þyngdum

þyngdum is the dative plural form of the Old Norse and Old Icelandic noun þyngd, meaning weight, heaviness, or burden. In medieval texts the term appears as an inflected noun within the language’s nominal system, and it survives today primarily in historical forms.

The word derives from a Proto-Germanic root associated with heaviness; it is cognate with the modern Icelandic þyngd and the Swedish tyngd, reflecting a common North Germanic heritage. This connection shows how the concept of weight was linguistically continuous across the Scandinavian languages.

In saga literature and legal codes, þyngdum is used in phrases like með þyngdum meaning “with weights” or “with burdens” in a figurative sense. It can refer to literal weights used in scales, as well as abstract burdens or obligations borne by a person or group.

As the dative plural, it demonstrates Old Norse inflection for neuter or feminine nouns and their plural forms. In modern Icelandic, the noun þyngd remains standard for “weight,” while þyngdum appears mainly in scholarly discussion of historical texts and grammar.