Nifl

Old Norse Dictionary - nifl

Meaning of Old Norse word "nifl" in English.

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

nifl
n. [O. H. G. nibul; Germ. nebel; Lat. nebula; Gr. νεφέλη]:—a mist, fog; this ancient word is obsolete in the Northern languages, and solely remains in COMPDS, chiefly mythol.: nifl-farinn, part. gone towards the dark, i. e. the dead, a απ. λεγ., Akv. 33. nifl-góðr, adj. a απ. λεγ. in a doubtful passage, Stor. 15. Nifl-hel, f. the Tartarus of the heathen mythology, deeper down than Hel (Hades); wicked men are said to die a second death and pass from Hel into Niflhel; fyrir Niflhel neðan, hinnig deyja or Helju halir, Vþm. 43; ríða norðr til Niflheljar, Vtkv. 2; vándir menn fara til Heljar ok þaðan í Niflhel, Edda; ok sendi hann (the giant) niðr undir Niflhel, 27. Nifl-heimr, m. Hades, Edda 18,—Hel kastaði hann í Niflheim ok gaf henni vald yfir níu heimum, Edda 4; fyrr var þat mörgum öldum en jörð var sköpuð, er Niflheimr var görr, 3. nifl-vegr, m. pl. the foggy way, Gg. 13.

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

Abbreviations used:

adj.
adjective.
απ. λεγ.
απαξ. λεγόμενον.
f.
feminine.
Germ.
German.
Gr.
Greek.
i. e.
id est.
l.
line.
Lat.
Latin.
m.
masculine.
mythol.
mythology, mythologically.
n.
neuter.
O. H. G.
Old High German.
part.
participle.
pl.
plural.
v.
vide.

Works & Authors cited:

Akv.
Atla-kviða. (A. II.)
Edda
Edda. (C. I.)
Gg.
Grógaldr. (A. II.)
Stor.
Sona-torrek. (A. III.)
Vtkv.
Vegtams-kviða. (A. I.)
Vþm.
Vafþrúðnis-mál. (A. 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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