Icelandic

Verb

núa ‎(ri-verb, third-person singular past indicative neri or néri, supine núið)

1. to rub, massage ^syn.
2. to wipe ^syn.

Derived terms

• núa um nasir
• núa saman höndum

Synonyms

• (to rub ^def.): nudda
• (to wipe ^def.): þurka

Usage notes

• One of the four ri-verbs in Icelandic, the other being snúa ‎(“to turn”), gróa ‎(“to grow; to heal”) and róa ‎(“to row”).
• Even though some forms that include the letter e are pronounced as having an é, the e-spelling is thought to be correct by the Icelandic ministry of education. The preferred spelling of the first person singular past tense indicative form of the word núa would thus be neri ‎(“I rubbed”) instead of néri ‎(“I rubbed”), although both forms are used.

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *nouyos (compare Welsh newydd, Breton nevez), from Proto-Indo-European *néwos.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /n͈uːa̯/

Adjective

núa

1. new

Descendants

• Irish: nua
• Manx: noa
• Scottish Gaelic: nuadh

References

• “núa, núae” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.