rådende

Rådende is a Danish term whose primary role is as the present participle of the verb råde, meaning to command, govern or advise. As an attributive adjective, rådende describes someone or something that exercises authority or influence, often translated as “ruling” or “prevailing.” In political or historical texts the expression de rådende magter refers to the authorities in power, while a phrase like den rådende stemning describes the prevailing mood.

The form derives from Old Danish and Old Norse ráða, connected to notions of guidance, decision-making and power. The exact sense of rådende is determined by context and the noun it modifies. It is commonly used in formal or academic writing to denote authority or influence, rather than to give casual advice.

In usage, rådende tends to appear in phrases such as den rådende magt, de rådende myndigheder or den rådende tendens. It is distinct from rådgivende, which means advisory rather than authoritative. The word can also appear in historical analyses to identify powers or groups that hold sway during a given period.

See also: råd, rådgivning, magt, stemning, myndigheder.