boð

Boð is a term used in Icelandic and, historically, Old Norse with core senses relating to communication, invitation, and authority. In its broadest use, boð denotes a message or piece of information conveyed from one party to another. It can also refer to an invitation, a summons, or an order or directive. The precise sense is usually determined by context and accompanying words.

In modern Icelandic, boð appears in everyday and formal contexts to indicate information that is transmitted or announced. It can be used for messages, notices, or instructions that originate from authorities, organizations, or individuals. The term also exists in several fixed compounds, such as boðskapur, meaning a message or communication, and boðorð, meaning a commandment or moral injunction.

Historically, in Old Norse and medieval Icelandic usage, boð referred to messages delivered by messengers, royal decrees, or divine commands. The concept encompasses communications that initiate action, such as summonses to assemble, orders, or exhortations issued by a leader or deity. The word appears in saga prose and poetry to signal the transmission of news or mandates that carry obligation or expectation.

Etymology and cognates are linked to Proto-Germanic roots shared across North Germanic languages, with meanings centered on sending, delivering, and commanding. Across its usages, boð maintains a thread of conveying information that prompts response or compliance.