Tíðar

Tíðar is an Icelandic form that functions primarily as the genitive plural of the noun tíð, a word meaning time, era, or period. In modern usage, tíð denotes a span of time or a historical moment, and tíðar acts as the possessive/genitive plural, typically appearing in fixed compounds or stylistic expressions to mean “of the times.” The word derives from Old Norse tíð and shares cognates with related North Germanic terms for time.

In contemporary Icelandic, tíðar as a standalone noun is uncommon outside literary or historical contexts. It is most often found in compound nouns and phrases that express temporality on a broad, collective scale. Examples include tíðarandinn, meaning the spirit of the times, and tíðaröld, referring to an age or epoch. These formations illustrate how tíðar conveys temporality without pointing to a specific moment.

The concept of tíðar is tied to broader Icelandic vocabulary around time and eras. Related terms include tíð, meaning time in a general sense, and compounds such as tíðaröld and tíðarandinn. In historical writing and philosophy, tíðar- formations help discuss shifts in culture, politics, or social life across eras.

See also: tíð, tíðaröld, tíðarandinn.