tíðina

Tíðina is the definite accusative singular form of the Icelandic noun tíð, which means time, era, or period. The word tíð originates from Old Norse tíð and is cognate with related Germanic terms for time. In contemporary Icelandic, tíð can refer to the abstract flow of time as well as to a specific interval or historical epoch. The form tíðina is used when the noun functions as the direct object or when a particular time frame is being specified, for example in constructions that convey “the time of X” or “during the era of Y.” The word also appears in literary and historical language to denote eras or periods rather than time in a general sense.

In ordinary usage, Icelandic speakers distinguish between indefinite time and definite time frames through grammatical form and context. The expression í sinni tíð is a well-known idiom meaning “in those days” or “in one’s day,” illustrating how tíð and its definite form appear in idiomatic language. The concept of tíð plays a central role in discussions of history, language, and philosophy, where it interacts with other temporal notions such as moments, durations, and eras. As a linguistic unit, tíð therefore embodies both the broad, abstract sense of time and the more precise sense of a defined historical interval, reflecting how Icelandic handles temporal meaning within its grammar and style.