Vár-kunn

Old Norse Dictionary - vár-kunn

Meaning of Old Norse word "vár-kunn"

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

Old Norse word vár-kunn can mean:vár-kunn

vár-kunn
f. the ‘vár’ is probably gen. sing. fem. from vá (woe), governed by the following ‘kynna;’ vár-kunna, qs. kunna vár, to feel woe, feel compassion for, cp. the verb vá, Hm. 74: what is to be excused, er þat mikil várkunn, frændi, at þik fýsi at kanna annarra manna siðu, Fms. ii. 24; þó heldr þik várkunn til at leita á, Nj. 21; er ok v. aá at slíkir hlutir liggi í miklu rúmi þeim er nökkurir eru kappsmenn, Ó. H. 33; nú er þat várkunn at hann vili ekki við oss jafnask, Orkn. 332.
vár-kunn
2. compassion, pity; satt réttlæti hefir várkunn í sér (rendering of Lat. compassio) en logit réttlæti reiði, Greg. 33: eigi líkar Guði várkunnin ein saman, 19; várkunnar hugr, a compassionate mind, 25.
vár-kunn
COMPDS: várkunnarlauss, várkunnleysi, várkunnarverk.

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

Abbreviations used:

cp.
compare.
f.
feminine.
fem.
feminine.
gen.
genitive.
m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.
qs.
quasi.
sing.
singular.
v.
vide.
Lat.
Latin.

Works & Authors cited:

Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Hm.
Hává-mál. (A. I.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Orkn.
Orkneyinga Saga. (E. II.)
Ó. H.
Ólafs Saga Helga. (E. I.)
Greg.
Gregory. (F. II.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

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