Þykka

Þykka is a term that appears in historical Icelandic and Old Norse linguistic sources. It is generally treated as a verb form related to the modern verb þykja, which means to seem or to deem. In contemporary Icelandic, þykka does not function as a distinct verb in everyday use; the standard form is þykja.

Usage and meaning: In older texts, forms cognate with þykka occur in clauses expressing appearance, perception, or judgment. The sense is typically close to 'to seem' or 'to deem' rather than a literal 'thickness.' Dialectal or archaic manuscripts sometimes record different inflectional variants, reflecting historical pronunciation and grammar.

Etymology and classification: The etymology of þykka is debated. Most scholars link it to Proto-Germanic roots associated with appearance or estimation, or to semantic shifts within the verb þykja. Because the evidence is fragmentary, no consensus exists on a single origin.

Relationship to modern Icelandic: Today, speakers would use þykja for 'to seem' or 'to deem.' The form þykka is encountered primarily in philological contexts, dictionaries of Old Norse, and studies of dialectal Icelandic; it is uncommon in living language outside reconstructed examples.