heilag

Heilag is a Germanic linguistic term meaning sacred or holy, most often encountered in Old Norse and related Scandinavian languages. The form is part of a family of words used to designate what is consecrated, divine, or set apart for religious use.

Etymology and cognates: Heilag derives from the Proto-Germanic root *hailagaz, a base that yielded parallel forms in several daughter languages. Its cognates include English holy, German heilig, Dutch heilig, and Swedish helig, all of which share the sense of sanctity and sacredness. The term appears in medieval texts to describe gods, sanctuaries, rites, or objects deemed sacred, and it forms the basis for various inflected adjectives in Old Norse and its descendants.

Historical usage: In Old Norse and early Icelandic literature, heilagr often described deities or holy places and things dedicated to the divine. It could appear in epithet-like descriptions of gods, or in references to sanctified rituals and altars. The word helped convey the status of persons, places, and objects within religious practice and narrative poetry.

Modern usage: In modern Icelandic, the root appears in forms such as heilagur or heilagt, used to denote something sacred or consecrated in religious or ceremonial contexts. The term also influences place names and literary language, where sacred status or reverence is implied.

See also: Holy; Heilig; Helig; Old Norse religion and literature.