Erfiðr

Old Norse Dictionary - erfiðr

Meaning of Old Norse word "erfiðr" in English.

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

erfiðr Old Norse word can mean:

erfiðr: adj. toilsome, hard, difficult; ok var af því honum erfitt búit, a heavy, troublesome household, Bs. i. 63; erfiða ferð hafa þeir fengit oss, they have made a hard journey for us, Fms. v. 22; Guðrún var erfið á gripa-kaupum, G. was troublesome (extravagant) in buying finery, Ld. 134; e-m verðr e-t erfitt, one has a difficulty about the thing, Fms. v.. 54.

erfiðr: β. hard, unyielding; var Flosi erfiðr, en aðrir þó erfiðri miklu, F. was hard, but others much harder, Nj. 186, 187; jarl var lengi erfiðr, the earl long remained inexorable, 271: ek var yðr þá erfiðr, 229.

erfiðr: γ. hard breathing; ok er hann vaknaði var honum erfitt orðit, when he awoke he drew a deep breath, after a bad dream, Ísl. ii. 194; hvíldisk Helgi, því at honum var orðit erfitt, H. rested, because he was exhausted (from walking), Dropl. 22; þó honum væri málið erfitt, though he spoke with difficulty (of a sick person), Bs. i. 110.

erfiðr: δ. var þess erfiðar (the more difficult) sem…, Fas. i. 81: so in the phrase, e-m veitir erfitt, one has hard work, Bs. i. 555, Nj. 117; erfitt mun þeim veita at ganga í móti giptu þinni, 171.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.: adjective.

s. v.: sub voce.

v.: vide.

l.: line.

pl.: plural.

Works & Authors cited:

Bs.: Biskupa Sögur. (D. III.)

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Ld.: Laxdæla Saga. (D. II.)

Nj.: Njála. (D. II.)

Dropl.: Droplaugar-sona Saga. (D. II.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

➞ 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.