heimild

Heimild is a term used in Icelandic and other Nordic languages with two primary senses. In information and academic contexts, it refers to a source or reference that provides evidence for a claim, statement, or quotation. In legal and administrative language, it can mean authorization or the legal basis required to perform a specific act. Because of these overlapping meanings, the exact sense of heimild is usually clear from the surrounding context.

In research and writing, heimild is often discussed in connection with sources. A work may rely on various heimildir, such as original documents, data sets, or expert analyses. Primary sources are original materials providing direct evidence, while secondary sources interpret or analyze those primary materials. In bibliographic practice, a list of all used heimildir is kept as a heimildaskrá or reference list, enabling readers to verify information and consult the sources themselves.

In legal and administrative settings, heimild denotes the authority to act. For example, a regulation or statute may grant a person or institution heimild to carry out certain duties. Questions of heimild arise when assessing whether a proposed action has a proper legal basis; lacking heimild can render a decision invalid or unenforceable. The term thus functions at the intersection of evidence-giving and formal authorization.

Usage notes: while heimild commonly means source in academic discourse, its legal sense is equally important in formal texts. Depending on the language and jurisdiction, related forms such as heimildir (sources) or heimildargrund (legal basis) may appear. Overall, heimild marks the starting point for justification—where information comes from, or where authority to act originates.