viðhafa

Viðhafa is an Icelandic verb meaning to maintain, uphold, or continue to have something. It is used mainly in formal or administrative language, such as law, policy, and governance, to indicate the continued application or retention of a rule, standard, obligation, or practice.

The verb is formed as a prefixed verb with hafa (to have) and the preverb við-, giving the sense of keeping up or sustaining. Because of its formal tone, viðhafa appears more often in official texts and policy documents than in everyday speech. It is commonly paired with nouns related to rules, policies, or duties, such as reglur, stefnu, or skuldbinding.

Usage and examples: Typical collocations include viðhafa reglur (to maintain rules), viðhafa stefnu (to uphold a policy). An example sentence is: Ríkisstjórnin hyggur á að viðhafa þessa stefnu. This illustrates how the verb is used to express intentional continuation of a course of action or obligation.

Related terms and nuances: Viðhafa is related to, but distinct from, other Icelandic verbs such as viðhalda (to maintain or preserve, often indicating physical or ongoing upkeep) and halda áfram (to continue in a more general sense). While both viðhafa and viðhalda express maintenance, viðhafa tends to emphasize formal adherence to policy, practice, or obligation, whereas viðhalda often refers to maintaining conditions or standards over time.