útskýringar

Útskýringar is the Icelandic term for explanations or clarifications of meaning, often provided as commentary on a text, statement, or concept. The word is the plural of útskýring, derived from the verb útskýra, meaning to explain or interpret, with the sense of making something clearer or more precise.

Common uses of útskýringar appear in several contexts. In dictionaries, grammars, and language guides, útskýringar illuminate difficult terms, usage, or grammatical points. In literary or academic writing, they function as analysis or commentary that helps readers understand imagery, structure, or argument. In education, teachers may provide útskýringar as notes or explanations accompanying the main material to aid comprehension. In legal and public-policy contexts, útskýringar are official explanatory notes that clarify the intent, scope, and application of statutes or regulatory provisions.

In practice, útskýringar can range from brief glosses to extensive expositions. They may be presented as footnotes, margins notes, or standalone sections within a text, and they serve to prevent misinterpretation by making underlying assumptions explicit.

Etymologically, the term reflects a focus on making sense of complex ideas or language, rather than introducing new information. While widely used in Icelandic academic and legal discourse, the concept of útskýringar is comparable to explanations, commentary, annotations, or glosses found in other languages.

See also: commentary, annotation, gloss, interpretation.