Ei-gi

Old Norse Dictionary - ei-gi

Meaning of Old Norse word "ei-gi"

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

ei-gi
sometimes (though rarely) egi, or even contracted ei, adv. (vide ei 2, p. 117); [the negative eigi is particular to the Scandin., mod. Dan. ei, Swed. ej]:—not. Old Icel. writers usually make a distinction between ekki, neut. adj. = nullum, nihil, and eigi, non; but in mod. usage ekki has, as adv., taken the place of eigi (whilst ekkert is used as the neut. adj.), e. g. ekki góðr, ekki vel, where the oldest writers use eigi góðr, eigi vel; this use of ekki is, however, very old and freq. used, e. g. in the Njála, and even in as old a vellum MS. as the Miracle-book (BS. i); in most cases ekki and eigi are difficult to distinguish, because of the contraction in MSS. (vide ei); editors commonly print eigi:—that old poets used eigi, not ekki, may be seen from rhymes such as eigi varð ens ýgja, FmS. vi. 420: vide the negative -gi.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛁᛁ-ᚴᛁ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
adv.
adverb.
Dan.
Danish.
e. g.
exempli gratia.
freq.
frequent, frequently.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.
line.
mod.
modern.
n.
neuter.
neut.
neuter.
S.
Saga.
Scandin.
Scandinavia, Scandinavian.
Swed.
Swedish.
v.
vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.
Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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