råðráð

råðráð is a term used in Icelandic- and Norse-inspired contexts to denote a governing body that combines advisory and executive authority. The word appears to be formed from the Old Norse/Icelandic ráð, meaning "counsel" or "advice," with a second element that signals a council or ruling body. Because råðráð is not widely attested in medieval sources, its etymology and usage are largely conjectural and it is often treated as a neologism or constructed term in scholarship and fiction.

In description, råðráð is depicted as a council whose members both propose policy and issue binding decisions or decrees, effectively blending consultation with governance. In historical or linguistic discussions, scholars usually cite råðráð as a hypothetical or literary device rather than a documented institution. In modern fantasy literature, it is sometimes employed as the name of a council with combined advisory and executive powers, sometimes infused with ritual or symbolic significance.

Because råðráð is not a standard historical term, its precise meaning differs among authors and texts. Its usage illustrates how Norse-inspired languages form compounds to express governance concepts, drawing on familiar roots like ráð ("counsel") and ráðstjórn ("administration").

Related terms include ráð and ráðstjórn in Norse and Icelandic.