GÍFR

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

GÍFR

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 GÍFR

n. pl. [A. S. gîfre = rapacious, used as an epithet of the devil, wildfire, etc., and as noun, a glutton, vide Grein]:—witches, fiends, = Germ. unhold, Vsp. 52, Hkv. Hjörv. 15; freq. in poetry, al-gífri, pandemonium, Bragi; gífrs grand, ‘witch-bane’ = the god Thor, Eb. (in a verse); wolves are gífrs hestar, ‘witch-horses,’ Jd., and hræ-gífr, carrion beasts, Gkv. 2. 29, Lex. Poët.: the simple word is never used in prose, but in compds; it however remains in prose in the following adv.

Runic Inscription

ᚴᛁᚠᚱ

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.: Anglo-Saxon.
adv: adverb.
adv.: adverb.
ch: chapter.
etc.: et cetera.
freq: frequent, frequently.
freq.: frequent, frequently.
Germ: German.
Germ.: German.
gl: glossary.
id: idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
l.: Linnæus.
m.: masculine.
n.: neuter.
p.: page.
pl.: plural.
S.: South, Southern.
v.: vide, verb.

Works & Authors

Eb.: Eyrbyggja Saga. (D. II.)
Gkv.: Guðrúnar-kviða. (A. II.)
Hkv.: Helga-kviða Hundingsbana. (A. II.)
Hkv. Hjörv.: Helga-kviða Hjörvarðssonar. (A. II.)
Jd.: Jómsvíkinga-drápa. (A. III.)
Lex. Poët.: Lexicon Poëticum by Sveinbjörn Egilsson, 1860.
Vsp.: Völuspá. (A. I.)

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Old Norse Dictionary project aims to provide a comprehensive searchable dictionary based on the legendary Cleasby-Vigfusson work.

It includes abbreviations, works & authors, and authentic runic inscriptions.

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