skjalið

Skjalið is the definite singular form of the Icelandic noun skjal, meaning a document, paper, or file. Skjal is a neuter noun, and skjalið is used to refer to a specific document that has already been mentioned or is present in the context. The term appears in everyday language as well as in formal, legal, or archival settings, wherever a single document is singled out for reference.

Etymology and form: The Icelandic skjal derives from Old Norse skjal, with cognates across Germanic languages. In Icelandic, the definite singular ending -ið marks a particular, known document, and the plural and other forms follow regular noun- casing patterns of neuter gender.

Usage and nuance: Skjalið commonly designates a concrete document within a set or collection, such as a contract, report, or archival item. In legal drafting or administrative communication, it may be used to indicate an attachment or annex to a broader document (for example, an annex labeled skjalið A). The word contrasts with skjal in more general statements about documents.

See also: Related terms include skjalasafn (archive or document collection), skjalaskrá (document register or index), and skjalaupplýsingar (document information).

References: Icelandic dictionaries such as Orðabók Háskólans provide the entry for skjal and discuss its definite form skjalið. Encyclopedic works on Icelandic language and usage likewise treat skjal as a common noun for documents and skjalið as its definite form.