Þreifa

Þreifa is a verb attested in Old Norse and Icelandic, whose primary sense is to feel with the hand or to touch. It also covers the act of handling objects and of groping about to locate something. In extended use, þreifa can mean to search for something by touch, to feel around in the dark, or to test or try something by experiment.

Etymology and relatives: The word belongs to the Germanic family of languages and has cognates in related North Germanic languages. It is found in medieval Norse texts and continues to be used in modern Icelandic with the same general senses. The abstract or figurative senses—perceiving, recognizing, or probing a situation—developed from its physical meaning.

Usage and examples: In literary sources, the verb is used for concrete actions—reaching, touching, lifting, examining an object—and also in figurative expressions to indicate perception or inspection of a situation. In modern Icelandic, the verb remains common for everyday "to feel" and to feel around.