aðlysa

Að lýsa is the Icelandic infinitive of the verb meaning to describe, to portray, or to explain. In modern usage it denotes giving an account of someone or something by detailing its characteristics, actions, or circumstances. The sense can be factual and precise, as in reporting or academic writing, or more interpretive, as in literature or journalism.

Usage and scope: The verb is employed when someone communicates how something appears, behaves, or unfolds. It can refer to physical attributes, events, experiences, or ideas. In narrative contexts, að lýsa helps convey scenes, characters, or processes to the reader. It can also be used more abstractly to describe opinions, states of mind, or hypothetical scenarios. The expression is commonly followed by a direct object in the accusative, or by a clause that specifies what is being described.

Orthography and related forms: The conventional spelling is að lýsa, written as two words. The verb is derived from Old Norse lýsa and is closely related to the noun lýsing, meaning description. In conjugation, modern Icelandic forms follow standard patterns for -a verbs, with regular tense and mood inflections similar to other description verbs.

Examples (illustrative): Hún lýsir atvikinu í skýrslu sinni. Hann lýsir persónum og atburðum í bókinni. These sentences illustrate describing events and characters in a straightforward, neutral register.

See also: lýsing (description), lýsingarháttur (participle form, descriptive usage in Icelandic), lýsa upp (to illuminate, to light up in specific contexts).

Note: A standalone form written as aðlysa is not standard; appropriate Icelandic spelling uses að lýsa as two words.