Vaka

Old Norse Dictionary - vaka

Meaning of Old Norse word "vaka" in English.

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

vaka Old Norse word can mean:

vaka: u, f., pl. vökur, gen. pl. vakna, Fms. ix. 29, 218: the being awake, waking, í vöku og svefni, awake and asleep; haldi hverr vöku sinni er má, to keep oneself awake, Ld. 152; halda vöku fyrir e-m, to keep a person awake; í föstum ok vökum, 623. 18; halda vöku yfir hjörð sinni, Hom. 37; hafa vökur miklar ok áhyggjur, sleepless nights, Fms. x. 146; and-vaka, sleeplessness.

vaka: 2. in Icel. during the winter, the evening (when one works by lamp-light) is called vaka [Engl. wake]; kveði vöku einni á (during one evening) aðrir kvæðin betr, a ditty; kvöld-vaka, an evening; næstu vikuna fyrir Jólin eru vökur hafðar lengstar á Íslandi ok vakan miðuð við sjö-stjörnuna til sveita, er svo vakað þangað til stjarnan er komin í nónstað eða miðaptan, Ísl. ii. 568: even evening entertainments are called vaka, wakes, hence viki-vakar, q. v.

vaka: 3. a vigil, eve of a saint’s day, eccl.; skyldu þeir fara til hins heilaga Ólafs konungs til vöku, Fms. vii. 309; Jóns-vaka, St. Johns-wake, St. John’s Eve, Norse Jons-ok.

vaka: COMPDS: vaknabúð, vaknaskeið, vökulið, vökumaðr, vökunótt, vökuskarfr.

vaka: II. = vök, an opening in ice, Sturl. ii. 248; brunn-vaka, q. v.

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

Similar entries:

Vaka (II)

Abbreviations used:

f.: feminine.

gen.: genitive.

l.: line.

m.: masculine.

n.: neuter.

pl.: plural.

Engl.: English.

gl.: glossary.

Icel.: Iceland, Icelander, Icelanders, Icelandic.

q. v.: quod vide.

v.: vide.

eccl.: ecclesiastical.

Works & Authors cited:

Fms.: Fornmanna Sögur. (E. I.)

Hom.: Homiliu-bók. (F. II.)

Ld.: Laxdæla Saga. (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.