difficult

may be prefixed to almost every adjective and adverb in an intensive sense, very, extremely.

* * *

may in old writers be prefixed to almost every adjective and adverb in an intensive sense, like Engl. very, Lat. per-, Gr. οια-, ζα-. In common talk and modern writings it is rare (except after a negative), and denotes something below the average, viz. tolerably, pretty well, not very well; but in the Sagas, something capital, exceeding. In high style it may perhaps be used in the old sense, e. g. allfagrt ljós oss birtist brátt, a transl. of the Ambrosian hymn, Aurora lucis rutilat. The instances in old writers are nearly endless, e. g. all-annt, n. adj. very eager, Fms. ii. 41; ironically, 150. all-apr, adj. very sore, very harsh, v. apr. all-auðsóttligt, n. adj. very easy, Fs. 40. all-auðveldliga, adv. very easily, Fms. iv. 129. all-auðveldligr, adj. very easy, Fms. v. 331. all-auðveldr, adj. id., Fbr. 158: neut. as adv., Hkr. ii. 76. all-ágætr, adj. very famous, Fms. ii. 76. all-áhyggjusamliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very careful, Fms. vi. 184. all-ákafliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very hot, impetuous, Hkr. i. 234, ii. 32. all-ákaft, adj. very fast, Nj. 196. all-áræðiliga, adv. very likely, Fær. 183. all-áræðislítill, adj. very timid, Fms. vi. 217. all-ástúðligt, n. adj. very hearty, intimate, Fms. ii. 20. all-banvænn, adj. very likely to prove mortal, Orkn. 148. all-beinn, adj. very hospitable, Fms. ii. 84, Eb. 286: neut. as adv., Fær. 259. all-beiskr, adj. very harsh, bitter, Sturl. iii. 167. all-bert, n. adj. very manifest, Lex. Poët. all-bitr, adj. very biting, sharp, Sks. 548. all-bitrligr, adj. of a very sharp appearance, Vígl. 20. all-bjartr, adj. very bright, Fms. viii. 361. all-bjúgr, adj. very much bent, curved, Ölkofr. 39. all-blár, adj. very blue, Glúm. 394. all-blíðliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very blithely, kindly, Fær. 132. all-blíðr, adj. very mild, amiable, Sd. 158, Fms. i. 202. all-bráðgörr, adj. very soon mature, Eb. 16. all-bráðliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very hastily, Orkn. 72. all-bráðr, adj. very hot-headed, Njarð. 370: neut. as adv. very soon, Fms. xi. 51: dat. pl. all-bráðum, as adv. very suddenly, 139. all-bros-ligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very funny, laughable, Fms. iii. 113. all-dasigr, adj. very sluggish, Lex. Poët. all-digr, adj. very big, stout; metaph. puffed up, Nj. 236. all-djarfliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very boldly, Fms. ii. 313, Orkn. 102. all-djúpsettr, adj. very deep, thoughtful, Bret. 158. all-drengiliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very bold, gallant, Lv. 110. all-dræmt, n. adj. very boastfully, from dramb, superbia, (the modern word is dræmt = slowly, sluggishly); þeir létu a. yfir sér, boasted, Sturl. ii. 56. MS. Mus. Brit. 1127; Cod. A. M. has allvænt, prob. wrongly. all-dyggr, adj. very doughty, Lex. Poët. all-dýrr, adj. very dear, Fms. iii. 159. all-eiguligr, adj. very worth having, Sd. 146. all-eina (theol.), á Guð alleina (a hymn), alone: Hkr. iii. 339 (in a spurious chapter). all-einarðliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very sincere, candid, open, Ld. 334. all-eldiligr and -elliligr, adj. of a very aged appearance, Fms. iii. 125. all-fagr, adj. very bright, fair, Orkn. 296 old Ed.: neut. as adv. very fairly, Sturl. i. 72. all-fast, n. adj. very firmly, steadfastly, Eb. 290, Fær. 259. all-fastorðr, adj. very ‘wordfast,’ very true to his word, Fms. vii. 120. all-fálátr, adj. very taciturn, close, Fas. iii. 408. all-fáliga, adv. on very cold terms, Sturl. iii. 298. all-fámáligr, adj. very close, of very few words, Fms. iii. 85, iv. 366. all-fámennr, adj. followed by very few people, Sturl. ii. 122, Magn. 386. all-far, adj. very few, Eg. 512, Ld. 272, Ísl. ii. 356: neut. on very cold terms, Fms. xi. 55. all-fáræðinn, adj. of very few words, Fms. iv. 312. all-feginn, adj. very ‘fain,’ glad, Eg. 240, Ld. 330. all-feginsamliga, adv. very ‘fain,’ gladly, Eg. 27. all-feigligr, adj. having the mark of death very plain on one’s face, v. feigr, Sturl. iii. 234. all-feitr, adj. very fat, Fms. x. 303. all-ferliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very rudely, Fms. iv. 263. all-fémikill, adj. very costly, Ld. 298. all-fjarri, adv. very far, far from, metaph., Hkr. ii. 246; eigi a., not improper, Fbr. 15. all-fjartekit, part. very far-fetched, Skálda 166. all-fjölgan, adj. acc. very numerous (does not exist in nom.), Sks. 138 A. all-fjölkunnigr, adj. very deeply versed in sorcery, Fms. ii. 175, Fas. i. 412. all-fjölmeðr and -mennr, adj. followed, attended by very many people, much frequented, Eg. 724, 188, Hkr. i. 215: n. sing. in very great numbers, Fms. i. 36. all-fjölrætt, n. adj. very heedful, much talked of, Nj. 109. all-forsjáll, adj. very prudent, Hom. 115. all-framr, adj. very famous, Lex. Poët.; very far forward, Grett. 161 A. all-frekliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very daringly, impudently, Fas. i. 24. all-frekr, adj. too eager, too daring, Fms. vii. 164. all-friðliga, adv. in very great peace, Lex. Poët. all-fríðr, adj. very beautiful, Eg. 23, Hkr. i. 225, ii. 354, Fms. i. 2. all-frjáls, adj. very free, independent, v. alfrjáls. all-fróðligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very wise, learned, Sks. 306 B. all-fróðr, adj. very learned, Sks. 30. all-frægr, adj. very famous, Fms. ii. 324, Hkr. i. 232, ii. 187, Ld. 122. all-frækiliga, adv. and -ligr, adj., and all-frækn, adj. and -liga, adv. very bold, boldly, Ísl. ii. 267, Hkr. i. 239, Fms. i. 121. all-fúss, adj. and -liga, adv. very eager, eagerly, Eg. 488, Fms. xi. 89. all-fýsiligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very desirable, Eg. 19, 468. all-fölr, adj. very pale, Lex. Poët. all-gagnsamr, adj. very profitable, gainful, Ísl. ii. 56. all-gamall, adj. very old, Hkr. i. 34. all-gegniliga and -gegnliga, adv. very fittingly, Sturl. ii. 63. all-gemsmikill, adj. very wanton, frolicsome, Sturl. ii. 57. all-gerla and -görviligr, v. -görla, -görviligr. all-gestrisinn, adj. very hospitable, Háv. 40. all-geysilegr, adj. and -liga, adv. very impetuous, Fms. x. 81. all-gildliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. with a very grand air, Grett. 121. all-gildr, adj. very grand, Lex. Poët. all-giptusam-liga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very lucky, Fms. x. 53. all-glaðliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very joyfully, joyful, Fms. iii. 143, Lv. 55. all-glaðr, adj. very joyful, Eg. 163, Ld. 176. all-gleymr, adj. very gleeful, mirthful, in high spirits, [glaumr], verða a. við e-t, Sturl. iii. 152, Eb. 36. all-glæsiliga, adj. and -ligr, adv. very shiny, Eb. 34, Fas. iii. 626, Fms. ix. 430. all-glöggsær, adj. very transparent, dearly visible, metaph., þorf. Karl. 380. all-glöggt, n. adj. very exactly, Hkr. iii. 253, Fas. iii. 13. all-góðmannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very kindly, kind, Mag. 6. all-góðr, adj. very good, Nj. 222, Eg. 36, 198. all-greiðliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very easy, easily, Eb. 268: neut. as adv., Eb. l. c. all-grimmliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very grimly, fiercely, Fas. iii. 414. all-grimmr, adj. very cruel, fierce, Hkr. iii. 167. all-grun-samliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very suspiciously, Ísl. ii. 364. all-göfugr, adj. very distinguished, Eg. 598, Bs. i. 60. all-görla, adv. very clearly, precisely, Hkr. iii. 133, Fms. xi. 15. all-görviligr, adj. very stout, manly, Fms. ii. 28. all-hagstæðr, adj. with a very fair wind, Sturl. iii. 109. all-harðligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very hard, stern, Fas. i. 382. all-harðr, adj. very hard, stern, Fms. i. 177: n. sing. severely, Nj. 165, Grág. i. 261. all-háskasamligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very hazardous, Fms. v. 135. all-heiðinn, adj. quite heathen, Fs. 89 (in a verse). all-heilagr, adj. very sacred, Lex. Poët. all-heimskliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very foolish, frantic, Hkr. ii. 190, Fas. iii. 293. all-heimskr, adj. very silly, stupid, Eg. 376, Grett. 159. all-heppinn, adj. very lucky, happy, Lex. Poët. all-herðimikill, adj. very broad-shouldered, Eg. 305. all-hermannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very martial, Fms. xi. 233. all-hjaldrjúgr, adj. very gossipping, chattering, Lv. 57: neut. as adv., Vápn. 10. all-hógliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very gently, Fms. xi. 240, vi. 274. all-hóleitr and -háleitr, adj. very sublime, Hom. 23. all-hór and -hár, adj. very high, tall, v. -hár. all-hratt, n. adj. in all speed, Lex. Poët. all-hraustliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very bravely, Fms. viii. 289, Eb. 34. all-hraustr, adj. very valiant, Fms. viii. 267. all-hreystimannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very valiantly, Fms. xi. 95. all-hrumliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very infirmly from age, Fas. ii. 91. all-hræddr, adj. very much afraid, Fbr. 94. all-hræðinn, adj. very timid, Fms. vi. 155. all-huml;mgsjúkr, adj. very grieved, heart-sick, Hkr. i. 243, Fms. vi. 133. all-hvass, adj. of the wind, blowing very sharp, Fms. ix. 20, Lex. Poët. all-hyggi-ligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very carefully, Fas. iii. 610. all-hýrliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very blandly, with a very bright face, Fas. iii. 636. all-hæðiligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very ridiculous, Finnb. 312. all-hældreginn, adj. walking very much on one’s heels, dragging the heels very much in walking, of an aged or beggarly person, Band. 9. all-hœgliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very softly, meekly, Fms. xi. 389. all-hœlinn, adj. very bragging, Lex. Poët. all-iðinn, adj. very diligent, laborious, Bs. i. 278. all-illa, adv. and -illr, adj. very badly, bad, wicked, Nj. 242, cp. ilia; ill-willed, Eg. 542: compar., vera allver um, to be worse off, Nj. 221 (Ed. allvant); angry, Lv. 145; disgraceful, Eg. 237; unfortunate, Sturl. ii. 47. all-jafnlyndr, adj. very calm, even-tempered, Fms. vi. 287. all-kaldr, adj. very cold, Vápn. 21. all-kappsamliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. with very much zeal, liberally, Hkr. i. 271; veita a., of hospitality, Ld. 292; mæla a., frankly, peremptorily, 296. all-kappsamr, adj. very eager, vehement, Eg. 187. all-karlmannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very manfully, Fms. x. 141. all-kaupmannliga, adv. in a very businesslike, tradesmanlike way, Fms. v.255. all-kátligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very funny, Grett. 112. all-kátr, adj. very joyful, Nj. 18, Eg. 44, 332. all-keppinn, adj. very snappish, Lex. Poët. all-kerskiligr and -keskiligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very sarcastic, biting, Sturl. ii. 196. all-klókr, adj. very shrewd, Hkr. iii. 317. all-knáliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very stoutly, vigorously, Rd. 312. all-kostgæflliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very earnestly, in a very painstaking way, Stj. all-kostigr, adj. very excellent, Lex. Poët. all-kviklatr, adj. very quick, lively, Ld. 270. all-kynliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very strangely, strange, Ísl. ii. 58, Fms. ii. 227, Grett. 160. all-kyrrligr, adj. very quiet, tranquil, Háv. 49. all-kærr, adj. very dear, beloved, Eg. 139, Fms. i. 48; very fond of, Hkr. i. 194: neut., Eg. 116, of mutual love. all-langr, adj. very long, Háv. 49. all-laust, n. adj. very loosely, Fms. xi. 103. all-lágr, adj. very low, short of stature, Fbr. 68. all-lengi, adv. very long, K. Þ. K. 158. all-léttbrúnn, adj. of very brightened, cheerful countenance, Ld. 94. all-léttiliga, adv. very lightly, Fas. iii. 612. all-léttmælt, n. adj., vera a. um e-t, to speak in a very lively way, Fms. iv. 261. all-léttr, adj. very light (in weight), Fas. iii. 487. all-líkliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. in very agreeable, courteous terms, Fas. i. 84. all-likligr, adj. very likely, Fas. ii. 247, Sks. 669. all-líkr, adj. very like, Fas. iii. 579, Sd. 160, Korm. 142. all-lítilfjörligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very puny, prop. having little life in one, Háv. 54. all-lítill, adj. very little, Fær. 268: n. sing. all-lítt, as adv. very little, Nj. 108, 130, Korm. 172; poorly, Grett. 116. all-lyginn, adj. very given to lying, Fbr. 157. all-makligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very deserving, fitting, Sturl. iii. 127, Bjarn. 22. all-mann-fátt, n. adj. with very few people, Gísl. 31. all-mannhættr, adj. very dangerous, Fas. iii. 34. all-mannskæðr, adj. very full of manskathe, very murderous, Fms. ii. 512. all-mannæenligr, adj. a very promising man, Fms. iv. 254. all-mannvænn, adj. a man of very great promise, Hkr. ii. 182. all-margliga, adv. very affably, Sturl. iii. 27. all-margmæltr, part. very talkative, Sturl. ii. 179. all-margr, adj. very numerous, pl. very many, Nj. 32, Grág. ii. 176, Sks. 328, Gþl. 329. all-margrætt, n. adj. part. very much spoken of, Fms. viii. 275. all-málugr, adj. very loquacious, Hkr. iii. 152, 655 xi. 2. all-máttfarinn, adj. very much worn out, with very little strength left, Fas. ii. 356. all-máttlítill, adj. very weak, Fms. i. 159. all-meginlauss, adj. very void of strength, Fms. xi. 103. all-mikilfengligr, adj. very high and mighty, very imposing, Fs. all-mikill, adj. very great, Ísl. ii. 269, Nj. 193, Eg. 29, 39: neut. as adv. greatly, Fms. i. 24, vii. 110. all-mikilmannliga, adv. very nobly, Sturl. i. 33. all-misjafn, adj. very variously, unfavourably, in such phrases as, mæla a. um e-t, there were very different stories about the matter, leggja a. til, ganga a. undir, taka a. á, Eg. 242, Hkr. ii. 123, Fms. i. 86, vii. no, Ld. 166. all-mjór, adj. very slim, slender, narrow, Hkr. iii. 117, Gþl. 173. all-mjök, adv. very much, Nj. 134, Ld. 196, Eg. 19; féllu þá a. menn, in very great numbers, Fms. i. 173. all-myrkr, adj. very dark, Fms. ix. 23. all-mæðiliga, adv. with very great effort, heavily, Fms. ix. 16. all-nauðigr, adj. and -liga, adv. very reluctant, unwilling, Grett. 153; a. staddr, dangerously, Fms. v. 212. all-náinn, adj. very near, nearly related, Sks. 330. all-náttförull, adj. very much given to wandering by night, Lex. Poët. all-níðskárr, adj. of a poet, given to mocking, satirical verse, [níð and skáld (?)], Fms. ii. 7. all-nóg, adv. very abundantly, Sd. 182. all-nær, adv. very near, Fms. vii. 289; metaph., lagði a. at, pretty nearly, well-nigh, Fs., Sks. 684 B. all-nærri, adv. very near, Ld. 202, Fas. iii. 339. all-opt, adv. very often, Anecd. 38, Gþl. 169. all-orðfátt, n. adj. in the phrase, göra a. urn, to be very short of words as to, Bjarn. 31. all-ógurligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very frightful, Edda 41. all-ólmliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very furiously, Fas. iii. 546, Bárð. 177. áll-óttalaust, n. adj. with very little to fear, Eg. 371, v. l. all-ramskipaðr, adj. part. very strongly manned, Fms. iii. 13. all-rauðr, adj. very red, Ld. 182. all-ráðligr, adj. very expedient, advisable, Grett. 145. all-reiðiligr, adj. looking very wrathful, Fms. iv. 161. all-reiðr, adj. very wroth, angry, Edda 57, Nj. 135, Eg. 139. all-ríkmarmligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very grand, pompous, magnificent, Fms. i. 213. all-ríkr, adj. very powerful, Fms. i. 115. all-rýrliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very feebly, puny, Fbr. 28. all-röskliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very smart, brisk, Fms. viii. 317. all-sannligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very likely, ‘soothlike,’ Fms. iv. 270. all-sáttgjarnliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very placable, of mild disposition, Sturl. iii. 288. all-seinn, adj. very slow, Bs. i. 192: neut. as adv. slowly, Grett. 151 A. all-sigrsæll, adj. very victorious, having very good luck in war, Hkr. i. 28. all-skammr, adj. very short, very scant, Nj. 264: neut. substantively, a very short way, Finnb. 324; short distance, Fms. iv. 329. all-skapliga, adv. very fittingly, properly, Grett. 120. all-skapværr, adj. of a very gentle, meek disposition, Sturl. all-skapþungt, n. adj., vera a., to be in a very gloomy, depressed state of mind, Fms. iv. 26. all-skarpr, adj. very sharp, Lex. Poët. all-skeinuhættr, adj. very dangerous, vulnerable, Sturl. ii. 139. all-skemtiligr, adj. very amusing, Sturl. ii. 77. all-skillítill, adj. very slow-witted, dull, Sturl. j. 89. all-skjallkænliga, adv. [skjalla, to flatter], very coaxingly, Grett. 131 A. all-skjótt, n. adj. as adv. very soon, Nj. 236. all-skrautligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very smart, splendid, Fas. ii. 366, Mag. 11. all-skygn, adj. very sharp-sighted, Hrafn. 33. all-skyldr, adj. bound to, very obligatory; neut. = bounden duty, Sks. 484; deserved, Gþl. 61:

β. nearly related, near akin, Fms. xi. 75. all-skyndiliga, adv. very quickly, Blas. 40. all-skynsamliga, adv. very judiciously, Sturl. iii. 161. all-skyrugr, adj. all curd-besprent, Grett. 107 A. all-sköruliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very frankly, boldly, dignified, Sturl. iii. 39, Fms. ix. 5, Ld. 94 C, 226, Bs. i. all-sljáliga, adv. very slowly, sluggishly, Grett. 101 A. all-smár, adj. very small, Fms. v. 55, xi. 61. all-snarpliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very sharply, smartly, Fms. viii. 346. all-snarpr, adj. very sharp, Fms. i. 38, Nj. 246. all-snemma, adv. very early, Fms. ii. 223. all-snjallr, adj. very shrewd, clever, Fms. viii. 367. all-snúðula, adv. very quickly, Lex. Poët. all-snæfr, adj. very brisk, id. all-snöfurmannligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very brisk and energetic looking, of a man, Fms. xi. 79. all-spakliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very mildly, moderately, wisely, Hkr. ii. 41. all-spakr, adj. very gentle, wise, Fms. vi. 298. all-starsýnn, adj. who stares very hard at a thing, looking fixedly upon, Fms. vi. 203. all-sterkliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very briskly, strongly, Ld. 158, Fas. iii. 612. all-sterkr, adj. very strong, Hkr. i. 238, Eg. 285; Ísl. ii. 461 ( very vehement); as a pr. name, Fms. iii. 183. all-stilliliga, adv. very calmly, in a very composed manner, Ld. 318. all-stirðr, adj. very stiff, Háv. 46. all-stórhöggr, adj. dealing very hard blows, Fms. i. 171. all-stórliga, adv. very haughtily, Hkr. ii. 63, Ld. 168. all-stórmannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very munificently, nobly, Fas. iii. 45; haughtily, Sd. 146. all-stórorðr, adj. using very big words, Eg. 340, Ld. 38 ( very boisterous). all-stórr, adj. very great, metaph. big, puffed up, Ld. 318; dat. all-stórum, as adv. very largely, Edda 32. all-strangr, adj. very rapid, Lex. Poët. all-styggr, adj. very ill-humoured, cross, Grett. 103 A. all-styrkliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very stoutly, Stj. 402. all-styrkr, adj. very strong, Fms. i. 177. all-svangr, adj. very hungry, Lex. Poët. all-svinnliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very wisely, prudently, wise, Fas. i. 95, ii. 266. all-sættfúss, adj. very placable, peace-loving, very willing to accept an atonement, Sturl. iii. 19. all-sœmiliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very seemly, decorous, honourable, Hkr. i. 215, Ísl. ii. 163. all-tiginn, adj. very princely, Lex. Poët. all-tillátsamr, adj. very indulgent, lenient, Þórð. 12. all-tíðrætt, n. adj. very much talked of, much spoken of, Eg. 99, Sturl. i. 199. all-tíðvirkr, adj. very quick at work, Fms. xi. 377. all-torfyndr, adj. very hard to find, Fms. vii. 356. all-torfært, n. adj. very hard to pass, cross, Eg. 546. all-torsótt, n. adj. part. very difficult to reach, Eg. 546. all-tortryggiliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very suspiciously, Sturl. ii. 47. all-torveldligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very difficult, Str. all-trauðr, adj. very slow, unwilling, Fms. xi. 39. all-tregr, adj. very tardy, Fær. 114, Bárð. 178. all-trúr, adj. very true. Fms. vi. 377. all-tryggr, adj. very trusty, Hkr. iii. 167. all-tvítugr, false reading, instead of eigi alls t., not quite twenty, Sturl. i. 181. all-undarligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very odd, wonderful, Fms. ii. 150. all-ungr, adj. very young, Eg. 268, Fms. i. 14, Ld. 274. all-úbeinskeyttr, adj. shooting very badly, Fms. ii. 103. all-úblíðr, adj. very harsh, unkind, Fas. ii. all-úbragðligr, adj. very ill-looking, Sturl. iii. 234. all-údæll, adj. very spiteful, untractable, Sturl. i. 99. all-úfagr, adj. very ugly, metaph., Fms. iii. 154. all-úfimliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very awkwardly, Fas. ii. 543. all-úframliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very backward, shy, timid, Fbr. 38 C. all-úfríðr, adj. very ugly, Fms. xi. 227. all-úfrýnn, adj. very sullen, ‘frowning,’ sour, Eg. 525. all-úfrægr, adj. very inglorious, Fms. iv. 259. all-úglaðr, adj. very gloomy, sad, Hkr. iii. 379. all-úhægr, adj. very difficult, Eg. 227. all-úhöfðingligr, adj. very low-looking, very plebeian, Finnb. 222. all-úkátr, adj. very sorrowful, Edda 35, Eg. 223, Fms. i. 37. all-úknár, adj. very weak of frame, Grett. 119 A, very badly knit; Bs. i. 461 (of boys). all-úkonungligr, adj. very unkingly, Fms. viii. 158. all-úkunnigr, adj. quite unknown, Ísl. ii. 412. all-úlífligr, adj. very unlikely to live, Hkr. ii. 200. all-úlíkliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very unlikely, Gísl. 24, Sd. 123, Finnb. 310. all-úlíkr, adj. very unlike, Glúm. 364. all-úlyginn, adj. not at all given to lie, truthful, Fbr. 157. all-úmáttuliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. weakly, very weak, tender, Fms. iv. 318. all-úráðinn, adj. part. very ‘unready’ (cp. Ethelred the ‘unready’), undecided, Lv. 9. all-úráðliga, adv. very unadvisedly, rashly, Odd. 12 old Ed. all-úsannligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very untruthful, unjust; also, unlikely, Fms. vii. 141. all-úsáttfúss, adj. very implacable, unwilling to come to terms, Sturl. iii. 275. all-úskyldr, adj. very strange to, not at all bound to…, Eg. 10. all-úspakr, adj. very unruly, Sturl. ii. 61. all-úsváss, adj. very uncomfortable, of weather, cold and rainy, Bs. i. 509. all-úsýnn, adj. very uncertain, doubtful, Glúm. 358, Sturl. i. 105. all-úsæligr, adj. of very poor, wretched appearance, Niðrst. 109. all-úvinsæll, adj. very unpopular, Fms. iv. 369, Fas. iii. 520. all-úvísliga, adv. very unwisely, Niðrst. 6. all-úvænliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. of very unfavourable prospect, Fas. ii. 266; n. adj. very unpromising, Grett. 148 A. all-úvænn, adi. very ugly, Fas. i. 234; very unpromising, unfavourable, Ísl. ii. 225: neut. as adv. unfavourably, Fms. xi. 134. all-úþarfr, adj. very unthrifty, very unprofitable, something that had better be prevented, Eg. 576, Hkr. ii. 245. all-vandlátr, adj. very difficult, hard to please, Fms. vi. 387. all-vandliga, adv. with very great pains, exactly, carefully, Sks. 658 B. all-vant, n. adj., vera a. um e-t, to be in a very great strait, Nj. 221. all-varfærr, adj. very careful, solicitous, Eg. 63. all-vaskligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very brisk, smart, gallant, Hkr. i. 104; compar. v. alvaskligr. all-vaskr, adj. very brisk, gallant, Fms. viii. 226. all-vandr, adj. very bad, of clothes, much worn, Pm. 11. all-vápndjarfr, adj. very bold, daring in arms, Hkr. iii. 63. all-veðrlítið, n. adj. very calm, with little wind, Fms. vi. 360. all-vegliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very grand, princely, nobly, Fms. i. 20, Eg. 332, Hkr. i. 15. all-vel, adv. very well, Nj. 12, Eg. 78, 198; compar. albetr, v. alvel. all-vesall, adj. very puny, wretched, Nj. 97. all-vesalliga, adv. very wretchedly, Ölk. 35. all-vesalmannliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. id., Ísl. ii. 416. all-vesæll, adj. very miserable, base, vile, Nj. 97. all-vingjarnliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very friendly, amicable, Sturl. ii. 168. all-vingott, n. adj. on very friendly terms, Fbr. 129. all-vinsæll, adj. very popular, used of a man blessed with many friends, Fms. i. 184, ii. 44, Orkn. 104 old Ed. all-virðuligr, adj. and -liga, adv. very worthy, dignified, Fms. x. 84, Bs. i. 83. all-vitr, adj. very wise, Sks. 29 B (superl.) all-vitrliga, adv. very wisely, Fas. ii. 66. all-víða and all-vítt, n. adj. very widely, Hkr. iii. 141, Lex. Poët. all-vígliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. in a very warlike manner, Fms. ix. 488, Fas. ii. 112. all-vígmannliga, adv. very martially, Fas. iii. 150. all-vígmóðr, adj. quite wearied out with fighting, Introd. to Helgakviða (Sæm.) all-víss, adj. very wise, sure, Sks. 520, Lex. Poët.: neut. to a dead certainty, Lex. Poët. all-vænliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very promising, handsome, Glúm. 349, Fms. v. 260, Fbr. 114. all-vænn, adj. id., Clem. 24, Bs. i. 340: neut., þykja a. um, to be in high spirits, Ísl. ii. 361; make much of, Fms. ii. 76; as adv. favourably, Fms. iv. 192. all-vörpuligr, adj. of a very stout, stately frame, Hkr. ii. 254. all-vöxtuligr, adj. very tall, of large growth, Fas. iii. 627. all-þakkligr, adj. very pretty, = þekkiligr, Lex. Poët. all-þakksamliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very thankfully, Fms. i. 120, Ld. 298. all-þarfliga, adv. very thriftily, very pressingly; biðja a., to beg very hard, Edda 45. all-þarfr, adj. very thrifty, Lex. Poët. all-þéttr, adj. very crowded, cp. Lex. Poët. all-þrekligr, adj. of a very robust frame, Hkr. ii. 2. all-þröngr, adj. as neut. in a very great crowd, Edda 24. all-þungliga, adv. and -ligr, adj. very hard, unwilling, reluctant, Sturl. ii. 120; taka a. á e-m, to be very hard upon, Mag. 1. all-þungr, adj. very unfavourable, Hkr. ii. 358; hostile, badly disposed towards, Eb. 108, Eg. 332; þykja a., to dislike, Fms. viii. 441; a. orð, to blame, Sturl. ii. 62. all-þykkr, adj. very thick, Fas. i. 339: n. sing. as adv. thickly, Fms. vii. 70 (of great numbers slain on the battle-field). all-æfr, adj. very furious, wrath, Ísl. ii. 258, Lv. 60, Fas. i. 404. all-ægiligr, adj. very terrible, Dropl. 18. all-æstr, adj. very incited, vehement, Nj. 231. all-örorðr, adj. very quick-tongued, frank, outspoken, Eg. 340. all-öruggliga, adv. very steadfastly, very firmly, Grett. 153 A. all-öruggr, adj. very unflinching, Bs. i. 624.

a. difficult, hard, troublesome; oss verðr erfitt at þjóna Norðmönnum, it will be hard for us; Guðrún var erfið á gripakaupum, G. was troublesome (extravagant) in buying finery; hvíldist Helgi, því at honum var orðit erfitt, for he was exhausted; þó at honum væri málit erfitt, though he spoke with difficulty.

* * *

adj. toilsome, hard, difficult; ok var af því honum erfitt búit, a heavy, troublesome household, Bs. i. 63; erfiða ferð hafa þeir fengit oss, they have made a hard journey for us, Fms. v. 22; Guðrún var erfið á gripa-kaupum, G. was troublesome ( extravagant) in buying finery, Ld. 134; e-m verðr e-t erfitt, one has a difficulty about the thing, Fms. vi. 54.

β. hard, unyielding; var Flosi erfiðr, en aðrir þó erfiðri miklu, F. was hard, but others much harder, Nj. 186, 187; jarl var lengi erfiðr, the earl long remained inexorable, 271: ek var yðr þá erfiðr, 229.

γ. hard breathing; ok er hann vaknaði var honum erfitt orðit, when he awoke he drew a deep breath, after a bad dream, Ísl. ii. 194; hvíldisk Helgi, því at honum var orðit erfitt, H. rested, because he was exhausted (from walking), Dropl. 22; þó honum væri málið erfitt, though he spoke with difficulty (of a sick person), Bs. i. 110.

δ. var þess erfiðar ( the more difficult) sem…, Fas. i. 81: so in the phrase, e-m veitir erfitt, one has hard work, Bs. i. 555, Nj. 117; erfitt mun þeim veita at ganga í móti giptu þinni, 171.

(að), v.

1) to work elaborately, bestow great pains on, prepare carefully (hón gerði honum ok klæði öll, er mest skyldi vanda);

vandaðr, elaborate, highly finished (vandaðr skipabúnaðr);

vandaðar krásir, choice dainties;

2) to pick out the best, choose carefully (muntu þurfa at vanda til ferðar þessar bædi menn ok skip);

3) to find fault with, be particular about, care, mind, with a negative (vanda lítt um siðu manna); vanda ek eigi, þótt sá sé drepinn, I mind not though he be killed; vanda um e-t við e-n, to find fault with one for a thing, complain of;

4) refl., vandast, to become difficult, precarious (þykki mér nú vanda málit); impers., vandast um e-t, it becontes difficult.

* * *

að, to make elaborately, take care and pains in a work or a choice, to pick out the best, choose; vanda til ferðar bæði menn ok skip, Nj. 122; búa ferð sína ok vanda menn til, Orkn. 108; þat var siðr um ríkra manna börn, at vanda mjök menn til at ausa vatni ok gefa nöfn, Fms. i. 14; þurfti þann stað at vanda, at hann væri sléttr, Eg. 275; vóru menn vandaðir til at varðveita hofin at vitrleik ok réttlæti, Landn. (Append.) 334; svá skal sannaðar-menn vanda at frændsemi við aðilja, at …, Grág. i. 30, 75, ii. 245; vanda skal búa í þingkvöð, at fjár-eign, i. 142; svá skal vanda sögu sem um erlendis víg, i. e. the procedure is the same as, 183; svá skal vanda tíð at eiðfæra ómaga, sem til þess at eiga hreppa-dóm, the same season is to be appointed for it as for h., 245.

2. to work elaborately; þann bæ lét hann mjök vanda, Eb. 26; hón görði honum klæði öll þau er mest skyldi vanda, Fs. 61; láta göra skip ok vanda sem mest, 322; göra drykkju-skála ok vanda sem mest, Fms. i. 290; þú skalt vanda sem mest bæði hátt ok orðfæri ok einna mest kenningar, Fb. i. 215: vandaðr, choice, elaborate; stofu nýja ok vandaða, Eg. 49; skip vandat at öllu sem mest, 68; skip vandat forkunnar-mjök at smíð. Orkn. 332; mikit lið ok frítt ok mjök vandaðan skipabúnað, Fms. x. 36; var vandaðr mjök róðr á drekanum, vi. 309; stöpul vandaðan, Bs. i. 132; vandaðar krásir, choice, Fms. iv. 160; umgörð vandaða, Fs. 97.

3. vanda sig, vanda ráð sitt, to be honest, lead a righteous life, passim; lítt vandaðr, not very honest, Fms, xi. 275; ú-vandaðr, plain, common, dishonest.

II. [ vanda = to carp at, find fault, Ivar Aasen], to object, make difficulties:

1. only in the negative phrase, vanda ekki, not to mind; hann sagði dóttur sinni, at hann mundi eigi vanda at gipta honum dóttur sína, Stj. 206; vanda eigi, to mind not, care not; vanda ek eigi ( I mind not) þótt sá sé drepinn, 181; vanda ekki ( care not) hvárt luklar finnask, Al. 44; vandar eigi þótt þykkt so skipat, 41.

2. to find fault, be fastidious; hvárt sem þær vanda eðr gefa ósæmilig orö, D. N. ii. 16; þá eigu hásetar eigi at vanda þá hlezlu fyrir styrimanni ok fari við svá búit, N. G. L. ii. 275: and thus freq. in mod. speech of Norway, ‘vanda maten’ (cp. Icel. mat-vandr); in Icel. it remains in the phrase, vanda um e-t, to complain of, Eg. 142, 711, Landn. 141, Orkn. 90, Fs. 137, Eb. 144, Gullþ. 26, Dropl. 15.

III. reflex. to become difficult, precarious; nú vandask málit, Nj. 4; vandask ráða-görðin, Fms. vii. 183.

(vönd, vant), a.

1) difficult, requiring pains and care; sýndist henni vant at neita þessu boði, it was a risk to refuse such an offer; ór vöndu er at ráða, this is a difficult case; vera vant við kominn, to be in a perplexity;

2) e-m er vant við e-n, one is under obligation to a person, = e-m er vandi á við e-n;

3) careful; v. at e-u, particular about (hversu v. muntu vera at kaupunautum?).

* * *

vönd, vant, adj. difficult, requiring pains and care; nafn mitt er ekki vant, Fær. 208; er hverjum manni vandara at búa sik í konungs herbergi enn annars staðar, Fms. vi. 208; sýndisk henni vant at neita þessu boði, it was a risk to refuse such an offer, ii. 133, cp. vant; vant þykkir oss með slíku at fara, a delicate thing, Nj. 75; er hér ok vönd vistin, 61; vera vant við kominn, to be in a perplexity, Ld. 158; þeir sögðu vant at vera í stórum samdrykkjum, Lv. 24; bæði er, at ek trúi þér vel, enda er þér þá vant um, Fær. 92; vant er at vita hverir mér eru trúir, ef feðrnir bregðask, Fms. ii. 11: a saying, vant er við vándum at sjá (play on the words ‘vándr’ and ‘vandr’), Hrafn. 23; vant er ór vöndu at ráda; vant er vel boðnu at neita.

2. choice, picked, = vandaðr; háttr fegrstr ok vandastr, Edda (Ht.) 132; var vandr mjök róðr á drekanum, Fms. vi. 309, v. l.

3. zealous; hón var allra kvenna vöndust bæði fyrir sína hönd ok annarra, Bs. i. 129; ráð-v. (q. v.), ú-vandr.

* * *

(-ða, -t), v.

1) to turn (be turned) in a certain direction;

horfði upp eggin, the edge turned upwards;

suðr horfðu dyrr, the door looked south;

h. baki við e-m, to turn the back against one;

h. við e-m, to face one; fig. to set oneself against one (þeir er heldr höfðu við honum horft í sínum huga);

2) to look in a certain way, to have a certain appearance;

h. úvænt, to look unpromising (úvænt horfir um sættir);

hvárum horfir vænna, who is more likely to get the betler;

h. fastliga, erfiðliga, to look difficult;

horfir mjök í móti oss, matters look bad for us;

horfir til gamans mikils, there is a prospect of much entertainment;

3) refl., Hjalta þótti þá úvænt á horfast, H. thought that matters looked unpromising;

horfðust þeir Gizurr höfðum at, he and Gizurr lay with their heads together.

(að), v. = hörfa.

* * *

ð, subj. hyrfði, Rb. 470, Skáld. H. 4. 21, Fms. xi. 76, [akin to hverfa, q. v.]:—to turn in a certain direction, Lat. vergere; horfði upp eggin, kjölrinn, the edge, keel, turned uppermost, Nj. 136, Ld. 142; h. frá landi, the ship turns towards the sea, Fms. xi. 101; er eigi veit hvárt söðull skal fram h. á hrossi eðr aptr, eða hvárt hann skal h., Grág. ii. 175; horfa bökum við e-m, to stand back to back, Hkr. iii. 384; horfa höfði til jarðar en fótum til himins, Post. 656 C. 37; hann hljóp æ sem horfði, he ran ever headlong on, Bret. 90; suðr horfðu dyrr, the doors looked south, Vsp., Fb. ii. 138; horfði botninn inn at höfðanum, Landn. 34; þótti honum ílla af sér h. fótrinn, i. e. the leg was awry, Sturl. ii. 63; hann horfði í lopt upp, Fs. 7.

II. to turn so as to look on, behold; hann horfði út ór hringinum, Ld. 276: with prepp. to look on, hón horfði þar á löngum, Ísl. ii. 274, passim; h. við e-m, to face one, Eg. 293; þeir bleyðask skjótt ef vel er við horft, Fms. vi. 312; h. öndurðr við, Ó. H. 183: metaph. to set oneself against a person, þeir er heldr höfðu við honum horft í sínum huga, Bs. i. 81; vóru þeir hinir mestu örskipta-menn er þeim tók við at horfa, i. e. they (the berserkers) were great ruffians if any one opposed them, Eb. 38 new Ed.; horfa ekki í e-t, not to turn away from, not to shirk, eg horfi ekki í að göra það.

2. metaph. matters take a turn, look so and so; þetta horfir til úefna, Ísl. ii. 239; at þar horfi til gamans mikils, that things look towards great joy, Fas. i. 317; horfði til landauðnar, 526; h. fastliga, to look bad, difficult, Lv. 94, Ld. 92; h. þungliga, Ísl. ii. 19; h. erfiðliga, Nj. 139; h. úvænt, to look unpromising, Eg. 340, Fms. xi. 76; hvárum horfir vænna, who is more likely to get the better, Nj. 45; e-m horfir betr, Lv. 54; ok horfir mjök í móti oss, 10; h. til handa e-m, to devolve upon one, Grág. i. 269.

III. reflex., with prepp.; horfask á, matters look so and so; betri sætt en nú þykir á horfask, Eg. 113; hér horfisk eigi sköruliga á, Fms. vii. 33; Hjalta þótti þá úvænt áhorfask, iv. 141, x. 214; horfask vel á, to look well, promise well; horfðisk á með þeim heldr en eigi, i. e. it looked rather good than not, Bjarn. 56; h. til e-s, to look as if …; eðr til hvers váða horfðisk, Fms. vii. 125; með fíflsku slíkri sem hér horfisk til, Eg. 729, Lv. 10.

2. recipr., horfask á, to face one another, Sturl. i. 176; horfðusk þeir Gizurr at höfðunum, turned the heads together, iii. 189.

(compar. verri, superl. verstr), a.

1) ill, evil, bad; illr maðr, a bad man; ill ráð, evil counsel; illum huga, with evil intent; illu feginn ver þú aldregi, never rejoice at evil; illar álögur, evil, oppressive burden;

2) hard, difficult, with gen.; illr viðr-eignar, ill to deal with;

3) close, mean, stingy (illr af mat).

* * *

adj., compar. verri (q. v.), superl. verstr; íllr is still often pronounced with a long vowel, esp. in the forms íllt, ílls, as also íllr and illr, although it is usually in mod. books spelt with i; the long vowel is a remains of the contraction which in the Scandin. languages has taken place in this word: [Ulf. ubils; A. S. yfel; Engl. ill, evil; Hel. ubil; O. H. G. ubil; Germ. übel; Dan. ild; Swed. ill-; in mod. Engl. ill is of Scandin., evil of Saxon origin]:—ill, evil, bad, in a bodily and moral sense: in sayings, íllt er at eiga þræl at einga-vin, Grett. 154; íllt er at eggja óbilgjarnan, or íllt er at eggja íllt skap = πυρ μαχαίρα μη σκαλευειν; erat maðr svá íllr at einugi dugi, Hm. 134; fátt er svo fyrir öllu íllt, að ekki boði nokkuð gott, = ‘tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good; ílla gefask íll ráð, Nj. 20; opt stendr íllt af kvenna tali, Gísl. 15; opt hlýtr íllt af íllum (or íllt má af íllum hljóta), Ísl. ii. 151; frest eru ílls bezt, Fms. v. 294.

2. ill, bad, of quality, capacity; íllr búþegn, a bad farmer, Fms. i. 69; íllr hestr, a bad horse, Þiðr. 191; íllt skáld, a poetaster.

3. evil, wicked; góða frá íllum, Eluc. 37; íllr maðr, Hm. (íll-menni); íll ráð, evil counsel, 9; til góðs ok ílls, for good or evil, Grág. ii. 144; sjá við íllu, beware of evil, Sdm. 39; íllt eitt, all wickedness, as a nickname, Fms. ix. 419 (423 sqq.)

4. bad; íllum huga, an evil mind, spite, Hbl. 21; ílls hugar, Hým. 9; íllt skap, ill humour; vera í íllu skapi, to be in an ill mood; það er íllt í mér, to be angry; mæla íllt, to use foul language, Bjarn. 32; íll orð, evil words, Skm. 2; varð honum íllt til liðs, Fms. i. 22; íll öld, evil times, vi. 96; íllt veðr, ill weather, v. 295; íllar álögur, evil, oppressive burdens, vii. 75, v. l.; íll heilsa, ill health; íllt, unwholesome; er þat íllt manni, Eg. 604; medic., e-m er íllt (mér er íllt), to be ill; íllt er (‘tis a pity) at eiga dáðlausa sonu, Ld. 236; honum þótti íllt ( he was sorry) at heyra læti þeirra, Fms. iv. 368: denoting harm, hurt, grunaði at mikit íllt mundi af þér hljótask, Ísl. ii. 151; verðr hann þeim stórhöggr, ok fá þeir íllt af honum, Fms. xi. 135.

5. with gen. ill, difficult; íllr viðr-eignar, ill to deal with, Nj. 18, Eg. 147; íllir heimsóknar, Fms. vii. 299; flestir verða íllir aptrhvarfs, 315: with dat. ill to one, íllr e-m, (cp. Scot. ‘ill to his friend, waur to his foe’), 655 A. 4.

6. close, stingy, cp. góðr (II. β); íllr af aurum, Jd. 35; íllir af mat, Hkr. i. 140; hinn matar-ílli, a nickname, Hkr.

COMPDS: íllbrigði, íllbýli, ílldeildir, ílldýri, íllfelli, íllfengr, íllferli, íllfúss, íllfygli, íllfýstr, íllgengr, íllgeta, íllgirnd, íllgjarn, íllgjarnligr, íllgresi, íllgrunaðr, íllgæfa, íllgæti, íllgörð, íllgörðaflokkr, íllgörðamaðr, íllgörðasamr, íllhreysingr, íllhveli, íllkvikendi, íllkvittinn, íllkvittni, íllkyndugr, íllkyngi, íllleikni, ílllifnaðr, ílllifnaðarmaðr, ílllífl, ílllífr, ílllyndi, ílllyndr, ílllæti, íllmannliga, íllmannligr, íllmáligr, íllmenni, íllmennska, íllmæla, íllmælgi, íllmæli, íllorðr, íllráðigr, íllráðr, íllræða, íllræði, íllræðismaðr, íllræmdr, íllsakar, íllskái, íllskárri, íllskárst, íllskeptr, íllskælda, íllspár, íllsvipligr, ílltíðindi, ílltyngdir, Íllugi, íllúð, íllúðigr, íllúðligr, íllverk, íllviðri, íllviðrisklakkar, íllviðriskráka, íllvili, íllvilja, íllviljafullr, íllviljamaðr, íllviljaðr, íllvirki, íllvirki, íllviti, íllvært, íllyrða, íllyrði, íllyrmi, íllyrmislegr, íllýðgi, íllþolandi, íllþræli, íllþýði, íllþýðisfólk, illþýðismaðr.

1) tough, viscid (seigt lím);

2) stubborn (seigr á sitt mál);

3) difficult (seigt mun veita at kristna Ísland).

* * *

adj. [Dan. seig], tough; seigu leiri, Sks. 416; seigr í sinum, Flóv. 27, Karl. 475; seig bönd, Hom. 124.

2. metaph. tough, stubborn; seigr á sitt mál, Fms. x. 300: difficult, þat mun veita seigt, ii. 118; seigt er svöngum at skruma, Fb. i. 211; þat er seigt at segja, Fms. vi. 376.

(pl. -ar), m. seat; hann var hár í sessi, he was tall when seated; vera kominn í vandan sess, to be in a difficult situation.

* * *

m. [sitja], a seat; ráða sessa kostum, Gm. 14; sessa ok staði velit mér sumbli at, Ls. 7; snjallr ertú í sessi, 15; í sessi ok sæingu, Gkv. 1. 20; hvat viltú, sveinn, í sess minn? Eg. (in a verse); eiga drykk ok sess við, 95, Fs. 43; hann var hár í sessi, he was high in the seat, Fms. x. 151, Ld. 274, v. l. (cp. Iliad iii. 211, of Odysseus); hvar vísar þú mér til sess? Nj. 129; er hann mundi setja yfir sess hans, 656 C. 25; svá var skipat sessum, Fms. x. 16; var sá sess veglegastr, Fagrsk. 149; vera kominn í vandan sess, in a difficult situation, Bs. i. 141: the saying, opt er lágr sess hægr, a low seat is an easy seat, = Lat. bene vixit qui bene latuit.

COMPDS: sessmegir, sessmeiðr, Sessrúmnir.

1) difficulty, difficult task (lízt mér þat mikill vandi);

2) responsibility (ek af sel vanda mér af höndum, hversu sem gefst);

3) obligation, duty, esp. of relationship; e-m er v. á við e-n, one is under obligation to a person (er þér miklu meiri v. á við Eirik konung en Egil); binda sér vanda við e-n, to enter into obligation.

m. custom, habit, wont (leggja e-t í vanda); at (or eptir) vanda, as usual.

* * *

a, m. a difficulty, difficult task; lízk mér þat mikill vandi, Korm. 150, Nj. 177; þó nökkurr vandi liggi á, Fms. vi. 10; hafa bæði vit ok vanda at vera höfðingi, xi. 217: sayings, þat er vandi vel boðnu að neita ( a good offer is not to be refused); vandi fylgir vegsemd hverri, cp. noblesse oblige.

II. obligation, duty, esp. of relationship; thus in the phrase, e-m er vandi á við e-n, þótt þér sé vandi á við Helga, Ld. 264; er þér miklu meiri vandi á við Eirík konung en Egil, Eg. 423; þat er mér ókunnara hverr vandi mér er á við hann, Fms. i. 297; sveiktú þann er þér var meiri vandi á enn við mik, vi. 17; fyrir vanda sakir ok tengda, xi. 11; binda sér vanda við e-n, to enter into an obligation, Gísl. 11.

COMPDS: vandabundinn, vandahlutr, vandalauss, vandalítill, vandamaðr, vandamál, vandamikill, vandaráð, vandasamligr, vandasamr.

a, m., qs. vanði (vanþi, Ó. H.); [from vanr, and different to the preceding word]:—a custom, habit, want. Eg. 41, 70; dró til vanda með þeim, Nj. 12; leggja í vanda, Glúm. 324; at vanda, as usual, Nj. 3, 103, Eg. 125, 491; ú-vandi, unmanners, whimsies, wayward manners. vanda-tíðir, f. pl. customary feasts, Bs. i. 164.

part. difficult to place; eru yðr vandsettir hér menn yfir til forráða, difficult whom to place there, Eg. 50.

(vönd, vant), a.

1) difficult, requiring pains and care; sýndist henni vant at neita þessu boði, it was a risk to refuse such an offer; ór vöndu er at ráða, this is a difficult case; vera vant við kominn, to be in a perplexity;

2) e-m er vant við e-n, one is under obligation to a person, = e-m er vandi á við e-n;

3) careful; v. at e-u, particular about (hversu v. muntu vera at kaupunautum?).

* * *

mod. vondr, adj., without compar. or superl.; [Dan.-Swed. ond]:—bad; of a thing, vánd klæði, Fs. 150, Fms. i. 70; vánda leppa, ii. 161; ór húsi litlu ok vándu, Hkr. ii. 380; psaltari vándr, Vm. 13; v. íss, rotten ice, Fms. vii. 273; vánt vatn, bad water, Karl. 62; vánt veðr, bad weather, Fb. iii. 240.

2. in a moral sense, wicked, bad; vándr maðr, Fms. vii. 117, Bs. i. 163; v. hefi ek verit, en aldri hefi ek þjófr verit, Nj. 74; íllum ok vándum, Blas. 46; vánd verk, N. G. L. ii. passim.

* * *

(-tta, -ttr), v.

1) to grant, give (v. e-m líð, hjálp, huggun, grið, trygðir);

2) to help, assist, stand by one (þeir veittu Gizuri hvíta í hverju máli);

3) to grant, permit (Þ. beiddist at sjá gripina, ok þat veitti hón henni); v. e-m bœn, to grant one a request;

4) v. veizlu, to give a feast; v. brúðkaup e-s, to hold a wedding; v. útferð e-s, to hold a funeral feast; also absol. to give a feast or entertainment (v. stórmannliga, með inni mestu rausn);

5) to entertain, treat (konungr veitti sveitungum sínum);

6) to sustain, support an indigent person (síra Hafliði veitti þessi góðu konu allt til dauðadags);

7) of a performance; v. e-u áhald, to lay hold on; v. atfór, heimferð at e-m, to make an expedition against one; v. e-m atsókn, to allack; v. e-m áverka, to inflict a wound on; v. e-m eptirför, to pursue one;

8) e-t veitir e-m þungt, erfitt, it proves hard, difficult for one (Dönum veitti þungt atsóknin); impers., keisaranum veitti þungt, the emperor had the luck against him; e-t veitir erfitt, it is hard work; Geirmundi veitti betr, G. got the better of it, carried the day;

9) to happen (þat veitir sjaldan, optliga, stundum);

10) recipr., veitast at, to back one another (vit Egill munum nú v. at); þeir veittust at öllum málum, they stood by one another in all suits.

(-tta, -ttr), v. to convey, lead (water), with acc. or dat. (v. vatn or vatni); v. ánni ór enum forna farveg, to divert the river from its old course; impers., veitir vatn til sjóvar, the rivers trend towards the sea.

1) draining;

2) ditch; trench;

3) = veitiengi.

* * *

t, [Dan. yde], to grant, give; veita far, to give a man a passage, Grág. ii. 268; veita e-m lið, to give one help, assist (lið-veizla), Fms. xi. 27, 121; veita hjálp, aðstoð, huggun, to give help, comfort; veita grið, trygðir, várar, etc., passim; veita manni fyrir Guðs sakir, to give alms, Gþl. 274; konungr veitti honum skatta alla, condoned, remitted, Fms. i. 120: absol. to help, assist, þeir veittu Giziri hvíta at hverju máli, Nj. 86; veita frændum þínum ok mágum, 226; hann veitti þeim Ingólfi (in a battle), Landn. 32.

2. veita veizlu, to give a feast, Nj. 6, Fb. ii. 177, 301; veita brúðkaup e-s, to hold a wedding; veitti hann brúðkaup þeirra um vetrinn þar at Helga-felli, Eb. 142, Fms. x. 47; veita útferð e-s, to hold an ‘arvel,’ funeral feast. Fas. i. 387; konungr veitti Jól í Björgyn, Fms.; veita Jól sín, Fb. iii. 274: also absol. to give a feast or entertainment, konungr veitti sveitungum sínum, Fms. ix. 340; veita stórmannliga, Eg. 62; konungr skyldi veita í þeim tveim tréhöllum … lét konungr þar veita í, Fms. x. 13.

3. to give a grant, grant a fief; Sveinn veitti Eireki Raum-ríki, Fms. iii. 15.

4. to grant a request, allow, permit; þat munu vér nú veita þér, Ld. 218; veita e-m eina bæn, Fms. i. 12; eigi mun ek þat veita ykkr, Eg. 95; konungr kvaðsk veita mundu, 86; veitti hann þeim at vígja Jón, Fms. vii. 240.

5. of a performance; veita e-m þjónustu, Eg. 112; veita e-m nábjargir (q. v.), Nj. 154; veita tíðir, to perform the service, 195; veita sér afskipti, to take part in, Grág. ii. 241; veita e-u áhald, to lay hold on, Fms. x. 393; veita umbúð, to manage, Nj. 115; veita formála (= mæla fyrir), Eg. 389; veita órskurð, to give a decision, 281; veita tilkall, to claim, Grett. 88; veita þögn, to be silent, Fms. x. 401; veita e-m atför, heimferð, to make an expedition against one, i. 54, Eg. 73; veita atsókn, to attack, Nj. 124; veita áverka, to inflict a wound, 98; veita áþján, to tyrannise, Eg. 47; veita e-m vegskarð, Nj. 118.

II. spec. usages; e-t veitir so and so, a thing turns, proves (hard, easy); veitti þat flestum þungt, it proved hard, difficult, Eg 754; keisaranum veitti þungt, the emperor had the luck against him, Fms. i. 121; e-t veitir ervitt, Nj. 171; ok hefir oss ervitt veitt, it has been hard work indeed, 117; ervitt hafa draumar veitt, dreams have been hard, Ld. 270; þeir börðusk, veitti Geirmundi betr, G. carried the day, Landn. 125: the phrase, honum veitir ekki af, he has nothing to spare.

2. to happen; þat verðr ok veitir optliga, it often happens and comes to pass, Stj. 38; veitir þat jafnan, at þeir fá …, Js. 53; nú kann veita þat stundum, at bændr fá eigi vinnu-menn, Jb. 373; því veitir þat allopt, at þeir fá fyrst mann-skaðann, Gþl. 169; ef honum veitir þat optarr, N. G. L. i. 11.

III. recipr. to give, grant to one another; þeir veittusk at öllum málum, backed one another, Lv. 36; vit Egill munum nú veitask at, Eg. 425.

IV. pass., a Latinism, to be given, 623. 20, H. E. i. 514; yðr skal fyrr veitast öll þjónusta, Fms. vi. 48, 94, xi. 309.

t, qs. vreita, probably different from the preceding word, [see the following]:—to make a trench, make an aqueduct, lead water, with acc. and dat.; hann veitti sjáinn í gögnum háva hálsa, Al. 93; veita vatn, göra stíflur, grafa engi sitt, veita svá vatn á engit, Grág. ii. 281; grafa mikit díkit ok veita vatni í á eptir, Fb. ii. 124; veita vötnum, Grág. (Kb.) ii. 97; but a few lines below, ok skal eigi þá (acc.) veita, ef menn veita merki-vötn; so also, Grímr veitti honum (the brook) á eng sína ok gróf land Ljóts, Landn. 145; hann veitti vatnið (þau vötn veitti hann, v. l.) með fjölkyngi austr fyrir Sólheima … síðan veitti hvárr þeirra vötnin frá sér, 250, 251, freq. in mod. usage, but then always with dat.

II. reflex., in the following passages the word may be vita …, q. v.; einn stjörnu-veg, hverr upp ríss af sjó Frisiæ, ok veittist ( trends) meðal Teuthoniam ok Galliam, Karl. 129; ok hefir hann (acc.) undan veitt, turned him to flight (?), Bret. 66; veitir vatn til sjóvar, rivers trend towards the sea, Grág.

pp. difficult to see; vandsét er við e-u, it is difficult to be on one’s guard against.

adj. luckless, in the proverb, a. verðr annars glys jafnan, (another version of the proverb is quoted s. v. afgjarn), coveted wealth, which is eagerly looked for by another, is luckless, difficult to keep safe, Stj. 78.

adj. running against stream; metaph. difficult, cross; Sighvatr var heldr a. um eptirmálin, hard to come to terms with, Sturl. ii. 42; andstreym örlög, ill-fate, Al. 69; kvað Svein jafnan andstreyman verit hafa þeim frændum, had always set his face against, Orkn. 390.

n. and álaga, u, f. [leggja á]; in some cases, esp. dat. pl., it is often difficult to decide to which of these two forms a case may belong; they are therefore best taken together. In the neut. pl. the notion of spell, in the fem. pl. that of tax, burden, hardship prevails. In sing. both of them are very much alike in sense.

I. fem. pl. a tax, burden, burdensome impost; sagði at bændr vildi eigi hafa frekari álög (álögur?) af konungi en forn lög stæði til, Fms. xi. 224; undan þessum hans álögum … liggja undir slíkum álögum, tyranny, yoke, Bárð. ch. 2; gangit til ok hyggit at landsmenn, at ganga undir skattgjafar Ólafs konungs ok allar álögur, burdens, taxes, Fms. iv. 282, in the famous speech of Einar þveræing, (Ó. H. ch. 134; bað jarl vægja möunum um álögur, Fms. iv. 216; jarl hélt með freku öllum álögum, Orkn. 40; hvárt mun konungr sá ekki kunna hóf um álögur ok harðleiki við menn, Fms. vi. 37; þórstcinn kvað ekki um at leita, at Þórðr kæmist undan neinum álögum, burdens, oppressive conditions, Bjarn. 72.

2. a law term, an additional fine; með álögum ok leigum, duties and rents, Grág. i. 260; binda álogum, to charge, 384; hálfa fimtu mörk álaga, a fine of three marks, 391.

3. metaph. in plur. and in the phrase, í álögum, in straits, at a pinch, if needful, Vm. 18; vitr maðr ok ágætr í öllum álögum, a wise and good man in all difficulties, Fs. 120.

4. a metric. term, addition, supplement; þat er annat leyfi háttanna at hafa í dróttkvæðum hætti eitt orð eða tvau með álögum, cp. álagsháttr below, Edda 124.

5. theol. a visitation, scourge, Stj. 106, 647. 2 Kings xxi. 13 (answering to plummet in the Engl. transl.); sing. in both instances.

II. neut. pl. álög, spells, imprecations. In the fairy tales of Icel. ‘vera í álögum’ is a standing phrase for being spell-bound, esp. for being transformed into the shape of animals, or even of lifeless objects; leggja a., to bind by spells, cp. Ísl. Þjóðs. by Jón Árnason; var því líkast sem í fornum sögum er sagt, þá er konunga börn urðu fyrir stjúpmæðra álögum (v. l. sköpum), Fms. viii. 18 (Fb. ii. 539): hóri lýstr til hans með úlfs hanzka ok segir at hann skyldi verða at einuni híðbirni, ok aldri skáltn or þessuni álögum fara, Fas. (Völs. S.) i. 50, 404: sing. (very rare), þat er álag mitt, at þat skip skal aldri heilt af hafi koma er hér liggr út, Landn. 250. At present always in pl., cp. forlög, örlög, ólög.

COMPDS: álagsbœtr, álagsháttr, álögulaust.

* * *

1) the act of binding or settling, opp. to lausn;

fig., lausn ok band allra vandamála, the decision in all difficult cases;

2) band, cord (mjótt band);

3) in pl.:

a) bonds, fetters (hafa e-n í böndum);

b) bond, confederacy (ganga í bönd ok eið);

c) poet., the gods, cf. höpt;

blóta bönd, to worship the gods;

at mun banda, at the will of the gods.

* * *

n. pl. bönd, [binda; Ulf. bandi, f. δεσμός; O. H. G. pfand, whence the mod. Dan. pant; N. H. G. band; Engl. band and bond; Dan. baand.]

I. prop. in sing. any kind of band; mjótt band, a thin cord, Edda 20, Grág. ii. 119.

β. a yarn of wool, v. bandvetlingar.

γ. metaph. a bond, obligation; lausn ok b. allra vandamála, Fms. v. 248, Bs. i. 689.

II. in pl. also,

1. bonds, fetters, Lat. vincula; í böndum, in vinculis, Bs. i. 190, Fms. ii. 87, 625. 95: theol., synda bönd, 656 A; líkams bönd, Blas. 40.

2. a bond, confederacy; ganga í bönd ok eið, to enter into a bond and oath, Band. 22; cp. hjónaband, marriage; handaband, a shaking of hands, etc.

3. poët. the gods, cp. hapt; of providence ruling and uniting the world, Hkm. 10; banda vé, the temples, Hkr. i. 204; at mun banda, at the will of the gods, 210; vera manu bönd í landi, the gods (i. e. lares tutelares) are present in the land, Bs. i. 10; gram reki bönd af löndum, Eg. (in a verse); blóta bönd, to worship the gods; vinr banda, the friend of the gods; bönd ollu því, the gods ruled it, Haustl.; vide Lex. Poët., all the instances being taken from heathen poems. Egilsson suggests a reference to the imprisoning of the three gods, Odin, Hænir, and Loki, mentioned Edda 72; but bönd is that which binds, not is bound; (band means vinculum not vinctus.)

4. metric. a kind of intricate intercalary burden (klofastef). This seems to be the meaning in the word Banda-drápa, where the burden consists of five intercalary lines occurring in sets of three verses | Dregr land at mun banda || Eiríkr und sik geira | veðrmildr ok semr hildi || gunnblíðr ok réð síðan | jarl goðvörðu hjarli; but as this metrical term is nowhere else recorded, the name of the poem may have come from the word ‘banda’ (gen. pl. deorum), Hkr. i. 210 sqq.

COMPDS: bandadagr, bandamenn, bandaríki, bandaþing.

adj. difficult to deal with, Fms. ii. II.

adj. difficult to drive, of geese, Grett. 90.