ar a fhad

Literally, “on its length”

• IPA^(key): /əɾʲˈad̪ˠ/^[1]

ar a fhad

1. lengthwise, lengthways
   • 1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect], volume II (overall work in German), Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 101:

     ər høš tū n krān̄. høš mē əŕ ad ē.

     [Ar thomhais tú an crann? Thomhais mé ar a fhad é.]

     Did you measure the mast? I measured it lengthwise.

The possessive article agrees with whatever is being described, thus ar a fad of something feminine and ar a bhfad of plural items.

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ar a fhad”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN