mändighet

Mändighet is a Swedish noun that historically denotes the power or capacity to act, and in some contexts authority or jurisdiction. In contemporary Swedish the word is rare and largely confined to historical, literary, or linguistic discussions. For everyday usage, speakers typically use myndighet (“authority”) or förmåga (“ability”).

Etymology: The term belongs to older layers of Swedish and is considered to be of Germanic origin. It is generally viewed as related to other North Germanic forms and to the German Mächtigkeit or Macht, all conveying the idea of power or strength. The precise historical development of the word in Swedish is not widely attested in modern dictionaries.

Meaning and usage: As a semantic, mändighet centers on the capacity to perform actions and sometimes on legitimate power or governance. In older texts it might be used to express the notion of possessing the right or power to decide. In modern Swedish, such nuance is typically conveyed with myndighet or förmåga, depending on whether the context emphasizes formal authority or personal capability. The term is most often encountered in studies of historical language, legal history, or literature rather than in everyday language.

See also: myndighet, makt, förmåga, kraft.