Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Hvaðan

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 definitions

1 hvaðan

adv. interrog. [Ulf. waþro = πόθεν; A. S. hwanon; Engl. whence; Germ. woher]:—whence, Nj. 2, 125, Fms. ix. 55: absol. of the wind, hvaðan er hann? whence (from what quarter) is the wind? the answer, sunnan, norðan; þóttisk engi vita, hvaðan veðr var á, whence the wind blew, Fms. viii. 55; h. af löndum? Ísl. ii. 222, Vþm. 22, 24, 26, Pr. 416, passim. β. spec. usage; meðan ek veit eigi víst hvaðan Guðmundr hinn ríki stendr at, mágr minn (as long as I know not what side G. takes’), því at ek aetla honum at veita, hvaðan sem hann stendr at, Nj. 214. II. indef. = undecunque, koma þeir heilir hvaðan, Hm. 157; hvaðan sem, whencesoever; hann siglir hvaðan sem á er, he sails whencesoever the wind may blow, whatever wind may blow, Fms. x. 204; blóðrás hvaðan sem renn, Pr. 473; hvaðan af sem hann hafði þann spádóm, Hkr. i. 224. III. as relative, Stj. i.

Similar Words

Runic Inscription

hvaðan

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "hvaðan" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.
absol: absolute, absolutely.
absol.: absolute, absolutely.
adv: adverb.
adv.: adverb.
def.: definite.
Engl: English.
Engl.: English.
f.: feminine.
Germ: German.
Germ.: German.
gl: glossary.
gl.: glossary.
id: idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
indef.: indefinite.
l.: Linnæus.
m.: masculine.
S.: South, Southern.
spec.: specially.
Ulf.: Ulfilas.
v.: vide, verb.

Works & Authors

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Hkr.: Heimskringla. (E. I.)
Hm.: Hává-mál. (A. I.)
Nj.: Njála. (D. II.)
Stj.: Stjórn. (F. I.)
Vþm.: Vafþrúðnis-mál. (A. I.)

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