liðunum

liðunum is the definite plural dative form of the Icelandic noun lið, which can mean limb or joint, and more broadly a part or component of a larger whole. In Icelandic grammar, nouns decline for number and case, and -unum marks the definite plural in the dative. This form appears when the limbs or joints (or other parts) are the indirect object or are governed by a preposition that requires the dative plural.

The base sense of lið includes anatomical limbs or joints, as in phrases describing body parts. It also extends to non-anatomical senses such as segments of a machine, sections of a plan, or members of a group or organization. In technical or descriptive writing, you may encounter phrases like “liðum líkamans” (the joints of the body) or “liðum vélarinnar” (the components of the machine), where liðunum functions as the definite plural object in a sentence requiring the dative case.

Etymology and related forms: lið is of Old Norse origin and shares a family with related Nordic words for joint or part. The concept broadens in figurative usage to mean a member or component within a system, organization, or sequence. Related Icelandic terms include liður (a segment or joint), liðasamtök (a coalition or alliance of members), and liðið (the team or the company), each varying by number and case.

See also: liður, lið, liðin, liðasamband, liðstjórn.