KVÁN

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

KVÁN

Old Norse Dictionary Entry

Definitions

1 KVÁN

f. (kvæn, Ls. 26, 56, Þkv. 8, Am. 6, Gkv. 3. 7), [see kona; Goth. quêns; A. S. cwên; Engl. queen; Scot. quean; Hel. quân]:—a wife, but never used in the general sense = a woman; an obsolete and poetical word, a ‘queen,’ wife, nú færit mér Freyju at kván, Þkv. 22; honum var brúðr at kván of kveðin, Fsm. 42, 46; svá beið hann sinnar kvánar, Vkv. 5; kván frjá sína, Skv. 3. 8; Héðins kván, the queen of Hedin = Hilda, Korm. 4, Ó. H. (in a verse); Óðs kván, the queen of Od, Hkr. i. (in a verse); kván Niðuðar, N.’s queen, Vkv. 28; bróðir hans kvanar = his wife’s brother, brother-in-law, Am. 28; ok kynvið kvánar minnar, Stor. 20: plur. kvánir, Skv. 3. 14; bið kván, a beloved wife, Lex. Poët.; ósk-kván, id.; Viðris kvæn, Odin’s wife, Ls. 26; Byggvis kvæn, 56; kvæn konungs, a king’s queen, Gkv. 3. 7; nema færi mér Freyju at kvæn, Þkv. 8, but kván, 11, 22; kvæn var hón Högna, Am. 6.

2 KVÁN

COMPDS: kvánarefni, kvánarmál, kvánarmundr.

Runic Inscription

ᚴᚢᛅᚾ

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark

Abbreviations Used

Common Abbreviations

A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
Engl
English.
Engl.
English.
f.
feminine.
Fr
French in etymologies.
gl
glossary.
gl.
glossary.
Goth.
Gothic.
Hel.
Heliand.
id
idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
id.
idem, referring to the passage quoted or to the translation
l.
Linnæus.
m.
masculine.
plur.
plural.
S.
South, Southern.
Scot.
Scottish.
v.
vide, verb.

Works & Authors

Am.
Auðunnar-máldagi. (J. I.)
Fsm.
Fjölsvinns-mál. (A. II.)
Gkv.
Guðrúnar-kviða. (A. II.)
Hkr.
Heimskringla. (E. I.)
Korm.
Kormaks Saga. (D. II.)
Lex. Poët.
Lexicon Poëticum by Sveinbjörn Egilsson, 1860.
Ls.
Loka-senna. (A. I.)
Ó. H.
Ólafs Saga Helga. (E. I.)
Skv.
Sigurðar-kviða. (A. II.)
Stor.
Sona-torrek. (A. III.)
Vkv.
Völundar-kviða. (A. II.)
Þkv.
Þryms-kviða. (A. I.)

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