Where does “féad” come from?

féad (Irish) comes from Old Irish fet, from Proto-Celtic *swizdā, from Proto-Celtic *swizdeti, from Proto-Indo-European sweysd- — to hiss.

féad (Irish): to be able; to be permitted; shall, should; may,...

Definitions

  1. to be able; to be permitted; shall, should; may,...

Ancestry of “féad”, step by step

féad traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Irish fet

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Irishfetwhistling, hissing, the sound of a sword cleaving...
2Proto-Celtic*swizdā—
3Proto-Celtic*swizdetito blow
4Proto-Indo-Europeansweysd-to hiss

via Middle Irish fétaid

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Irishfétaidto be able, have the ability
2Old Irish·éta—
3Old Irishad·cotato get; obtain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sweysd- →Every word from Proto-Celtic *swizdeti →Every word from Proto-Celtic *swizdā →