Djöfull

Old Norse Dictionary - djöfull

Meaning of Old Norse word "djöfull" (or djǫfull) in English.

As defined by the Cleasby & Vigfusson Old Norse to English dictionary:

djöfull (djǫfull)
m., dat. djöfli, pl. lar; [Gr. διάβολος; eccl. Lat. diabolus; A. S. deofol; Engl. devil; Germ. teufel; Swed. djefvul; Dan. djævel; the nearest to the Icel. is the A. S. form, which shews that the word came from England with Christianity; of course in the old Saga time the word was almost unknown; the evil spirits of the heathens were trolls and giants]:—a devil, Nj. 273, FmS. ii. 184; but in BS., FmS. viii. sqq., the legendary Sagas, etc. it is freq. enough: as a term of abuse, Sturl. ii. 115, FmS. viii. 95, 368, ix. 50; djöfla-blót (vide blót), Mart. 115; djöfla-mót, meeting of d., Greg. 51; djöfuls-kraptr, devil’s craft, diabolical power, Fms, x. 283, FaS. i. 254.

Orthography: The Cleasby & Vigfusson book used letter ö to represent the original Old Norse vowel ǫ. Therefore, djöfull may be more accurately written as djǫfull.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᛏᛁᚢᚠᚢᛚᛚ
Younger Futhark runes were used from 8th to 12th centuries in Scandinavia and their overseas settlements

Abbreviations used:

A. S.
Anglo-Saxon.
Dan.
Danish.
dat.
dative.
eccl.
ecclesiastical.
Engl.
English.
etc.
et cetera.
freq.
frequent, frequently.
Germ.
German.
gl.
glossary.
Gr.
Greek.
Icel.
Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
n.
neuter.
pl.
plural.
S.
Saga.
Swed.
Swedish.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.
Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)
Fas.
Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)
Fms.
Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)
Greg.
Gregory. (F. II.)
Mart.
Martinus Saga. (F. III.)
Nj.
Njála. (D. II.)
Sturl.
Sturlunga Saga. (D. I.)
➞ See all works cited in the dictionary

Also available in related dictionaries:

This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages descending from Old Norse.

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