(dumb)

adj. dark-red.

a. dumb, mute (gaf hann dumbum mál, en daufum heyrn);

dumbr stafr, a mute (letter).

* * *

adj. [Ulf. dumbs = κωφός; A. S. dumb; Engl. dumb; O. H. G. tumb; Germ. dum = stupid, whence Dan. dum; Gr. τυφλός and τυφος are kindred words, the fundamental notion being dusty, clouded]:—dumb, 656 C. 34; dumbir ok daufir, 623. 57: gramm. a mute letter, Skálda 176. In Norway dumine or domme means a peg inside doors or gates.

m. pl. the ‘dumb-bell days,’ i. e. the three days before Easter; hence dymbildaga-vika, u, f. [Swed. dymmel-vecka; Dan. dimmel-uge], Passion week, Bs. i. 71, Fms. x. 72, H. E. i. 491, Sturl. i. 25; during the dymbildagar the bells in Icel. were rung with a wooden tongue called dymbill, m.; a dymbill is often mentioned among the inventories of Icel. churches of the 14th century, e. g. kirkja á dymbil, Vm. 47, 51: it is, however, likely that the word dymbill itself is simply derived from the Engl. dumb-bell, as in the Roman church the bells were dumb or muffled in the Passion week: Björn (Lex.) mentions that in the century before his time people used to strike the time to a dance with the dymbill. It was also an old Icel. custom that the father of a house inflicted a general chastisement on his children and household on Good Friday for the sins of the past year, gently or strongly as they had been obedient or not; hence the popular phrase, líðr að dimbildögum, or koma dymbildagar, = the dimmel-days are nigh, i. e. the day of reckoning will surely come; cp. H. E. iv. 180, 181 (note).

a. dumb, mute (gaf hann dumbum mál, en daufum heyrn);

dumbi stafr, a mute (letter).

* * *

adj. dumb; dauf ok dumba skurðgoð, Stj. 207, K. Á. 56.

1) silence, hearing; biðja (kveðja sér) hljóðs, to beg (ask for) a hearing (Njáll kvaddi sér hljóðs); fá h., to get a hearing; þegja þunnu hljóði, to keep a watchful silence; af hljóði, í hljóði, in all stillness, silently;

2) sound (Þorfinnr kom engu hljóði lúðrinn); koma á h. um e-t, to become aware of; drepr h. ór e-m, one is struck dumb;

3) musical sound, tune;

4) trumpet (h. Heimdallar = Gjallarhorn).

* * *

n. [Ulf. hliuþ = ἡσυχία, 1 Tim. ii. 11, in Uppström’s edition; cp. A. S. hleoðor = sound; mid. H. G. lût; cp. O. H. G. hliodar; Germ. laut; Dan. lyd; Swed. ljud; akin to it are several Gr. and Lat. words with an initial κλ, cl; the original meaning is hearing or the thing heard, like Gr. ἀκοή and hljóð, hljómr, hlust (q. v.) are kindred words; hence comes the double sense of this word in Icel., sound and silence.]

A. Hearing, a hearing, listening, silence; biðja (kveðja) hljóðs, to beg a hearing, chiefly as a parliamentary term, of one about to speak, to recite a poem before a prince or the like; Njáll kvaddi sér hljóðs, Nj. 105; kvæði hefi ek ort um yðr, ok vilda ek hljóð fá, I wished to get a hearing, Ísl. ii. 229; Egill hóf upp kvæðit ok kvað hátt ok fékk þegar hljóð, Eg. 427, cp. Vsp. 1, Höfuðl. 2; vilja ek hljóð at Hárs liði, I ask a hearing for my song, Ht. 1; ek hefi ort kvæði um yðr ok vilda ek fá hljóð at flytja, Fms. ii. 15; gefa h., to give a hearing, Leiðarv. 5; hafit hljóð, be quiet! 625. 72; þá er bæði gott hljóð ok góðir siðir í konungs húsi, Sks. 367:—the ancient meetings were in the open air, amid the hum of voices, loud cries, and the clash of arms, þá var fyrst gnýr mikill af fjölmenni ok vápnum, en er hljóð fékksk, mælti Þorgnýr, Ó. H. 68; en er hljóð fékkst, þá stóð jarl upp ok mælti, 67, cp. Íb. ch. 4; varð at þessu mikit háreysti, en er hljóð fékksk, mælti Sigurðr jarl, Fms. i. 34.

2. adverb, phrases; í heyranda hljóði, see heyra, Nj. 230, Grág. i. 19, passim; af hljóði and í hljóði, in all stillness, silently, Nj. 5, 103, Eg. 723, Ld. 162, Fms. iv. 79, Stj. 355; bera harm sinn í hljóði, to bear one’s grief in silence, a saying; ein kvinna læri í hljóði með allri undirgefni, 1 Tim. ii. 11, where the Gothic text has in hliuþa: þegja þunnu hljóði, to listen in breathless stillness, Hm. 7; í einu hljóði, unanimously, a parliamentary term.

B. The thing heard, sound; allt er hljóð þat er kvikindis eyru má skilja, Skálda 173, 174; greina hljóð, id., 169, 170; í hljóði síns gráts, Mar. 28; Þorfinnr kom öngu hljóði í lúðrinn ok komsk eigi upp blástrinn, Fms. ix. 30; ganga á hljóðið, to walk (in the dark) after a distant sound; klukku-hljóð, the sound of a bell, v. 133; þrumu-h., a clap of thunder; brim-h., the roaring of surf.

II. special usages:

1. gramm. a sound, tone; með löngu hljóði eða skömmu, hörðu eða linu, Skálda 159, 160: a musical sound, tune, söng fagran, hljóð mikit ok dýrligt, Bs. i. 454; slá hljóð á hörpu, 155.

2. phrases, koma á hljóð um e-t, to catch the sound of, become aware of, Bs. i. 165; vera í hindar hljóði, to be within a hind’s hearing, i. e. to be whispered about; vera ór hindar hljóði, to be out of a hind’s sound; drepr hljóð ór e-m, to become dumb, lose the wind, Fms. xi. 115; það er komit annað hljóð í strokkinn (metaphor from churning), there is another sound in the churn, of a sudden turn, e. g. from high to low spirits; the ancients also seem to have said, ‘there is another sound in the fells,’ of one who is crest-fallen; see verses in Nj. 249, Háv. 34 new Ed., Dropl. 31, nú kná þjóta annan veg í fjöllum, now the fells resound with another tale; nú þykir henni eigi batna hljóðið í sögunni, the tale began to sound dismal, Clar.: so in the phrase, það er gott (slæmt, dauft) hljóð í e-m, to be in a good (or moody) state of mind.

III. plur. esp. in mod. usage:

α. crying aloud, a cry, of a child or one in paroxysms of pain; Heyr mín hljóð, hear my cry! Hólabók 276; hljóðin heyrðusk út fyrir dyr (of a sick person); það linnir ekki af hljóðum (of a baby).

β. howling, screaming; og þeirra hljóð (pl.) og höfuð-prestanna tóku yfir, Luke xxiii. 23; ó-hljóð, dissonance, i. e. screaming, howling.

γ. music. voice; hafa fögr hljóð, a sweet voice; há, mikil, veyk, dimm, hvell hljóð, a high, strong, weak, deep, pealing voice; Syng þú ungr mest sem mátt | meðan hljóð þín fagrt gjalla, … eintóm hljóð úr forfeðranna gröfum, Bjarni 142: the same distinction is sometimes observed in old writers, syngja með fögrum hljóðum, Stj. 606, Bs. i. 155; þar gengr hæst í hljóðunum, there the tune reached the highest pitch, Mar.

* * *

1) speech, faculty of speech (þrøngdi svá sóttarfari konungs, at hann misti málsins);

þau hafa ekki mál, they are dumb;

2) language, tongue;

norrønt mál, the Norse tongue;

3) speech, speaking (hvárt er Flosi svá nær, at hann megi heyra mál mitt);

4) colloquy, talk, speech;

koma á mál (or at máli) við e-n, to come to talk with, speak to;

finna (hitta) e-n at máli, to obtain speech with;

krefja e-n máls, to ask an interview with;

leita mills við e-n (spyrja e-n máls, mæla mál of e-m), to broach a subject to one;

bera mál á e-t, hafa e-t á (or at) máli, to speak (talk) of (allir menn höfðu á máli, hversu fríðr maðr hann var);

lúka sínu máli, to end one’s speech;

þat er mál manna, at, people say that;

5) tale, story;

nú er þar til máls at taka, now it must be told;

6) saw, saying;

fornt (fornkveðit) mál er, at, it is an old saw that;

7) diction, construction of sentences;

8) sentence;

tvau mál, two sentences;

fullt mál, a full period;

9) suit, action, cause;

hefja mál á hendr e-m, to bring an action against one;

búa mál, to prepare a suit;

sœkja mál, to prosecute;

10) stipulation, agreement (ek vil halda mil við hann þan, sem mælt vóru);

lauss allra mála, free of all stipulations;

11) case, matter, affair (þetta mál var við Jórunni rœtt);

svá er mál með vexti, the matter stands thus;

var þat annat mál, another matter;

miðla mál, to mediate;

tillagagóðr inna stœrri mála, a good counsellor in great matters;

hafa sitt mál, to have one’s own way, have one’s will (honum eirir illa, of hann hefir eigi sitt mál);

hafa mikit til síns máls, to have much in support of one’s case;

e-t skiptir miklu (litlu) máli, it is of great (small) importance;

12) three months (mál ok misseri).

1) measure (fimm álna er hátt mál hans);

leggja, bera mál við e-t, to measure (hann lagði mál við öll in stœrstu tré);

2) time, high time (mál er upp at standa);

sagði, at þá var mið nótt ók at enn væri mál at sofa, and still time to sleep;

3) meal;

í eitt mál, at einu máli, for one single meal;

deila mat at málum, to deal out food at each meal.

n. inlaid ornaments (on the hilts and guards of swords).

* * *

n., old pl. m́l, 673. 47, Greg.; [Ulf. maþl = ἀγορά; Hel. mahal = speech, meeting; Dan. maal; from the old Teut. maþl or mahal was formed the mid. Lat. mallum = parliament, public meeting (Du Cange), and mallum again was in Norman-French rendered by parliament.]

A. Speech, faculty of speech; mál heitir orð …, Edda 110; þau hafa ekki mál, they are dumb, Fms. i. 97, Fs. i. 250; þröngdi svá sóttar-fari konungs at hann misti málsins, x. 148; þeir hafa eigi manns rödd né mál, Rb. 348; þeir hafa gauð fyrir mál, 346; mál, heyrn, sjón, Edda 6.

II. speech as spoken, language, tongue; Norrænt mál, the Norse tongue, Fms. vii. 165; Gírskt mál, Greg. 75; í máli þeirra, til várs máls, in our tongue; í hverju máli, Skálda 161, 168; í vóru máli, 163, 166, 167, 169; í málinu, 165; kynnask várt mál at ráða þat er á Norrænu er ritað, Bs. i. 59; nema mál á Danska tungu, Grág.; rita at Norrænu máli, Hkr. (pref.); þeir skildu eigi hans mál, þá mælti kvinnan á Norrænu, Fs. 136.

2. speech, speaking; hvárt er Flosi svá nær at hann megi heyra mál mitt, Nj. 36, 200; ver eigi nær honum en mál nemi, Fms. iv. 28; en skáldskapr var honum svá tiltækr, at hann mælti af tungu fram sem annat mál, 374; engi var svá vitr at snjallara mál mundi fram bera, vii. 158; snjallr í máli ok talaðr vel. ix. 535; skilr þú nokkut hérmanna mál, Fas. ii. 512; en er hann lauk sínu máli, Ld. 106, 130, Íb. 12; ok fara svá öllu máli um sem hann hafi áðr ekki um mælt, Grág. i. 40; ef hann kveðr svá at ok hafði í máli sínu, ‘heilt ráð ok heimolt,’ en eigi ella, 317; kveðr jarl þings ok mælti þeim málum á þinginu at Hákon jarl skyldi heita vargr í véum, Fms. xi. 40; tína fyrir mér öll þau mál ok athæfi er hafa þarf fyrir konungi, Sks. 301.

3. speaking one to another, colloquy; vera á máli, to deliberate, converse, Vtkv., 1; hann kom opt á mál við konung, Eg. 106; engi þorði at krefja hann máls, 601; Þórdís gékk til máls við Egil frænda sinn, 765; þegar er þeir fundu menn at máli, Fms. i. 204; ef þeir vildu hafa hans mál, 241; síðan hættu þau málinu, Nj. 10; hann leitaði þá máls um við Ásgerði hverju þat gegndi, Eg. 703; ok spyrja hana máls hvar til þessi svör skulu koma, Hkr. i. 77; þat var karl ok kerling, mælti hann mál af þeim ok spurði, Fas. iii. 525; höfðu menn at máli (people noticed, of something extraordinary), at…, Fms. vii. 301; allir menn höfðu á máli, er Ólaf sá, hversu fríðr maðr hann var, Ld. 88; bera mikit mál á, Fms. x. 93; þat var mál manna, people said that; or, þat er mál manna, people say, Nj. 268, Eg. 29, Fms. vii. 150.

4. a tale, narrative; nú er þat til máls at taka (of resuming the narrative after an episode), to take up the story again, Ld. 314, Nj. 16, 29, 135, 148, 196; er fyrr var getið í þessu máli, Fms. xi. 41; þar hef ek upp þat mál, Eg. 735.

5. a saw; þat er fornt mál (‘tis an old saw), at bísna skal at betr verði, Fms. x. 261, Glúm. 344; á líti þeir mál in fornu, look to the old wise sayings, Sighvat (forn-mæli, q. v.)

6. gramm. diction, construction of sentences; mál ok hættir, Edda 49; ef þat mál ( figure of speech) er upp er tekit haldi of alla vísu-lengd, 123; breyta háttum með máli einu, to vary the verses with the sentences, Edda 124 (for specimens see lit. 9–23); tvau mál, two sentences; fullt mál, a full period; hér lýkr máli, lúka heilu máli, a sentence closes; annat ok þriðja vísu-orð er sér um mál, ok er þat stál kallat, of the intercalary sentences in poetry, Edda 125; þeir kölluðu at hann hafði eigi rétt ort at máli, Fms. v. 209; samhljóðendr megu ekki mál eðr atkvæði göra einir við sik, Skálda; hér er mál fullt í hverju vísu-orði, Edda; Skáldskapar-mál, poetical diction, id.; bragar-mál, id., 124.

7. mál is the name of old songs containing old saws or sentences, such as the Háva-mál; as also of poems in a dialogue (mál); all such poems were in a peculiar metre called mála-háttr, which is opposed to the epic kviðu-háttr, thus, Grímnis-mál, Vafþrúðnis-mál, Alvís-mál, Hamðis-mál, Hákonar-mál, Eiríks-mál; in some instances the name has been applied erroneously, e. g. Atla-mál; the Rígs-mál is a name given in modern times, the old name was Rígs-þula.

B. As a law phrase, with the notion of public speaking, action, or the like:

1. a suit, action, cause; hefja mál á hendr e-m, Fms. vii. 130; hafa mál á höndum, Grág. i. 38; sókn skal fyrr fara fram hvers máls en vörn, nema þat sé allt eitt, ok sé þat annars máls sókn er annars er vörn, 59; Njáll nefndi vátta ok sagði únýtt málit, Nj. 36; ekki á Bjarkeyjar-réttr á því máli at standa, Fms. vii. 130; þeir veittu Gizuri hvíta at hverju máli, Nj. 86; báru þeir kvið um mál Otkels, 87; færa mál fram at dómi, Grág, i. 135; sækja mál, to prosecute, Nj. 86, 99; sækja mál lögliga ok réttliga, Fms. vii. 133; Gunnarr sótti málit þar til er hann bauð til varna, Nj. 36; en um tólf mánuðr stendr þeirra mál, the case stands over for twelve months, Grág. i. 143; sækja mál á þingi, Nj. 36; færa vörn fyrir mál, 87; mál kemr í dóm, Glúm. 365; höfða mál, to institute a suit, Grág. i. 142; búa mál, to prepare a suit, of the preliminaries, Glúm. 365, passim; leggja mál undir e-n (as umpire), Nj. 105; hafa sitt mál, to get one’s verdict, win the suit, passim; vera borinn máli, to be cast, convicted, N. G. L. i. 122: to be beaten, get the worst, passim: vígs-mál, legorðs-mál, fé-mál, etc.

2. an indictment, charge;þá eru þeir varðir máli ef þeir fá þann bjargkvið, Grág. i. 54; ok versk hann þá málinu, 317; at upp skyldi vera rannsókn en þau ór málinu ef hann hittisk eigi þar, Ld. 44; ek vil svara því máli, I will answer that charge, Nj. 99; ok bað Sigurð Hranason svara þar málum fyrir sik, Fms. vii. 130; á hann kost at láta varða skóggang eða görtæki, ef hann vill til hins meira máls færa ok skal hann stefna ok láta varða skóggang, Grág. i. 430; hann spurði alla ena beztu menn, hvert mál þeim þætti Gunnarr eiga á þeim nöfnum fyrir fjörráðin, Nj. 105; leynd mál, hidden charges, Grág. i. 362.

3. procedure, order; at alþingis-máli réttu ok allsherjar-lögum, Nj. 87: pleading, enda er svá sem þeir mæli eigi þeim m́lum nema þeir vinni eiða at, Grág. ii. 342.

4. stipulation, agreement; mál meginlig, Vsp.; bregða máli, Grág. i. 148; ok skilja þeir eigi þat mál görr, en svá, 136; nema þau vili annat mál á göra, 336; en ek skal lauss allra mála ef hann kemr eigi svá út, Ísl. ii. 217; skulu þeirra manna mál standask, Grág. i. 296: engagement, ok vitja málanna fyrir hönd okkra beggja, Fms. xi. 104.

5. transactions; en hvert sem at þessum málum var setið lengr eða skemr, Ld. 22.

6. a case; lá ek þá í vöggu er þær skyldu tala um mitt mál, Fas. i. 340; mál hans stendr í miklum háska, Mar.; en þó skaltu svá um þitt mál hugsa, … at þá munt þú skamt eiga úlifat, Nj. 85; at hvárir-tveggju hafi nakkvat síns máls, Jb. 12; þat er mál Sigurðar konungs at mæla til Inga konungs, Fms. vii. 221; festi járnburð, at svá skyldi sanna mál hans, 230; honum eirir ílla ef hann hefir eigi sitt mál, Ísl. ii. 237; þá skal sá þeirra hafa sitt mál er eið vill at vinna, Grág. i. 393; Þórólfr bað Ölvi byrja mál sitt við konung, Eg. 62; at vit fáim rétt af þessu máli, 40; flytja mál sitt, Ld. 180; muntú mér verða at trúa til málanna þinna allra, Fms. xi. 104; allir er eiðsvarar erut við þetta mál, Nj. 192; eiga síðan allt mitt mál undir yðr fóstbræðrum, Fas. ii. 532; þetta mál var við Jórunni rætt, Ld. 22; þykki mér nú vandast málit, Nj. 4; svá er mál með vexti, the case is this, Lv. 43, Fas. iii. 59; var þat annat m., another affair, Nj. 256; ekki eru þau efni í um várt mál, Ld. 76; konungr átti dóm á þeirra máli, id.; ber hann upp fyrir bróður sinn málit, hann berr upp málit ok biðr Unnar, ok undra ek er þú ferr með því máli, Fas. i. 364; Austmaðrinn heldr nú á málinu við bónda Nj. 259; ef þér vilit göra málit at álitum, 3; svara þessu máli, Fms. vii. 124; miðla mál, to mediate, Íb. 12; inna stærri mála, in important cases, Nj. 2.

7. special phrases, e-t skiptir miklu, litlu … máli, to bear much or little upon a case, to be of great (small …) importance, Eg. 742, Ó. H. 31, passim: skiptir þá eigi máli, Grág. i. 43; varða máli, id.; ef honum þætti máli varða at hann næði því, Rd. 260: þú kvaddir þess kviðar er eigi átti máli at skipta um víg Auðúlfs, who had no concern with the slaying of A., Nj. 87.

C. COMPDS, máls- and mála-: máls-afglöpun, f. a false or collusive action, whereby the suit is lost, Grág. i. 494. máls-bót, f. an excuse, exculpation, Fms. vii. 207; esp. in plur., hafa sér e-ð til málsbóta, to use as an excuse. mála-efni, n. pl. a cause, its circumstances and nature, Nj. 47, Háv. 51; íll málaefni, a bad case, Fs. 41. 138, Ó. H. 150, Band. 12. máls-endi, a, m., see málsemd. máls-eyrendi, n. a discourse, Sturl. i. 140. mála-ferli, n. pl. lawsuits, litigation, Fs. 47, Eg. 644, Nj. 78, Sturl. i. 105, Fær. 109. mála-flutningr, m. the conduct of a suit, Hrafn. 17. mála-fylgjumaðr ( mála-fylgismaðr), m. a lawyer; mikill m., a great taker up of suits, Nj. 1, Bs. i. 82. máls-fylling, f. the conclusion of a case, Fb. iii. 451. máls-grein, f. a sentence, Skálda 174, 181, Bs. i. 753 ( a passage in a letter): a phrase, Stj. 79, Edda 49; partr málsgreinar = pars orationis, Skálda 180: diction, style, Edda 120. mála-háttr, m. [mál, háttr], a kind of metre, Edda 142, where a specimen is given. máls-hattr, m. a phrase, Stj. 67, 126: = málsgrein, Skálda 170: a proverb, saying, Fms. ii. 33, Fas. iii. 104, Stj. 133, passim. málshátta-safn, n. a collection of proverbs. mála-hlutr or máls-hlutr or -hluti, a, m. one side of a case or suit eiga enn þyngra málahlut, Ísl. ii. 172; þá ferr ílla m. várr ( our case), Lv. 95: a share, mun sá verða m. várr beztr, Nj. 88; nú kann vera, at ek kunna ekki at sjá málahlut til handa mér, en vilja munda ek halda sæmd minni, Sturl. i. 105. mála-kosta, u, f. a complaint, pleading in a case, Sturl. i. 613, H. E. i. 457. mála-leitan, f. a negotiation, the mooting a question, Eg. 521, Eb. 130, Fms. vii. 299, Orkn. 56. mála-lenging, f. useless prolongation. mála-lok, n. pl. the end of a case, conclusion, Eb. 106, Nj. 102, Bs. i. 68. mála-lyktir, f. pl. = málalok, Eb. 24, 36, Nj. 88, Fms. vii. 14. máls-löstr, m. bad grammar, Skálda 181. mála-maðr, m. = málafylgju-maðr, Dropl. 6, Ld. 298, Boll. 354. mála-mannligt, n. adj. like, worthy of a málamaðr, Bs. i. 751. máls-metandi, part., m. maðr, a person of mark. mála-mynd, f.; til málamyndar, only for appearance, not seriously. máls-orð, n. a word in a sentence, Edda 124, 126, 128. máls-partr, m. a part of speech, Skálda 185: a part in a suit, mod. máls-rödd, f. = málrómr, Stj. 81. mála-skil, n. pl. knowledge of proceeding. Sturl. iii. 10. mála-skot, n. an appeal in a case, K. Á. 218. mála-sóku, f. a lawsuit, prosecution, Nj. 248. máls-spell, n. a flaw in a suit, Nj. 170, Fms. x. 12. mála-sönnun, f. evidence, Mar. mála-tilbúningr or mála-tilbúnaðr, m. the preparation of a suit, Grág. i. 490, Eb. 282, Nj. 36, 100. mála-tilleitan, f. = málaleitan, Þórð. 67. mála-vöxtr, m. the state of a case, Fms. vi. 11, Al. 113, Bs. i. 67, Nj. 79. máls-þörf, f. a wish to speak, Fms. vi. 374.

n. [Ulf. mêl = χρόνος, καιρός; A. S. mâl; Engl. meal; Germ. mahl; Dan. and Swed. maal, mâl = a mark]:—a measure: hann mælti grundvöll undir húss, þat var þeirra átrúnaðr ef málit gengi saman, þá er optarr væri reynt, at þess manns ráð mundi saman ganga, ef mál-vöndrinn þyrri, en þróask ef hann vissi til mikilleiks, gékk nú málit saman ok var þrem sinnum reynt, Korm. 8; fimm álna er hátt mál hans, Fms. vi. 929; ganga undir mál, to undergo a mál (for measuring one’s height); þat sögðu menn at þeir hefði jafnmiklir menn verit, þá er þeir gengu undir mál, Ld. 178; leggja, bera mál við, to measure; hann lagði mál við öll in stærstu tré, 216; með því sama máli sem þér mælit út mun yðr verða aptr mælt, Mar.; bar hón mál á, ok þurfti þá þrjár álnar ok þver hönd, Bs. ii. 168; kunna maga mál, to know the measure of one’s stomach, Hm. 20.

2. a length of sixteen fathoms, D. N. (Fr.)

B. Temp. [Ulf. mêl = χρόνος, καιρός], a ‘meal,’ of time, i. e. a certain portion of time:

I. time, high time; skipverjum þótti mál ór hafi, Landn. 206: with infin., Vsp. 14, Hm. 111, Skm. 10, Bm. 1; mönnum væri mál at lýsa sökum sínum, Nj. 149; at mál væri at ganga at sofa, Fms. ii. 138; mælti biskup at mál væri at sofa, 139; sagði mál at ríða, Orkn. 48: adding a dat., mál er mér at ríða, Hkv. 2. 47: ok er mál at vit farim, Fær. 255; mál er at leita at hestum várum, Korm. 182; ok er allt mál at ættvíg þessi takisk af, Ld. 258; ok er nú mál at hætta, Fms. vi. 212: e-m er mál (of stools):—í mál, in due time; þóat í mál yrði borinn kviðrinn, Grág. i. 54.

2. the moment, nick of time (mál, q. v.); at hann var þar þá nótt, ok á því máli …, of an alibi, N. G. L. i. 309.

II. the meal-time, morning and evening, Edda 103; hence of cattle, missa máls, to miss the time, sheep lost or astray for a day so that they cannot be milked, Grág. ii. 230, 231; kvikfénaðr missir máls, Snót; hence málnyta. q. v.; deila mat at málum, to deal out meat at each meal, Grág. i. 149; í hvert mál, Hm. 36; í eitt mál, for one single ‘meal,’ Karl. 347, Grág. i. 293; fæða þá í tvau mál, ii. 400; í bæði mál (see i B, p. 317): at því máli = Germ. diesmahl, Korm. (in a verse); þat er ok mitt ráð þó þat sé at fyrra máli at menn snæði nokkut, Fb. ii. 676; þat vilda ek at þær æti at einu máli kýr Hálfdanar bróður míns, Ó. H. 64; ef ættak at málungi mat, if I had meat from meal to meal, Hm.

2. of the day marks; dag-mál = day-meal = 9 o’clock A. M.; and nátt-mál, night-time = 9 o’clock P. M.; í fyrra málið, to-morrow morning; eg skal koma í fyrra málið.

III. of the seasons of the year; í misseri eru mál tvau, í máli eru mánuðr þrír, Rb. 6; mál ok misseri, Hm.; sumar-mál, the time when summer sets in (middle of April), opp. to vetr-nætr, when winter sets in; hríð-mál. q. v.

COMPDS: málamatr, málamjólk, málsverðr.

n. [Ulf. mêl = γραφή and γράμμα; Hel. mâl = imago, effigies; cp. also Goth. maljan = γράφειν, whence mod. Germ. mahlerei, mahlen, = pingere]:—prop. ‘a drawing,’ but it is used in old writers only of inlaid ornaments on spear’s heads or on the hilts and guards of swords; görir Þorgrímr þar af spjót, mál vóru í, Gísl. 18; hann hafði króka-spjót í hendi haugtekit ok allgóð mál í, Ld. 78; spjót, þá fann hann blóð í málunum, Glúm. 344; stál bjartra mála, Korm. 1; gull-mál (q. v.), Þiðr. 110; stála-mál, inlaid work of steel, Ht. R. 33. For specimens of ‘mál’ see Worsaae, Nos. 325, 331; a plate with inlaid work on the outside and a Runic inscription on the inside was found in Oct. 1870 in the cairn Greenmount in Ireland, and is described by Major-General Lefroy.

COMPDS: málajárn, málasax, málaspjót, málasteinn.

a, m. a dumb, speechless person: as also in the allit. phrase, menn ok málleysingar, both men and dumb creatures.

a. deaf (dumbir ok daufir).

* * *

adj. [Gr. τύφλος; Goth. daubs = πεπωρωμένος. Mark viii. 17; A. S. deâf; Engl. deaf; Germ. taub; Swed. dof; Dan. dov]:—deaf, 623. 57, Luke vii. 22: allit. phrase, daufr ok dumbi. deaf and dumb, Stj. 207; dumbi sá er ekki mælir, d. sá er ekki heyrir, K. Á. 56; blindr eðr d., Gþl. 504, Hom. 120.

2. metaph., Bs. i. 728.

β. (mod.) without savour, = daufligr.

(fögr, fagrt; comp. fegri), a. fair, fine, beautiful; f. sýnum, álitum, fair to see; fagrt veðr, fair (fine) weather; f. söngr, beautiful (sweet) song; fagrt kvæði, a fine poem; talaði fagrt, en hugði flátt, spoke fair, but thought else.

* * *

adj., fem. fögr, neut. fagrt; compar. fagrari or better fegri, superl. fagrastr or better fegrstr; mod. fegurri, fegurstr; [Ulf. fagrs = ευθετος; A. S. fœger; Engl. fair; O. H. G. fagar; Dan. favre, in Dan. ballads favre mö = fair maid; Swed. fager]:—- fair; used very freq. and almost as in Engl., except that the Icel. does not use it in a moral sense, like Engl. fair, unfair:

1. of persons, the body, etc.; fögr mær, a fair maid, Nj. 2, Vkv. 2; fagr sýnum, fair to see, Fms. i. 116; f. álitum, id., Edda 5, Skv. 1. 27; fögr hönd, a fair hand (hand-fögr), Fms. ix. 283; fógr augu, fair eyes (fagr-eygr); fagrt hár, fair hair, Ísl. ii; fagrar brúðir, fair brides, Sdm. 28; mær undarliga fögr, a wonderfully fair maid, Hkr. i. 40; fegra mann ( a fairer man) eðr tígurlegra, Fms. vi. 438.

2. of places; fögr er Hlíðin svá at mér hefir hón aldri jafnfögr sýnzk, Nj. 112; fagra túna (gen.), a fair abode (‘toun’), þkv. 3; salr sólu fegri, Vsp. 63; fagrar lendur, fair fields, Ld. 96: freq. in local names, Fagra-brekka, Fagr-ey, Fagri-dalr, Fagra-nes, Fagri-skógr, etc., = Fair-brink, -isle, -dale, -ness, -wood, etc., Landn.

3. of light, wind, weather, etc.; fagrt ljós, a bright light, Hom. 111, Fms. i. 230; skína fagrt, to shine brightly (of the sun); fagr byrr, a fair wind, Fms. ii. 182, Orkn. 356; fagrt veðr, fair weather, Ó. H. 216.

4. as an epithet of tears; in the phrase, gráta fögrum tárum, cp. Homer’s θαλερον δάκρυ; hence grát-fagr, beautiful in tears, Edda 63.

5. of the voice; fögr rödd, a sweet voice; fagr söngr, a sweet song, Bs. i. 168; fögr orð, a fine speech, Mork.

6. of other things; fagrt skip, a fine ship, Eg. 173; fagr borði, Nj. 24; fagrt kvæði, a fine poem, Ísl. ii. 237.

II. metaph., fagrt líf, a fair, goodly life, Mork. 72; lifa fagrt, to live a happy life, Hm. 53; fagrir siðir, fine manners, Sks. 279.

β. as an epithet of victory; fagr sigr, með fögrum sigri (freq.)

γ. mæla (tala) fagrt, to speak fair, Hm. 91, Ísl. ii. 339; talaði fagrt, en hugði flátt, spoke fair, but thought false, Fms. ii. 91; heita fögru, to promise fair, Hm. 131, Eg. (in a verse); lota öllu fögrv, cp. the Dan. ‘love guld og grönne skove’; biðja fagrt, to bid fair (with false intention), Am. 37.

B. In COMPDS, with nouns, adjectives, fair, fine, gracious:

I. prefixed, e. g. munn-fagr, fine-mouthed; augna-fagr, fair eyed; hand-fagr, fair-handed; gang-fagr, with a fair, gracious gait; lit-fagr, of fair hue; hár-fagr, fair-haired, etc.

II. suffixed, e. g. fagra-hvel, n. the fair wheel or disk, the sun (poët.), Alm. 17. fagra-ræfr, n. the fair roof, the sky (poët.), Alm. 13. fagr-bláinn, m. fair blue, a shield (poët.), Lex. Poët. fagr-blár, adj. light-blue. fagr-blóm, n., botan. trientalis, Hjalt. fagr-búinn, part. ‘fair-boun’, bright-dressed, chiefly as an epithet of a lady, Eg. 77, Hkr. iii. 290, Hom. 120, Am. 29: of a ship, Hkv. 1. 31. fagr-bygg, n. the fair ‘bigg’, gold (poët.), Lex. Poët., cp. Edda 83. fagr-dæll, adj. a man from Fairdale, Sturl. iii. 181, Landn. fagr-eygr (- eygðr), adj. fair-eyed, Bs. i. 127, 178, Hkr. ii. 2, Fms. xi. 205. fagr-ferðugr, adj. graceful, virtuous, Stj. 136, v. l. fagr-flekkóttr, adj. fair-flecked (of a snake), Stj. 97. fagr-gali, a, m. a fair, enticing song, enchantment, flattery. fagr-gim, n. the fair gem, the sun (poët.), Lv. 2. fagr-glóa, adj. fair-glowing, bright (poët.), Alm. 5 (the Sun as bride). fagr-grænn, adj. light-green, Fms. xi. 335, Hkr. i. 71 (of a field or tree). fagr-gulr, adj. light-yellow. fagr-hárr (- hærðr), adj. fair-haired, Nj. 16, Fms. xi. 205. fagr-hljóðr (-hljóðandi, - hljóðaðr), adj. sweet-voiced, Grett. 159, Fms. ii. 199. fagr-kinn, f. (fögrum-kinni, m., Fms. xi), fair-cheek, soubriquet of a lady, Sd. fagr-klæddr, part. fair-clad, Greg. 24, Dropl. 25. fagr-kolla, u, f., botan. hieracium, hawkweed, Hjalt. fagr-limi, a, m. ‘fair-branch’, a wood (poët.), Alm. 29. fagr-læti, n. blandishment, Barl. 119. fagr-máll, adj. fair-spoken, Fms. vi. 52. fagr-mæli, n. fair language, Barl. 24, 117, Nj. 167. Fms. i. 74. fagr-mæltr, part. bland, Fms. vi. 52, v. 1. fagr-orðr (- yrðr), adj. fair-spoken, bland, Sks. 370, 432, Sturl. ii. 133. fagr-raddaðr, part. sweet-voiced. fagr-rauðr, adj. light-red (opp. to dökk-rauðr or dumb-rauðr, dark-red), Þiðr. 181, Fas. i. 172, Vsp. 34. fagr-rendr, part. painted with fine stripes (of a shield), Hornklofi. fagr-skapaðr, part. fair-shapen, Sks. 627. fagr-skrifaðr, part. finely drawn, painted in bright colours, Greg. 26. fagr-skygðr, part. transparent as crystal (of a shield), Lex. Poët. fagr-strykvinn, part. painted with fair streaks (of a ship), Lex. Poët. fagr-varinn, part. wearing fine clothes (of a lady), Vkv. 37. fagr-vaxinn, part. of fair stature (of a lady), Band. (in a verse). fagr-yrði, n. pl. fair words, Fms. x. 104.

1) fast, firm, sticking fast to the spot; hrútr f. (held fast, entangled) á meðal viða; f. á velli, standing fast (in battle); standa f. fyrir, to stand fast (firm);

2) close, close-fisted; f. ok fégjarn, close and covetous; f. af e-u, sparing of (f. af drykk);

3) of a meeting: þá er sóknarþing er fast, during the session;

4) firm, faithful (fast heit, loforð, föst trú); fullr ok f., definitive, permanent (þessi grið skulu vera full ok föst);

5) strong, hard (f. bardagi); fast atkvæði, hard syllable (ending in a double consonant);

6) til fasta, fast, firmly; ráða, mæla, heita til fasta, to make a firm agreement.

* * *

adj. [wanting in Ulf., who renders βέβαιος etc. by tulgus; but common to all other Teut. idioms; A. S. fæst; Engl. fast; O. H. G. fasti; Germ. fest; Swed.-Dan. fast]:—fast, firm, esp. with the notion of sticking fast to the spot; hrútr f. (held fast, entangled) á meðal viða, 655 vii. 2; fastr á velli, standing fast, e. g. in a battle, Fms. xi. 246; vera, standa f. fyrir, to stand fast, Þorst. St. 53; f. á fótum, of a bondsman whose feet are bound fast to the soil, Grág. ii. 192, Nj. 27: grið-fastr, home-bound, of a servant: the phrase, e-t er fast fyrir, a thing is hard to win, difficult, Lv. 94, Fms. xi. 32, Ld. 154.

β. fast, close; f. í verkum, hard at work, Grág. i. 135 (Ed. 1853); þeir menn allir er í dómi sitja eðr í gögnum eru fastir, engaged, 488; fastr ok fégjarn, close and covetous, Fms. x. 420; f. af drykk, Sturl. iii. 125.

γ. of a meeting; þá er sóknar-þing er fast, i. e. during the session, Grág. i. 422: sam-fastr, fast together, continuous, 156; á-fastr, q. v.

δ. firm; metaph., fast heit, loforð, etc., a fast, faithful promise, word, Eg. 29; föst trú, fast faith, cp. stað-f., steadfast; geð-f., trú-f., vin-f., etc.

ε. bound to pay; at aurum eigi meirum en hann var fastr, to the amount of his debt, N. G. L. i. 36.

ζ. gramm., fast atkvæði, a hard syllable ending in a double consonant, Skálda 171.

2. neut. in various phrases; sitja fast, to sit fast, Sks. 372; standa fast, to stand fast, Edda 33; halda f., to hold fast, Fms. i. 159; binda fast, to bind fast, Ísl. ii. 103, Fas. i. 530; liggja fast, to be fast set, steadfast, of the eyes, Sturl. ii. 189; drekka fast, to drink hard, Fms. ii. 259; sofa fast, to be fast asleep, i. 9; þegja fast, to be dumb, not say a word, 655 xxxi A. 4; leita fast eptir, to urge, press hard, Ld. 322; fylgja fast, to follow fast, Dropl. 26, Fas. ii. 505; eldask fast, to age fast, Eb. 150; ryðjask um fast, to make a hard onslaught, Nj. 9; leggja fast at, to close with one in a sea-fight, Fms. ii. 312, hence fastr bardagi, a close engagement, Róm. 272; telja fast á e-n, to give one a severe lesson, Fms. ii. 119.

β. as adv., hyrndr fast, very much horned, Lv. 69.

γ. the phrase, til fasta, fast, firmly; ráða, mæla, heita til f., to make a firm agreement, Bjarn. 61, Band. 20, Fms. ii. 125; cp. the mod. phrase, fyrir fullt ok fast, definitively.

n. the prey of a bear which he drags into his lair; cp. Ivar Aasen s. v. fastra, of a bear, to drag a carcase into his lair (Norse); hence the phrase, liggja á fasti, of a wild beast devouring its prey, Landn. 235 (of a white bear). Icel. now say, liggja á pasti, and in metaph. sense pastr, vigour, energy; pastrs-lauss, weak, feeble, etc.

gjörð, gerð, f. [göra]:

1. used of making, building, workmanship; görð ok gylling, Vm. 47; kirkju-görð, church-building; húsa-g., house-building; skipa-g., ship-building; garð-g., fence-making:—of performance, vígslu-g., inauguration; messu-g., saying of mass, divine service; þjónustu-g., embættis-g., id.; þakkar-g., thanksgiving; bænar-g., prayer; lof-g., praise; ölmusu-g., alms-giving; frið-g., peace-making; sættar-g., settlement, agreement, arbitration:—of working, akr-g., tillage; ú-gerð, bad workmanship, patchwork; við-gerð, mending:—of yielding (of duties), tíundar-görð, tithe; leiðangrs-g., paying levy:—of cookery and the like, öl-görð, ale-making, brewing; matar-g., cooking; brauð-g., baking: sundr-gerð, show: til-gerð, whims: upp-gerð, dissimulation: eptir-görð, q. v.: í-görð, suppuration.

2. a doing, act, deed; the phrase, orð ok görðir, words and deeds, Fms. iii. 148; ef þú launar svá mína görð, Ísl. ii. 141, Stj. 250, 252, Dipl. i. 7: so in the phrase, söm þín gerð, as good as the deed (in declining a kind offer); góð-görð, vel-görð, a good deed, benefit; íll-görðir (pl.), evil doings; mein-görðir, transgressions: in gramm. the active voice, Skálda 180.

II. a law term, arbitration; the settlement was called sætt or sættar-görð, the umpires görðar-menn, m., Grág., Nj. passim; and the verdict gerð or görð, cp. göra C. IV:—the technical phrases were, leggja mál í görð, to submit a case to arbitration, passim; vóru málin í gerð lagin með umgangi ok sættarboðum góðgjarna manna, Eb. 128; or slá málum í sætt, Rd. 248, Eb. ch. 56; leggja mál undir e-n, Lv. ch. 27: nefna menn til görðar (ch. 4), or taka menn til görðar, to choose umpires; vóru menn til gerðar teknir ok lagðr til fundr, Nj. 146: skilja undir gerð (sátt), or skilja undan, to stipulate, of one of the party making a stipulation to be binding on the umpire (as e. g. the award shall not be outlawry but payment), en þó at vandliga væri skilit undir görðina, þá játaði Þórðr at göra, Eb. 24, cp. Ld. 308, Sturl. ii. 63; göra fé slíkt sem hann vildi, at undan-skildum hérað-sektum ok utanferðum, var þá handsalat niðrfall af sökum, Fs. 74; lúka upp gerð ( to deliver the arbitration), or segja upp gerð, to pronounce or to give verdict as umpire; skyldi Skapti gerð upp segja, Valla L. 225; hann lauk upp gerðum á Þórsness-þingi ok hafði við hina vitrustu menn er þar vóru komnir, Eb. 246; þeir skyldi upp lúka görðinni áðr en þeir færi af þingi, Bjarn. (fine); Þorsteinn kvaðsk ekki mundu görð upp lúka fyr en á nokkuru lögþingi, Fs. 49:—as to the number of umpires,—one only, a trustworthy man, was usually appointed, Eb. ch. 10 (Thord Gellir umpire), ch. 46, Lv. ch. 27 (Gellir), Valla L. ch. 6 (Skapti the speaker), Rd. ch. 6 (Áskell Goði), Sturl. 2. ch. 103 (Jón Loptsson), Sturl. 4. ch. 27 (Thorvald Gizurarson), Bjarn. 17 (the king of Norway), Flóam. S. ch. 3, Hallfr. S. ch. 10, Bjarn. 55: two umpires, Rd. ch. 10, 16, 18, 24, Valla L. ch. 10 (partly a case of sjálfdæmi), Bjarn. (fine): twelve umpires, Nj. ch. 75, 123, 124 (six named by each party): the number and other particulars not recorded, Vd. ch. 39, 40, Nj. ch. 94, Rd. ch. 11, 13, Eb. ch. 27, 56, Lv. ch. 4, 12, 30, Glúm. ch. 9, 23, 27, etc.:—even the sjálfdæmi (q. v.), self-judging, was a kind of arbitration, cp. Vápn. 31, Vd. ch. 29, 34, 44, Lv. ch. 17, Band. pp. 11–13, Ölk. ch. 2–4: curious is the passage, ek vil at vit takim menn til görðar með okkr, Hrafnkell svarar, þá þykisk þú jafn-menntr mér, Hrafn. 10:—görð is properly distinguished from dómr, but is sometimes confounded with it, vóru handsöluð mál í dóm ok menn til görðar nefndir, Lv. 13; málin kómu í dóm Vermundar, en hann lauk gerðum upp á Þórsness-þingi, Eb. 246; as also Nj. (beginning), where lögligir dómar no doubt refers to görð. A section of law about görð is contained in the Grág. at the end of Kaupa-þáttr, ch. 69–81 (i. 485–497), where even the curious case is provided for of one or all the umpires dying, or becoming dumb or mad, before pronouncing their verdict. ☞ This was a favourite way of settlement at the time of the Commonwealth, and suited well the sagacious and law-abiding spirit of the men of old: nor did the institution of the Fifth Court make any change in this; the görð was even resorted to in public matters, such as the introduction of Christianity in A. D. 1000. Good and leading men acted the part of public peacemakers (e. g. Njál in the 10th, Jón Loptsson in the 12th century); until at last, in the 13th century, the king of Norway was resorted to, but he misused the confidence put in him.

(að), v. to become silent; þar til hljóðnar um mál þessi, till the noise about it subsides.

* * *

að, to become silent, dumb, from surprise, Sturl. ii. 151 (v. l.), Fas. iii. 311: impers., þá hljóðnar um hann, he became silent, ii. 433; þar til hljóðnar um mál þessi, till the noise about it subsides, Grett. 125 A.

* * *

1) speech, faculty of speech (þrøngdi svá sóttarfari konungs, at hann misti málsins);

þau hafa ekki mál, they are dumb;

2) language, tongue;

norrønt mál, the Norse tongue;

3) speech, speaking (hvárt er Flosi svá nær, at hann megi heyra mál mitt);

4) colloquy, talk, speech;

koma á mál (or at máli) við e-n, to come to talk with, speak to;

finna (hitta) e-n at máli, to obtain speech with;

krefja e-n máls, to ask an interview with;

leita mills við e-n (spyrja e-n máls, mæla mál of e-m), to broach a subject to one;

bera mál á e-t, hafa e-t á (or at) máli, to speak (talk) of (allir menn höfðu á máli, hversu fríðr maðr hann var);

lúka sínu máli, to end one’s speech;

þat er mál manna, at, people say that;

5) tale, story;

nú er þar til máls at taka, now it must be told;

6) saw, saying;

fornt (fornkveðit) mál er, at, it is an old saw that;

7) diction, construction of sentences;

8) sentence;

tvau mál, two sentences;

fullt mál, a full period;

9) suit, action, cause;

hefja mál á hendr e-m, to bring an action against one;

búa mál, to prepare a suit;

sœkja mál, to prosecute;

10) stipulation, agreement (ek vil halda mil við hann þan, sem mælt vóru);

lauss allra mála, free of all stipulations;

11) case, matter, affair (þetta mál var við Jórunni rœtt);

svá er mál með vexti, the matter stands thus;

var þat annat mál, another matter;

miðla mál, to mediate;

tillagagóðr inna stœrri mála, a good counsellor in great matters;

hafa sitt mál, to have one’s own way, have one’s will (honum eirir illa, of hann hefir eigi sitt mál);

hafa mikit til síns máls, to have much in support of one’s case;

e-t skiptir miklu (litlu) máli, it is of great (small) importance;

12) three months (mál ok misseri).

1) measure (fimm álna er hátt mál hans);

leggja, bera mál við e-t, to measure (hann lagði mál við öll in stœrstu tré);

2) time, high time (mál er upp at standa);

sagði, at þá var mið nótt ók at enn væri mál at sofa, and still time to sleep;

3) meal;

í eitt mál, at einu máli, for one single meal;

deila mat at málum, to deal out food at each meal.

n. inlaid ornaments (on the hilts and guards of swords).

* * *

n. the purring of a cat, Snót 132.

adj. speechless, of a sick person: dumb, daufr ok m., Ld. 34, Stj. 261, Fb. i. 251, ii. 382, MS. 625, 85.

n.; e-m verðr o., to be struck dumb (from confusion), Nj. 225, Fas. iii. 451, Bs. ii. 93.

n. a phrase, expression; þat er o. at sá er tý-hraustr, Edda 16; þvílík orðtök hafa menn mjök til þess at yrkja fólgit, 110; vér skulum hafa allir eitt orðtak ( watchword), framm fram Krists-menn! Ó. H. 204, Fms. ix. 510.

2. speech, words, a way of speaking, language; þá féllusk öllum Ásum orðtök, words failed them, they were sfruck dumb, Edda 37; þat þykkjumk ek skilja á orðtaki þínu, at …, Fms. xi. 56; at guðlasta með þínu heiðingligu orðtæki, ii. 130; o. vándra manna, Nj. 83; Gunnarr heyrði öll orðtökin, G. heard all the words they said, 68; um orðtæki manna, Gþl. 192; en þat er yðr er sagt frá orðtökum várum Þrænda, Ó. H. 103; þat var eitt orðtak allra, all said the same, Eg. 282; eiga orðtak við e-n, to have a talk with one, Sturl. ii. 163; var skirt orðtakið ok rómrinn mikill yfir málinu, Fms. viii. 447.

a. red;

jarl setti þá rauðan (= varð rauðr) sem blóð, the earl turned red as blood;

snýta rauðu, to bleed at the nose;

rauðr víkingr = rauðavíkingr.

* * *

adj., rauð, rautt, compar. rauðari, rauðastr, [common to all Teut. languages, although it appears not in Ulf. himself, but in the Skeirings]:—red; rautt klæði, Nj. 35; rauðr hestr, Fs. 67: rautt skegg, Fb. iii. 246; blátt eða rautt, Grág. ii. 13; rauðr sem blóð, Ísl. ii. 220; rautt gull, Þiðr. 187; rautt berg, a red quarry, Bs. i. 830:—phrases, rautt brennr fyrir, ‘red burns afar,’ i. e. there is some hope yet; taldi enn nokkut rautt mundu fyrir brenna, Fms. viii. 34, Fs. 68; snýta rauðu, to spout blood, Fb. i. 412, Karl. 149; falda rauðu, to wear a red hood, to die a bloody death, Landn. (in a verse):—neut., et rauða, the yolk of an egg, Pr. 472:—metaph. bloody. fierce, arch, rauðr víkingr = rauða-víkingr, Fms. xi. 121; see rauðahaf, rauðarán, rauðkinni:—various shades of red, fagr-r. fair-red, Vsp.: dreyr-r., crimson; dumb-r., chestnut-red: dökk-r., dark-red; mó-r., coffee-coloured.

2. in local names, Rauða-mýrr, Rauð-á, Rauði-gnúpr, Rauða-fell, Rauði-melr, Rauði-lækr, Rauði-sandr, Rauða-skriða, Rauða-vatn, Landn., from the reddish colour of bogs and moorlands, which was supposed to be a sign that there was iron in the soil; whence Rauðæ-ingar, Rauð-melingar, Rauð-lækingar, Rauð-sendir, the men from R., Landn., Sturl.: in pr. names, Rauðr, Rauð-úlfr, Landn.

B. COMPDS: rauðbleikr, rauðbrúnaðr, rauðbrúnn, rauðbúinn, rauðdropóttr, rauðeygðr, rauðflekkóttr, rauðfreknóttr, rauðgulr, rauðhárr, rauðklæddr, rauðleitr, rauðlita, rauðlitaðr, rauðlitr, rauðmengjaðr, rauðsíðóttr, rauðskeggjaðr, rauðskjöldóttr, rauðumskjaldi.

f., pl. rúnar: [rún, raun, reyna are all kindred words, and a lost strong verb, rúna, raun, meaning to enquire, may be presumed; the original notion is scrutiny, mystery, secret conversation; Gotb. runa, by which Ulf. several times renders the Gr. μυστήριον and συμβούλιον (once, Matth. xxvii. 1), βουλή (twice, Luke vii. 30, 1 Cor. iv. 5); A. S. rún = a ‘rowning’ mystery, but also = writing, charter; Hel. rûna = colloquium, and geruni = loquela (Schmeller); cp. Old Engl. to rown, Germ. raunen; Gr. ἐ-ρευνάω is also supposed to be a kindred word (Bugge). In Scandin. writers and poets rún is chiefly used of magical characters, then of writing, whereas the derivative word raun means trial, enquiry, and rúni and rúna = a friend or counsellor.]

B. A secret, hidden lore, mystery; frá jötna rúnum ok allra goða segðú it sannasta, Vþm. 42, 43; kenna rúnar, to teach wisdom, Rm. 33; dæma um rúnar ok regin-dóma, Hm. 112; minnask á fornar rúnar, Vsp. 59: saws, segja sannar rúnir, to tell true saws, Fas. ii. 302 (in a verse): a ‘rowning’ speech, vifs rúnir, a woman’s whispering, Bm.; heita e-n at rúnum, to consult one, Gh. 12, Skv. 3. 14, 43; hniga at rúnum, Gkv. 3. 4.

II. a Rune or written character; the earliest Runes were not writing in proper sense, but fanciful signs possessing a magical power; such Runes have, through vulgar superstition, been handed down even to the present time, for a specimen of them see Ísl. Þjóðs. i.435, 436, and Arna-Magn. Nos. 687. 4 to, and 434. 12 mo (Ísl. Þjóðs.pref. ix); the classical passages for these spell-Runes are, Hm. 133 sqq., Sdm. 5 sqq., Skm. 29, 36, Eg. ch. 44, 61, 75, Yngl. S. ch. 7, Grett. ch. 85, N. G. L. iii. 286, 300, Vsp. 59; cp. also the phrase, rísta trénið, Grág., Fs. 56. The phrase in the old Danish Ballads, kaste runer, to throw Rúnes, i. e. chips (see hlaut, hlautviðr), may be compared to the Lat. sortes, Mommsen’s Hist, of Rome, vol. i. p. 187, foot-note (Engl. Ed.), or the Sibylline leaves in the Aeneid.

2. Runes as writing;the word was first applied to the original Northern alphabet, which at an early time was derived from the common Phœnician, probably through Greek or Roman coins in the first centuries of our era. From these Runes were subsequently formed two alphabets, the old Scandinavian (whence again the Anglo-Saxon), as found on the Golden horn and the stone in Tune, and the later Scandinavian, in which the inscriptions in the greater number of the Swedish and Danish stone monuments are written, most being of the 10th (9th?) and following centuries.—A curious instance of the employment of Runes is their being written on a kefli (a round piece of wood) as messages (cp. the Gr. σκυτάλη), as is freq. recorded in the Sagas, e. g. Gísl. 45, 67, Fms. ix. 390, 490, Grett. 154 new Ed., Fb. i. 251 (of the deaf and dumb Oddny). It is doubtful whether poems were ever written in this way, for almost the only authority for such a statement is Eg. 605, where we read that the Sonatorrek was taken down on a Runic stick, the other instances being mostly from romances or fabulous Sagas, Grett. 144, Örvar Odds S.(fine). This writing on a kefli is mentioned in the Latin line, Barbara ‘fraxineis’ sculpatur runa ‘tabellis,’ Capella (5th century). In later times (from the 13th century) Runic writing was practised as a sort of curiosity; thus calendars used to be written on sticks, of which there is a specimen in the Bodl. Library in Oxford; they were also used for inscriptions on tombstones, spoons, chairs, and the like: there even exists in the Arna-Magn. Library a Runic MS. of an old Danish law, and there is a Runic letter in Sturl. (of the year 1241); Runes carved on an oar occur in Fs. 177: a hidden treasure in a chest is labelled with Runes, Fms. vi. 271, Sd. 146, cp. also the interesting record in Bs. i. 435 (sex manna bein vóru þar hjá honum ok vax ok rúnar þær er sögðu atburð lifláts þeirra).

3. the word rún is also, though rarely, applied to the Latin alphabet; ef hann er á þingi þá skal hann rísta nafn hans ef hann kann rúnar, N. G. L. i. 171; or generally, ræki ek eigi hvárt þú rítr ø þitt eðr o,  eða a, ę eða e, y eða u, en ek svara svá, eigi er þat rúnanna kostr þó at þú lesir vel eða ráðir vel at líkindum, þar sem rúnar visa óskírt, heldr er þat þinn kostr, Thorodd 162; þessi er upphaf allra hátta svá sem málrúnar eru fyrir öðrum minum, Edda (Ht.) 121.

III. in pr. names, Rún-ólfr: as the latter part in pr. names of women, Guð-rún, Sig-rún, Öl-rún, Landn., Nj., Bs., Sturl., Sæm.

COMPDS: rúnakefli, rúnamál, Rúnameistari, rúnastafr.