardless of circumstances).
Ag brath na slí roimhe, feeling his way along.
~ romhat agus i do dhiaidh, look before and after, lay your plans carefully.
~ romhat an t-asal sin, prod on that donkey.
~ romhat é, push it ahead of you.
~ romhat isteach sa halla, go ahead into the hall.
Bhuail mé romham go bhfuair mé dídean na hoíche, I kept right on till I got shelter for the night.
2. ~ romhat, pass on the blow.
Bhuail sé roimhe agus ina dhiaidh, he lashed about him, beat everybody around him.
Cá roimhe a bhfuil eagla ort? Of what are you afraid?
Ag imeacht ~ díreach roimh an ngaoth, sailing straight before the wind, running free.
Beimid roimhe ach a gcasfaidh sé, we will be there to meet him when he returns.
~ an diabhail, an donais, an tseaca, roimhe, bad welcome to him.
Bhí sé ag céimniú roimhe, anonn is anall, he was striding along, back and forth.
Ní thagann ~ roimh aois, youth will have its fling.
Ba bhocht an chinniúint a bhí roimhe, an ill fate awaited him.
Treabhaimis an ~ seo romhainn, let us attend to the matter in hand.
Fásann ~ roimh chruithneacht, ill weeds grow apace.
Bhí eagla a chraicinn air romhainn, he was in mortal fear of us.
Creathnú roimh an mbás, to flinch from death.
Chreathnaigh siad roimh an namhaid, they quailed before the enemy.
Chreathnaigh sé roimh an oibleagáid, he shrank from the obligation.
Chreathnaigh mé roimh an dreach a bhí air, his expression horrified me.
Tá a chrosa roimhe, his troubles are still to come.
Chuir sé amach a lámh romhainn, he thrust out his hand in front of us.
Duine a chur romhat, to put s.o. in front of you; to send s.o. before you.
~eadh bia romhainn, food was set before us.
Rud a chur romhat (féin), to set oneself to do sth.
An cheird a ~eadh roimhe, the trade he was set to.
Chuir mé romham an teanga a fhoghlaim, I made up my mind to learn the language.
~eadh scoil is léann rompu, they were given schooling and education.
Ag cúlú romhainn, falling back before us.
~ roimh an ngníomh, i ndiaidh an ghnímh, accessory before, after, the fact.
Is mairg a mbeadh doicheall roimh dheacair aige, one should face up to one’s troubles.
Romham agus i mo dhiaidh, before and after me.
Bhí sé ag siúl ~ romham, he was walking right in front of me.