hegða

Hegða is an Icelandic verb whose core sense is to act or behave. In modern Icelandic it is commonly used with a reflexive particle to express conduct, most prominently in hegða sér, meaning to behave oneself. It also appears in transitive uses in various idioms indicating execution of action, though everyday speech often favors more common verbs such as haga or bregða in certain contexts.

Etymology: The verb is historically linked to Old Norse hegða, with cognates in other West Germanic languages, and it is the source of the noun hegðun (behavior). The related adjective hegðunar- is used in compounds like hegðunarfræði (ethology/behavioral science), and in terms describing patterns of conduct.

Usage: In standard Icelandic, hegða is a regular -ða verb and follows standard conjugation. It is more common in formal, literary, or scientific registers than in casual speech, where periphrastic constructions may be preferred.

See also: Hegðun; Hegðunarfræði; Icelandic verbs; Reflexive verbs.

Notes: This entry uses Icelandic linguistic terms; usage may differ in dialects.