unnuðust

unnuðust is an Icelandic verb. It is the past tense plural form of the verb vinna, which means "to work" or "to win." Therefore, unnuðust translates to "they worked" or "they won."

The verb vinna belongs to the strong verb class in Icelandic, which means its past tense forms are created through internal vowel changes rather than the addition of a suffix. The first person singular past tense is vann ("I worked/won"), the third person singular past tense is vann ("he/she/it worked/won"), and the third person plural past tense is unnu ("they worked/won"). The form unnuðust is a reflexive form, meaning it is used when the action of working or winning is directed back at the subject. For example, "Þeir unnuðust við að rannsaka málið" translates to "They occupied themselves with researching the matter."

The suffix -ust is a common marker for reflexive verbs in Icelandic past tense plural. It indicates that the action is performed by the subject upon itself or is done amongst themselves. Thus, unnuðust specifically implies a collective effort or a self-directed activity. Understanding this conjugation is crucial for comprehending past tense narratives and discussions involving groups in Icelandic.