flygtende

Flygtende is a term found in Scandinavian linguistic usage, most notably in Danish and in older Norwegian texts. It functions as an adjective meaning “fleeing” or “escaping,” typically describing a person who is on the run, or, in some contexts, something that is temporary or in transit. In modern standard Norwegian the corresponding form is flyktende, while flygtende is more common in Danish and in historical or dialectal Norwegian.

Etymology and spelling: The word derives from the verb flykte, meaning “to flee” (from Old Norse flýkja). The present participle in Danish is flygtende; in Norwegian the standard participle is flyktende. The variant flygtende appears in Danish and in Norwegian texts influenced by Danish spelling and may be considered archaic or dialectal in contemporary Norwegian.

Usage and distinctions: In Danish, flygtende is used to denote a person who flees or who is elusive, as well as in metaphorical senses. In Norwegian, most modern writing uses flyktende, while flygtende may be found in older literature or in dialect writing. The term is distinct from flytende, which means liquid or flowing, and from flyktig, which can mean fugitive or fleeting, depending on context.

See also: flyktning (refugee), flyktig (fugitive, fleeting), flykt (flight), flytende (liquid, flowing).