# cenn
## Middle Irish
### Alternative forms

* cend

### Etymology

From Old Irish cenn, from Proto-Celtic *kʷennom.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /kʲen͈/

### Noun

cenn m (genitive cinn, plural cenna or cinn)
* head
* end

#### Descendants

* Irish: ceann
* Manx: kione
* Scottish Gaelic: ceann

### References

* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 cenn”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

## Old Irish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [kʲen͈]

### Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *kʷennom, whence also conn (“leader”). Compare Welsh pen, Breton penn.

#### Noun

cenn n (genitive cinn, nominative plural cenna)
* head
** c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 89$^c$11
    Mani ro{i}ma fora cenn, ní mema forsna bullu.If their head is not defeated, the members will not be defeated.
* end
** c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 74$^c$20
    Húare ro·comallada inna imneda ⁊ fo·ruirmed cenn forsnaib cotarsnaib du·rairngirt-siu, is fíri{ri}én trá fuä n-indas sin tabart díglae foraibsom.Because the troubles have been fulfilled, and an end has been put to the adversities that you sg have promised, it is just, then, to inflict vengeance on them in that way.

##### Inflection

Neuter o-stem :
| | Singular | Dual | Plural |
| Nominative | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^L$, cenna |
| Vocative | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^L$, cenna |
| Accusative | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^N$ | cenn$^L$, cenna |
| Genitive | cinn$^L$ | cenn | cenn$^N$ |
| Dative | ciunn$^L$ | cennaib | cennaib |
| Initial mutations of a following adjective: $^H$ = triggers aspiration $^L$ = triggers lenition $^N$ = triggers nasalization ||||

##### Derived terms

* forcenn
* fo·ruimi cenn for (“to put an end to”)
* tar cenn

##### Descendants

* Middle Irish: cenn
** Irish: ceann
** Manx: kione
** Scottish Gaelic: ceann

### Etymology 2

From Proto-Celtic *kennos. Cognate with Welsh cen (“scale”).

#### Noun

cenn f
* skin, covering
** c. 845, St Gall Glosses on Priscian, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1975, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. II, pp. 49–224, Sg. 52$^b$2
    hua cheinn ― glossing Latin a testa

##### Usage notes

This word fell out of use in its simple form during the Old Irish period due to being a homophone with the word meaning "head". It is only attested in the St. Gall Priscian glosses, glossing Latin testa.

##### Inflection

Feminine ā-stem :
| | Singular | Dual | Plural |
| Nominative | cenn$^L$ | ceinn$^L$ | cenna$^H$ |
| Vocative | cenn$^L$ | ceinn$^L$ | cenna$^H$ |
| Accusative | ceinn$^N$ | ceinn$^L$ | cenna$^H$ |
| Genitive | ceinne$^H$ | cenn$^L$ | cenn$^N$ |
| Dative | ceinn$^L$ | cennaib | cennaib |
| Initial mutations of a following adjective: $^H$ = triggers aspiration $^L$ = triggers lenition $^N$ = triggers nasalization ||||

##### Derived terms

* cenne

##### Descendants

* ⇒ Irish: scannán (“film”)

### Further reading

* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “1 cenn”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language