Býsn
Old Norse Dictionary - býsn
Meaning of Old Norse word "býsn"
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
- býsn
- n. [cp. A. S. bysen, bisen, which means example, whilst the Icel. word means] a wonder, a strange and portentous thing; commonly Used in pl., urðu hverskonar býsn, 625. 42; þar sem þessi býsn (acc. pl.) bar fyrir, FmS. xi. 13; þetta eru stór býsn, 64; slíkt eru banvæn býsn, FaS. iii. 13 (in a verse); sing., FmS. xi. 10, 64: in mod. use fem. sing., Fb. i. 212, Pr. 76, 91; býsna-veðr, portentous weather, FmS. iii. 137; býsna-vetr, a winter of portents, when many ghosts and goblins were about, BS., Sturl. i. 115; býsna-sumar, in the same sense, Ann. 1203. In mod. use býsna- is prefixed to a great many words in the sense of pretty, tolerably, Germ. ziemlich; býsna-vel, b. góðr, langr, fljótr, pretty well, pretty good, etc. in early writers the sense is much stronger.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛒᚢᛋᚾ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- acc.
- accusative.
- A. S.
- Anglo-Saxon.
- cp.
- compare.
- etc.
- et cetera.
- fem.
- feminine.
- Germ.
- German.
- Icel.
- Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
- l.
- line.
- m.
- masculine.
- mod.
- modern.
- n.
- neuter.
- pl.
- plural.
- S.
- Saga.
- sing.
- singular.
Works & Authors cited:
- Ann.
- Íslenzkir Annálar. (D. IV.)
- Bs.
- Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Fb.
- Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Sturl.
- Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)