lygn

Icelandic

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /lɪkn/
Rhymes: -ɪkn

Etymology 1

From Old Norse lygn, from Proto-Germanic *lugnijaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright”), referring to shining water. Germanic cognates include English lown, Danish lyn (“lightning”), Swedish lugn (“calm water”).

Adjective

lygn (comparative lygnari, superlative lygnastur)

(of water, weather, etc.) still, calm

Declension

Positive forms of *lygn*
strong declension (indefinite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygn	lygn	lygnt
	accusative	lygnan	lygna	lygnt
	dative	lygnum	lygnri	lygnu
	genitive	lygns	lygnrar	lygns

	plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygnir	lygnar	lygn
	accusative	lygna	lygnar	lygn
	dative	lygnum
	genitive	lygnra

weak declension (definite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygni	lygna	lygna
	acc/dat/gen	lygna	lygnu	lygna
	plural (all-case)	lygnu

Comparative forms of *lygn*
weak declension (definite)		masculine	feminine	neuter
	singular (all-case)	lygnari	lygnari	lygnara
	plural (all-case)	lygnari

Superlative forms of *lygn*
strong declension (indefinite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygnastur	lygnust	lygnast
	accusative	lygnastan	lygnasta	lygnast
	dative	lygnustum	lygnastri	lygnustu
	genitive	lygnasts	lygnastrar	lygnasts

	plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygnastir	lygnastar	lygnust
	accusative	lygnasta	lygnastar	lygnust
	dative	lygnustum
	genitive	lygnastra

weak declension (definite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	lygnasti	lygnasta	lygnasta
	acc/dat/gen	lygnasta	lygnustu	lygnasta
	plural (all-case)	lygnustu

Etymology 2

Attested in Icelandic since the 16th century. Possibly inherited, but likely a loanword from Old Saxon lugina, in either case ultimately from Proto-Germanic *lugīnō, itself from *leuganą (“to lie”). Doublet of ljúga.

Noun

lygn f (genitive singular lygnar, no plural)

(obsolete) lie, lies, falsehood
Synonym: lygi

Declension

Declension of *lygn* (sg-only feminine)
	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	lygn	lygnin
accusative	lygn	lygnina
dative	lygn	lygninni
genitive	lygnar	lygnarinnar

References

Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989) Íslensk orðsifjabók, Reykjavík: Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, →ISBN (Available at Málið.is under the “Eldri orðabækur” tab.)
Pokorny, Julius (1959) “1923”, in Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 3, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 1923

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

løgn

Noun

lygn f (definite singular lygna, indefinite plural lygner, definite plural lygnene)

lie
Han har fortald deg ei lygn.
He has told you a lie.

References

“lygn” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.