spurningunni

Spurningunni is a form of the Icelandic noun spurning, which means "the question." It represents the definite singular form used in the dative case. In Icelandic, nouns inflect for case and number, and spurning can take a range of endings depending on its syntactic role; spurningunni is the specific form you would use when the noun is definite and in the dative singular.

Etymology and related forms: The base noun spurning derives from Old Norse and ultimately from a Proto-Germanic concept related to asking. The modern Icelandic noun carries the same core meaning of a question or issue under discussion. The definite form spurningurinn (the question) is the nominative counterpart, while spurningunna or spurningunni appear in other cases; spurningunni is most readily understood as the dative-definite form used in particular grammatical constructions.

Usage and context: Spurningunni is primarily encountered in more formal, older, or written Icelandic. It tends to occur in contexts that require the dative case or in fixed phrases where the noun remains definite and inflected. In everyday speech, speakers more commonly use the nominative or accusative definite forms (such as spurningin or spurninguna) for the straightforward expression “the question.” Spurningunni can thus mark a specific referent within a sentence, such as a sub-issue or question to which attention is being directed within a larger discourse.

See also: Icelandic grammar, Icelandic nouns, Old Norse influence on Icelandic.