teiknast

Teiknast is an Icelandic verb meaning to be drawn or to appear in a drawing. It is a form derived from teikna (to draw) with the reflexive or middle-voice suffix -nast, used to express that something is the subject of drawing rather than the agent performing the action. In practical terms teiknast is used to describe the state of a thing as it is depicted in an illustration or diagram, or to refer to a subject that is represented in a scene.

In usage, teiknast often appears in art and description contexts, including captions or analyses, where a scene, person, or object “is drawn” into a composition. It can convey the outcome of the drawing process without naming the artist, focusing on how the subject is presented rather than who drew it. The construction is typically encountered in present-tense statements or narrative descriptions about artwork.

Grammatical notes: As a middle or passive form, teiknast can be used impersonally or with various time adverbials to situate the depiction in time. It contrasts with teikna, the active verb meaning “to draw,” which describes the act performed by an agent. For learners, teiknast highlights the depiction rather than the drawing action.

See also: teikna, drawing, depiction, illustration.