Djöfull
Old Norse Dictionary - djöfull
Meaning of Old Norse word "djöfull" (or djǫfull)
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
- djöfull (djǫfull)
- m., dat. djöfli, pl. lar; [Gr. διάβολος; eccl. Lat. diabolus; A. S. deofol; Engl. devil; Germ. teufel; Swed. djefvul; Dan. djævel; the nearest to the Icel. is the A. S. form, which shews that the word came from England with Christianity; of course in the old Saga time the word was almost unknown; the evil spirits of the heathens were trolls and giants]:—a devil, Nj. 273, FmS. ii. 184; but in BS., FmS. viii. sqq., the legendary Sagas, etc. it is freq. enough: as a term of abuse, Sturl. ii. 115, FmS. viii. 95, 368, ix. 50; djöfla-blót (vide blót), Mart. 115; djöfla-mót, meeting of d., Greg. 51; djöfuls-kraptr, devil’s craft, diabolical power, Fms, x. 283, FaS. i. 254.
Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, djöfull may be more accurately written as djǫfull.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛏᛁᚢᚠᚢᛚᛚ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- A. S.
- Anglo-Saxon.
- Dan.
- Danish.
- dat.
- dative.
- eccl.
- ecclesiastical.
- Engl.
- English.
- etc.
- et cetera.
- freq.
- frequent, frequently.
- Germ.
- German.
- gl.
- glossary.
- Gr.
- Greek.
- Icel.
- Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
- l.
- line.
- Lat.
- Latin.
- m.
- masculine.
- n.
- neuter.
- pl.
- plural.
- S.
- Saga.
- Swed.
- Swedish.
Works & Authors cited:
- Bs.
- Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Fms.
- Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
- Greg.
- Gregory. (F. II.)
- Mart.
- Martinus Saga. (F. III.)
- Nj.
- Njála. (D. II.)
- Sturl.
- Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)