ræddir

Ræddir is an Icelandic word that appears as an adjective form associated with the idea of being afraid or fearful. It is typically understood as a masculine plural form of a stem that denotes fear, and it occurs in contexts where the underlying adjective is ræddur in older or dialectal usage. In standard contemporary Icelandic, the more common form for describing multiple fearful subjects is hræddir, while ræddir is mainly found in older texts, poetry, or dialects.

As a grammatical variant, ræddir does not introduce a separate meaning beyond the adjective it inflects. Its presence illustrates how Icelandic adjectives decline for number and gender, and how historical spellings and pronunciations influence present-day forms. The word often appears in linguistic discussions, dictionaries, or works that aim to show the diachronic development of Icelandic morphology.

Ræddir can also be encountered in literary or stylistic contexts where authors invoke an archaic or regional flavor. Because it is not the standard modern form for most speakers, its use tends to signal historical texture, regional variation, or a deliberate archaism rather than contemporary everyday speech. See also hræddur and Icelandic grammar for related forms and inflection patterns.