Ljós

Old Norse Dictionary - ljós

Meaning of Old Norse word "ljós"

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

Old Norse word ljós can mean:ljós

ljós
n. [Dan. lys; Swed. ljus; cp. Goth. liuht; A. S. leoht; Engl. light; Germ. licht; Lat. lux]:—light; í ljósi, in light, opp. to í myrkri, Grág. i. 433; ok hefir þat ljós af sólu, Rb. 108, passim; sólar-ljós, sun-light; dags-ljós, day-light; stjörnu-ljós, star-light, Lil. 40; kerta-ljós, candle-light: and metaph., hreinlífis ljós, spektar ljós, Greg. 30, Post.; ljós heimsins, the light of the world, n. T., PasS., Vídal. passim.
ljós
2. of lamp or torch-light (Dan. lys), often in plur.; með brennandom ljósom, Hm. 99; þrjú vóru log í skálanum … manns-hönd kemr á hit þriðja ljósit, ok kæfir ljósit, Gísl. 29; þar brann ljós, Ó. H. 72; þar brann ljós á kerti-stiku, Fb. i. 258; þeir þóttusk sjá fjögur ljós í hauginum brenna, Nj. 118; kom þá konungr til ok lét bera til ljós, Eg. 216; hvert þat ker eða kerti sem ljósit fylgir, Stj. 76: kveykja, tendra ljós, to make a light, FS. 38, Sturl. iii. 182; slökkva ljós, to blew it out; but also, drepa ljósið, to ‘kill’ a light, i. e. to extinguish it; skrið-ljós, a lantern; gangi brúðgumi í ljósi í sama sæing konu, Grág. i. 175, n. G. l. i. 48, referring to the custom of escorting the bridegroom with lights (torches) to the bridal bed; if this was not done the marriage was unlawful.
ljós
II. metaph., hafa í ljósi, to bring to light,l. 546; láta í ljós (ljósi), to bring to light, reveal, manifest, SkS. 195, FmS. ii. 275, viii. 16; koma í ljós, to come to light, appear, Grág. i. 177.
ljós
2. metaph. the light of life; ferr hann einatt ór þvísa ljósi til helvítis, Hom. 159; í þvísa ljósi ok öðru, in this life and the next, part of the ancient oath formula in the Fifth Court, Grág. i. 74, Nj. 241. As this court was founded in 1004, only three or four years after the introduction of Christianity, the phrase may be of Christian origin; the passage in Am. 85 (fara í ljós annat, to depart to the other light = to die) was prob. derived from the oath formula floating before the mind of the poet; poët. the eyes are called ljós kinna, ‘cheek-light,’ Kormak; brúna ljós, hvarma ljós, Lex. poët.
ljós
COMPDS: ljósaskipti, ljósastjaki, ljósasöx, ljósaverk.

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

Abbreviations used:

A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
cp.
compare.
Dan.
Danish.
Engl.
English.
Germ.
German.
gl.
glossary.
Goth.
Gothic.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
metaph.
metaphorical, metaphorically.
n.
neuter.
opp.
opposed.
S.
Saga.
Swed.
Swedish.
i. e.
id est.
L.
Linnæus.
plur.
plural.
poët.
poetically.
prob.
probably.

Works & Authors cited:

Grág.
Grágás. (B. I.)
Greg.
Gregory. (F. II.)
Lil.
Lilja. (A. III.)
N. T.
New Testament.
Pass.
Passiu-Sálmar.
Post.
Postula Sögur. (F. III.)
Rb.
Rímbegla. (H. III.)
Vídal.
Vídalíns-Postilla.
Eg.
Egils Saga. (D. II.)
Fb.
Flateyjar-bók (E. I.)
Fs.
Forn-sögur. (D. II.)
Gísl.
Gísla Saga. (D. II.)
Hm.
Hává-mál. (A. I.)
N. G. L.
Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Ó. H.
Ólafs Saga Helga. (E. I.)
Stj.
Stjórn. (F. I.)
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Gþl.
Gulaþings-lög. (B. II.)
Sks.
Konungs Skugg-sjá. (H. II.)
Am.
Atla-mál. (A. II.)
Hom.
Homiliu-bók. (F. II.)
Lex. Poët.
Lexicon Poëticum by Sveinbjörn Egilsson, 1860.
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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