Hörfa

Old Norse Dictionary - hörfa

Meaning of Old Norse word "hörfa" (or hǫrfa)

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

hörfa (hǫrfa)
að, [akin to hvarfa, q. v.], to retire, Fas. iii. 34; h. frá í brott, Nj. 216; hvárt sem þeir h. með ánni norðr eða suðr, 228; h. fyrir, to give way, Grett. 114; h. undan, Sd. 175, Fbr. 41 new Ed., Fs. 45; nú h. þeir innar eptir höllinni, Fas. ii. 261; hann hörfaði at borðinu út, Fms. vii. 264; þá skal ganga á feld þó áðr hafi af hörfat, Korm. 86: to pass round, hefir þat (viz. the moon) hörfat hring sinn, Rb. 116: reflex., láta hörfask undan, Ísl. ii. 447.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, hörfa may be more accurately written as hǫrfa.

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

Abbreviations used:

l.
line.
m.
masculine.
q. v.
quod vide.
reflex.
retlexive.
v.
vide.
viz.
namely.

Works & Authors cited:

Fas.
Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Fbr.
Fóstbræðra Saga. (D. II.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Fs.
Forn-sögur. (D. II.)
Grett.
Grettis Saga. (D. II.)
Korm.
Kormaks Saga. (D. II.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Rb.
Rímbegla. (H. III.)
Sd.
Svarfdæla Saga. (D. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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