ljóðrænt

ljóðrænt is an Icelandic adjective meaning poetic or lyrical, used in literary criticism and linguistic description to denote poetry-like style. In English-language scholarship it is often treated as a term describing language, imagery, and rhythm that align with poetry rather than ordinary prose. The form can also appear in discussions of poetic diction and meter, and, when used in Icelandic, may function in contexts describing how language sounds and feels in a poetic register.

Etymology and sense: The word combines ljóð, meaning poem or poetry, with a derivational element that yields an adjective indicating poetic quality. The sense centers on features typical of poetry, such as vivid imagery, metaphor, sound-patterning, and heightened rhetoric.

Usage: In criticism, ljóðrænt describes passages or works where language aims to evoke poetry through imagery, cadence, and figure of speech. It may apply to prose that adopts a lyrical cadence, as well as to poetry itself that emphasizes musicality and sensory detail. The term is common in Icelandic literary discussion and may appear in comparative studies of poetic style across languages.

Related terms: Lyrical, poetic diction, poetic imagery, and prose poetry are closely connected concepts used to discuss language that leans toward the poetic rather than the strictly narrative or expository.

See also: Lyrical, Poetic diction, Icelandic literature, Poetic technique, Prose poetry.