þekkingarlegri

þekkingarlegri is the comparative form of the Icelandic adjective þekkingarlegur, meaning knowledge-based or epistemic. It is used to compare two or more things in the degree to which they are related to knowledge, evidence, or epistemic standards.

In Icelandic, adjectives inflect to agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case, so the precise spelling of the comparative can vary with context. The form þekkingarlegri commonly appears before feminine singular nouns in certain cases, and other inflected forms are used for masculine, neuter, or plural nouns. The essential meaning, however, remains “more knowledge-based” or “more epistemic” than the alternative being compared.

Common usage occurs in discussions of philosophy, science communication, education policy, and policy analysis, where speakers want to describe approaches, assessments, or arguments as more grounded in knowledge or evidence. For example, one might refer to a “þekkingarlegri nálgun” (a more knowledge-based approach) or compare studies, arguing that one method is þekkingarlegri than another.

Etymology and form: the word is built from the noun þekking (knowledge) combined with a knowledge-related adjective base, with the comparative suffix -ri forming þekkingarlegri. As with many Icelandic adjectives, the exact form depends on the noun it modifies and its grammatical role in the sentence.

See also: þekkingarfræði (epistemology), related Icelandic terms for knowledge, evidence, and inquiry.