härsknar

Härsknar is a Swedish verb form that denotes a change toward greater harshness or severity. It is the present tense form of the relatively rare intransitive verb härskna, and is used to describe situations or conditions that become more oppressive, rather than actions carried out by an agent.

Etymology and meaning: Härskna is related to the more common verb härska, which means to rule or to dominate. However, härskna emphasizes a shift in state or atmosphere rather than deliberate governance. The form härsknar can appear in literary, historical, or descriptive contexts to convey a mood, climate, or social tone that grows harsher over time.

Usage and register: The verb is primarily found in formal or literary Swedish and is less common in everyday speech. It describes processes such as a mood darkening, a debate turning hostile, or the environment becoming more oppressive. It is intransitive and typically used with a subject that undergoes the change, often accompanied by phrases like “mer och mer” or “till en tydligare….”

Examples:

- Mörkret härsknar över landskapet när vintern kommer.

- Debatten härsknar när kritiken blir allt hårdare.

See also: Härska; Härskna.