Þörf

Old Norse Dictionary - þörf

Meaning of Old Norse word "þörf" (or þǫrf)

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

þörf (þǫrf)
f., gen. þarfar, pl. þarfir, [þurfa; Ulf. þarba = ὑστέρημα, þarbos þulan = ὑστερεισθαι; Dan. tarv]:—need, necessity; e-m er þörf e-s, Hm. 149; ef görask þarfar þess, Skm.; enga þörf ætla ek mér á því, Fms. vi. 36; bíða langa þörf e-s, Bs. i. 862: the phrases, vinna þörf, to suffice, Al. 125, 129, Grág. i. 445, 457; þola þörf e-s (Goth. þarvos þulan), Hm.; þá er þörf verðr, when wanted, K. Þ. K. 14; þörfum meirr, more than needed, excessively, Ld. 206, Jd. 32; e-t kemr vel í þarfar, it comes to good use, in a case of need or emergency, Fms. viii. 290: business, n. G. l. i. 80.

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

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

Abbreviations used:

Dan.
Danish.
f.
feminine.
gen.
genitive.
Goth.
Gothic.
l.
line.
L.
Linnæus.
m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.
pl.
plural.
Ulf.
Ulfilas.

Works & Authors cited:

Al.
Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)
Bs.
Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Grág.
Grágás. (B. I.)
Hm.
Hává-mál. (A. I.)
Jd.
Jómsvíkinga-drápa. (A. III.)
K. Þ. K.
Kristinn-réttr Þorláks ok Ketils = Kristinna-laga-þáttr. (B. I.)
Ld.
Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)
N. G. L.
Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)
Skm.
Skírnis-mál. (A. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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