Sví-þjóð

Old Norse Dictionary - sví-þjóð

Meaning of Old Norse word "sví-þjóð" in English.

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

sví-þjóð: f. (often spelt Sviðioð), dat. Svíþjóðu, GS. 13, FaS. ii. 485 (in a verse); Svíþjúðu, Rafn 181, 189: [Svíar and þjóð; the d in the forms Suede, Schweden, Sweden is from the þ in þjóð: the etymology (Edda 107) from Odin’s name Sviðrir is quite fanciful, for even Tacitus calls the people Swiones, not Swithones]:—the people, land of the Swedes, i. e. Sweden, orig. only of Sweden proper as opp. to Gothland; í Danmörku, Gautlandi eðr í Svíþjóð, n. G. l. ii. 277; afterwards used as a general name for the later Swedish empire, including Gothland (Svía-veldi, Svía-ríki): again, Svíþjóð in Kalda or in Mikla, Svíþjóð, ‘the Cold, the Great,’ was the old name of the east of Europe, ‘Scythia,’ see Hkr., Yngl. S. ch. 1; Symb. (begin.), Al. 131: the European Svíðjóð was therefore Svíþjóð in minni, or Swecia Minor,’ Symb. 13.

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

Abbreviations used:

begin.: beginning.

ch.: chapter.

dat.: dative.

f.: feminine.

gl.: glossary.

i. e.: id est.

l.: line.

L.: Linnæus.

n.: neuter.

opp.: opposed.

S.: Saga.

Works & Authors cited:

Al.: Alexanders Saga. (G. I.)

Edda: Edda. (C. I.)

Fas.: Fornaldar Sögur. (C. II.)

Gs.: Grótta-söngr. (A. II.)

Hkr.: Heimskringla. (E. I.)

N. G. L.: Norges Gamle Love. (B. II.)

Symb.: Symbolae. (H. IV.)

Yngl. S.: Ynglinga Saga. (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.