þægilegr

þægilegr is an adjective form from Old Norse and Icelandic, meaning comfortable, convenient, agreeable, or easy. In historical texts the form appears as masculine nominative singular, exemplifying the older strong inflection pattern. In modern Icelandic the standard head-form is þægilegur for masculine, with feminine þægileg and neuter þægilegt; the word þægilegr is now mainly of historical or stylistic interest and is rarely used in everyday language.

Etymology and cognates are typical of North Germanic development. The word is related to cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Norwegian and Danish behagelig, and Swedish behaglig, all sharing the core sense of pleasantness or ease. The Icelandic form þægilegr thus reflects a common Germanic origin that has evolved differently in modern languages.

Usage and context. In modern Icelandic, the most common way to express comfort or convenience is with the corresponding modern forms: þú ert þægilegur (you are comfortable), þetta er þægilegt (this is convenient/easy). The archaic form þægilegr may appear in historical writing, poetry, or discussions of Old Norse language. It can describe objects (stóll, hús), situations, or people in a way that emphasizes ease, comfort, or suitability.

Examples:

- Stóllinn er þægilegur. (The chair is comfortable.)

- Það var þægilegt að koma snemma. (It was convenient to come early.)

- Hún var þægileg manneskja. (She was a pleasant person.)

Notes. Modern Icelandic generally favors the contemporary inflected forms; þægilegr survives primarily in discussions of language history or in reconstructed Old Norse contexts.