þrygja

þrygja is an Old Norse verb. Its primary meaning is to dry. It can also convey the sense of to become dry, to wither, or to be parched. The verb is found in various Old Norse texts, including sagas and poetry. Its etymology connects to Proto-Germanic *þrūǵōną, which also relates to the concept of dryness. The past tense form is þryggi, and the past participle is þruginn. Related words in modern Scandinavian languages include Swedish "torka" and Danish/Norwegian "tørre," both meaning to dry. The concept of dryness is fundamental and appears in many contexts, from agricultural descriptions to metaphorical uses in literature. The verb þrygja thus plays a role in depicting natural processes and states of being within the Old Norse linguistic and cultural sphere. Understanding its usage provides insight into the vocabulary used to describe the physical world in medieval Scandinavia.