leiðar

leiðar is the genitive singular form of the Icelandic noun leið, meaning “way,” “path,” or “road.” It is used to indicate possession or association with a path or method, as required by Icelandic grammar in the genitive case. In contemporary language, leiðar is not common in everyday speech; the more frequent forms for ordinary expressions are the definite form leiðarinnar (the path) or other possessive constructions. leiðar surfaces in older literature, poetry, and formal or legal registers where the genitive case remains productive.

The root leið is connected with movement and navigation and yields related words such as leiða (to lead) and leiðari (leader). This cluster of terms covers directions, guidance, and routes. The potential confusion with leiðarar (leaders) should be avoided, as that is a different morphological form from another word.

In dictionaries, leiðar is listed as the genitive singular of leið, illustrating Icelandic's complex case system. Its usage demonstrates how possessive and relational meanings are encoded in inflection rather than prepositions alone.

See also: leið, leiðari.