íviðja

Of obscure origin and meaning. Some sources propose derivation from *í-viðr, thus meaning "one in the woods", while others suggest connection to Old Saxon inwid (“fraud, wickedness”), Old High German inwit (“deceit, cunning”).

• (9th century West Norse) IPA^(key): /ˈĩːˌwið.jɑ/
• (13th century Icelandic) IPA^(key): /ˈiːˌvið.jɑ/

íviðja f (genitive íviðju, plural íviðjur)

1. (hapax legomenon, Norse mythology) a word of unclear meaning, often taken to mean giantess or ogress

   Synonym: gýgr

   • Vǫluspá, stanza 2, lines 5-6:

     Níu man ek heima,
     níu íviðjur [...] (This word in Codex Regius has previously been read as iviþi, which is normalized to íviði, but later investigations has shown it in fact does say iviþiur. Hauksbók has uidiur, which Björnsson normalizes to íviðjur.)

     Nine worlds I remember,
     nine giantesses [...]

• bergrisi
• hrímþurs
• jǫtunn
• risi
• þurs