þyngdir

þyngdir is a historical Old Norse noun that denotes weights or burdens. It is the plural of þyngd, meaning weight, load, or heaviness, and it belongs to the Germanic family of terms connected with mass and obligation. In modern Icelandic, the closest equivalent is the word þyngd.

In Old Norse texts, þyngdir is used for both literal and figurative weight. It can refer to physical weights used in balance scales, ballast for ships, or loads connected with travel and trade. It is also employed in a metaphorical sense to signify burdens of responsibility, danger, or misfortune borne by individuals or groups. The term appears in sagas and skaldic poetry to convey the sense of heaviness, whether in material description or in moral and social contexts.

Grammatically, þyngdir functions as a plural form and, like other feminine nouns of the period, inflects according to the grammatical case in use. Its presence is typical of texts that aim to capture material culture and human experience through concrete imagery of mass and obligation. The word is discussed in linguistic and philological studies of Old Norse vocabulary and prosody, illustrating how weight concepts intersect with narrative tone.

Today, þyngdir mainly appears in historical, linguistic, or literary contexts rather than in everyday Icelandic. Modern usage tends to employ þyngd for weight, while þyngdir remains a feature of scholarly discussion, translations, and literary renditions that seek to reflect original Old Norse texts.