myndinni

myndinni is a term that appears in Icelandic grammar as the dative singular definite form of the noun mynd, which means image or picture. In Icelandic, nouns change form to reflect case, number, and definiteness, and myndinni signals that the image is both definite (the image) and functioning in the dative case within a sentence.

The noun mynd is feminine and is used to refer to visual representations such as photographs, drawings, or paintings. The dative singular definite form, myndinni, is one of the inflected forms that can occur when the noun is governed by a preposition or a verb that requires the dative case. In other grammatical contexts, other inflected forms of mynd appear, corresponding to different cases and numbers, but myndinni specifically marks the definite dative singular.

Etymology and cognates: mynd derives from Old Norse mynd, with related terms in other Scandinavian languages that carry the same core meaning of “image” or “picture.” The basic sense of the word has remained stable across historical stages of the language.

Usage notes: In modern Icelandic, myndinni tends to appear in formal, literary, or prepositional contexts where the dative case is required. It is less common in everyday speech, where speakers may rely on other constructions or contexts that do not require the dative form. The form illustrates Icelandic’s system of noun declension, where definiteness and case shape how a noun is written and pronounced within sentences.