auðga

Auðga is an Icelandic verb meaning to enrich, to make wealthier, or to increase resources. In modern Icelandic it is used to describe economic improvement or prosperity, and in historical and literary contexts it can refer to acts that increase wealth or the wealth of a realm.

Historically, auðga derives from Old Norse forms related to auðr, meaning wealth or prosperity. The verb formation with a causative sense reflects a movement from wealth as a state to actions that create or augment wealth. The word is attested in medieval Norse literature and has continued into contemporary Icelandic with the same core meaning.

Auðga is a transitive verb that takes an object denoting wealth, property, or resources. It can be used to describe increasing or accumulating wealth for a person, household, region, or economy. In sagas and political writings, rulers and communities are described as attempting to auðga their realms through trade, settlement, taxation, or policy measures.

Related terms in Icelandic include auðlegð, meaning wealth or opulence, and other economic terms that describe wealth and prosperity. In practice, auðga is most common in formal, historical, or literary registers, though it remains part of everyday vocabulary for describing economic improvement or wealth creation.