smelting drossy silver

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(elda, eldr), v.

1) to light, kindle a fire (hann eldir undir katlinum); with dat. of the fuel (elda viði);

2) to kindle, light, set fire to, with acc.; elda vita, to kindle a beacon; fig., e. hug e-s, to kindle one’s mind; ek skal yðra húð e. knáliga með klungrum, I shall make you smart;

3) to heat, warm (elda hús, elda ofn til brauðs) to smelt; fig. elda grátt silfr, to be bad friends;

4) impers., eldi hér lengi af með þeim brœðrum, the spark of resentment was long felt among the brothers;

5) it clears up; eldi nokkut élit (acc.), the shower cleared up a little; nótt (acc.) eldir, the night brightens, the day dawns.

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d, mod. also að, [eldr], to light, kindle a fire, with dat. of the fuel; e. viði, Grág. ii. 211, 338; ef þeir e. görðum, grindum eðr andvirki, Gþl. 422: absol., at vér eldim úsparliga í Hvammi, Sturl. i. 67: to heat, warm, þá skulu þeir e. hús at manntali, Jb. 225; e. ofn, Hkr. iii. 115: metaph., elda hug e-s, to kindle one’s mind, Hom. 107; ek skal yðra húð e. knáliga með klungrum ( make you smart), Stj. 395; e. vita, to kindle a beacon, Orkn. 264; en þó eldi hér lengi af með þeim bræðrum, the spark of resentment was long felt among the brothers, Lv. 34; e. járn, to forge iron, Rkv.: the phrase, elda grátt silfr, to be bad friends, is a metaphor taken from smelting drossy silver that cannot stand the fire; þeir Stórólfr eldu löngum grátt silfr, en stundum vóru með þeim blíðskapir, Fb. i. 522.

2. to cook, or gener. to expose to a light fire.

II. reflex. to be kindled; má vera at eldisk hér langr óþokki af, it may be that long ill-feeling will be kindled therefrom, Lv. 50.