griðar

Gríðar is a word found in Old Norse literature. Its primary meaning relates to "greatness," "immensity," or "excess." It can describe something of large size, intense power, or overwhelming quantity. The term is often employed in poetic contexts to emphasize the scale or ferocity of a person, event, or object.

For example, in the Eddic poem Vafþrúðnismál, Odin, disguised as the wanderer Gagnráðr, is asked by the giant Vafþrúðnir what the giants' mead is called. Vafþrúðnir replies that it is called "gríðar," implying its immense and perhaps overwhelming nature. The word can also appear in compound names or epithets, further conveying a sense of magnitude.

In some instances, "gríðar" can carry connotations of violence or destruction, reflecting the destructive potential of overwhelming force. However, its core sense remains one of exceptional scale, making it a useful descriptive term for emphasizing the extraordinary in Old Norse sagas and poetry. The precise nuance can vary depending on the specific context in which it is used.