ágrip

Ágrip is an Icelandic noun meaning a brief summary or abstract of a larger work. In libraries, publishing, and academic writing, an ágrip provides a concise restatement of the main points, arguments, or findings of a text. It may accompany a work as a standalone summary or appear at the start of a scholarly article or thesis, helping readers assess relevance before engaging with the full text. An ágrip is typically written in the same language as the work and usually spans a short paragraph or a few sentences.

Ágrip af Nóregs konungasögum, commonly abbreviated as Ágrip, is a medieval Icelandic history of the kings of Norway. Compiled in the late 12th century by an anonymous author, it presents a concise narrative that serves as an important source for later Norwegian and Icelandic historiography. The work covers the Norwegian kings from the legendary rulers to the high medieval period and is regarded as one of the earliest coherent prose histories in Old Norse literature. Portions of its content are preserved in later sagas and chronicles, notably influencing Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla.

Because of its brevity and focused narrative, Ágrip is frequently cited by scholars studying Norse historiography and the transmission of historical traditions in medieval Iceland. The generic term ágrip continues to be used in modern Icelandic to refer to an abstract or summary of any text, including academic articles, theses, or legal documents.