Fergus
English
Alternative forms
- (surname): Vargus
Etymology
Etymology tree
From Irish or Scottish Gaelic Fearghas. The first element may be related to modern fìor (“true”) or fear (“man”) (cf. Fearchar). The second element has been understood to mean 'choice' (cf. Angus). Thus the name means either "most chosen one" or "chosen man".[1]
Pronunciation
- (Ireland, Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈfɛɹɡəs/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈfɜːɡəs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈfɝɡəs/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ɡəs
Proper noun
Fergus (plural Ferguses)
- A male given name from Scottish Gaelic.
- A surname originating as a patronymic.
- An unincorporated community in the township of Centre Wellington, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.
Derived terms
Related terms
References
- ^ Alexander Macbain, Etymology of the principal Gaelic national names, personal names, surnames to which is added a disquisition on Ptolemy's Geography of Scotland, 1911, p. 14.
Anagrams
Cebuano
Etymology
From English Fergus, from Irish or Scottish Gaelic Fearghas.
Proper noun
Fergus
- a male given name from Scottish Gaelic
Old Irish
Etymology
From Proto-Celtic *Wirogustus, equivalent to fer (“man”) + guss (“vigour”), which is from Proto-Celtic *gustus (“choice”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵéwstus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɸʲeɾ.ɣus/
- (Blasse) [ˈɸʲeɾ.ɣus]
- (Griffith) [ˈɸʲeɾ.ɣøs]
Proper noun
Fergus m (genitive Fergusso)
- a male given name
Inflection
| singular | dual | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | Fergus | FergusL | FergusaeH |
| vocative | Fergus | FergusL | Fergusu |
| accusative | FergusN | FergusL | Fergusu |
| genitive | FergusoH, FergusaH | FergusoL, FergusaL | FergusaeN |
| dative | FergusL | Fergusaib | Fergusaib |
Initial mutations of a following adjective:
- H = triggers aspiration
- L = triggers lenition
- N = triggers nasalization
Descendants
Mutation
| radical | lenition | nasalization |
|---|---|---|
| Fergus | Ḟergus | Fergus pronounced with /β̃ʲ-/ |
Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in Old Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.