meðlimi

Meðlimi is an Icelandic word that appears as a declined form of the noun meðlimur. The primary meaning of meðlimur is “member,” used for a person who belongs to a group or organization, and it can also refer to a limb of the body in a more literal sense. The two senses are historically connected, since a limb is a kind of member of the body, and the figurative use of “member” for a person or participant in a group extends from that sense.

Etymology and sense development: The word derives from Old Norse meðlimr, a term related to the concept of a body part. Over time, the metaphor of a limb as a component of a larger whole contributed to the common sense of a person as a “member” of a community, organization, or collective. In modern Icelandic, me dlimur remains the canonical headword for both senses, while meðlimi appears as a grammatical form within sentences.

Grammar and usage: Meðlimur is a countable noun with a plural form normally given as meðlimir. Meðlimi is not typically used as the base lemma in dictionaries; rather, it functions as an inflected form of me dlimur in specific cases dictated by sentence structure and prepositional needs. In everyday language, the sense “member” is common in discussions of groups, clubs, committees, and other collectives, while “limb” retains its anatomical meaning.

See also: meðlimur, limb, membership.