Sví-þjóð
Old Norse Dictionary - sví-þjóð
Meaning of Old Norse word "sví-þjóð"
As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:
- sví-þjóð
- f. (often spelt Sviðioð), dat. Svíþjóðu, GS. 13, FaS. ii. 485 (in a verse); Svíþjúðu, Rafn 181, 189: [Svíar and þjóð; the d in the forms Suede, Schweden, Sweden is from the þ in þjóð: the etymology (Edda 107) from Odin’s name Sviðrir is quite fanciful, for even Tacitus calls the people Swiones, not Swithones]:—the people, land of the Swedes, i. e. Sweden, orig. only of Sweden proper as opp. to Gothland; í Danmörku, Gautlandi eðr í Svíþjóð, n. G. l. ii. 277; afterwards used as a general name for the later Swedish empire, including Gothland (Svía-veldi, Svía-ríki): again, Svíþjóð in Kalda or in Mikla, Svíþjóð, ‘the Cold, the Great,’ was the old name of the east of Europe, ‘Scythia,’ see Hkr., Yngl. S. ch. 1; Symb. (begin.), Al. 131: the European Svíðjóð was therefore Svíþjóð in minni, or Swecia Minor,’ Symb. 13.
Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛋᚢᛁ-ᚦᛁᚢᚦ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements
Abbreviations used:
- begin.
- beginning.
- ch.
- chapter.
- dat.
- dative.
- f.
- feminine.
- gl.
- glossary.
- i. e.
- id est.
- l.
- line.
- L.
- Linnæus.
- n.
- neuter.
- opp.
- opposed.
- S.
- Saga.
Works & Authors cited:
- Al.
- Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)
- Edda
- Edda. (C. I.)
- Fas.
- Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
- Gs.
- Grótta-söngr. (A. II.)
- Hkr.
- Heimskringla. (E. I.)
- N. G. L.
- Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)
- Symb.
- Symbolae. (H. IV.)
- Yngl. S.
- Ynglinga Saga. (C. II.)