byggði

byggði is a form of the Icelandic verb byggja, meaning to build or to found. It is the preterite (simple past) singular form, used with subjects such as ég (I) or hann (he) to indicate a completed action in the past. For example: Ég byggði hús. Hann byggði garðinn. The corresponding past tense plural form is byggðu, as in Þau byggðu húsin.

Etymology and related forms: byggði derives from the Old Norse verb byggja, with the modern Icelandic form preserving the root and the -ði suffix for the past singular. The verb has other forms, including byggir (present), bygja in related constructions, and byggt as the past participle meaning built. A related noun is byggð, meaning a settlement or inhabited area, reflecting the sense of having been established or constructed.

Usage and context: byggði is used for past actions involving construction or establishment, whether of physical structures or settlements. It appears in everyday Icelandic as well as historical or literary contexts, including descriptions of towns, buildings, or the founding of communities. In compound or extended phrases, the verb combines with objects such as hús (house), borg (city), or garður (garden) to specify what was built.

See also: byggja, byggt, byggð. The entry relates to Icelandic verb conjugation and to the related noun for settlement, which helps understand how the concept of constructing or establishing is expressed in the language.