Viðurlaga

Viðurlaga is an Icelandic verb that denotes the act of imposing penalties or sanctions on someone or something. It is used primarily in formal, legal, or administrative contexts. In contemporary everyday speech, speakers often prefer verbs such as refsa or beita refsingum for “to punish,” while viðurlaga remains common in official texts and older or ceremonial language. An example of usage in a sentence is: Ríkisvaldið viðurlagaði fyrirtækinu fyrir ólögmæta starfsemi.

Etymology and sense distinctions: The word is built from the prefix við- meaning against or toward and a root connected with law and penalty, aligning in sense with penalties or sanctions laid against a person or organization. The related noun viðurlög literally refers to penalties or sanctions themselves, as in the plural form used in legal contexts.

Usage notes: Viðurlaga is relatively formal and somewhat archaic in modern everyday Icelandic. In many situations where a speaker intends “to punish,” options such as refsa or beita refsingu are more natural. The term also appears in historical or judicial documents to describe the act of imposing sanctions or penalties as part of an official decision or legal process. The related noun viðurlög is the usual term for the penalties or sanctions imposed.

See also: viðurlög, penalties, sanctions, punishment, legal penalties.

References: Icelandic legal and linguistic dictionaries commonly illustrate viðurlaga with its related noun viðurlög and with examples in formal texts.