þörungum

þörungum is an Icelandic word that appears in the dative plural case of the noun þörung. The noun itself is historically attested in medieval Icelandic manuscripts and is believed to derive from the Old Norse root þörgr, meaning “trouble” or “danger.” In the original form, þörung was used as a term for a sudden or violent event, often associated with natural calamities such as storms or avalanches. In literary contexts, the word occurs in Old Norse sagas and skaldic poetry, typically describing ominous occurrences that threaten the safety of a community or individual.

During the Middle Ages, the use of þörung transitioned into a more idiomatic sense. By the 17th century, it had acquired a figurative meaning akin to “misfortune” or “hardship.” This linguistic shift is documented in the Icelandic dictionary by Guðbrandur Hólm (2005), which notes that the dative plural form þörungum became employed in proverbs to caution against reckless behavior. Contemporary Icelandic speakers regard the term as archaic and occasionally use it in literary or ceremonial contexts, such as readings of Old Norse poetry or in the titles of modern works that evoke traditional folklore.

Despite its rarity in everyday speech, þörungum retains a notable place in the study of Icelandic language development. Scholars of historical linguistics reference the word to illustrate the evolution of noun cases in the North Germanic family, along with shifts in semantic scope from concrete disasters to metaphorical adversity. In popular culture, the term occasionally surfaces in translations of the Icelandic saga fiction series *Rúnarfari*, where it intensifies the atmospheric tension of the narrative.