norðarri

Old Norse

Alternative forms

Etymology

Originally a comparative form of the adverb norðr. From Proto-Germanic *nurþrōzô (comparative degree of *nurþraz (north)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁en (in).

Adjective

norðarri (comparative norðarri, superlative norðastr)

  1. (comparative) more northerly
  2. (superlative) most northerly
    liggja þessi lǫnd norðast
    these lands lie northernmost

Inflection

This word is one of a little handful of adjectives with defective inflection, existing only in the comparative and superlative forms.

Comparative declension of norðarri
singular masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðarri norðarri norðarra
accusative norðarra norðarri norðarra
dative norðarra norðarri norðarra
genitive norðarra norðarri norðarra
plural masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðarri norðarri norðarri
accusative norðarri norðarri norðarri
dative norðurrum norðurrum norðurrum
genitive norðarri norðarri norðarri
Strong declension of superlative of norðarri
singular masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðastr norðust norðast
accusative norðastan norðasta norðast
dative norðustum norðastri norðustu
genitive norðasts norðastrar norðasts
plural masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðastir norðastar norðust
accusative norðasta norðastar norðust
dative norðustum norðustum norðustum
genitive norðastra norðastra norðastra
Weak declension of superlative of norðarri
singular masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðasti norðasta norðasta
accusative norðasta norðustu norðasta
dative norðasta norðustu norðasta
genitive norðasta norðustu norðasta
plural masculine feminine neuter
nominative norðustu norðustu norðustu
accusative norðustu norðustu norðustu
dative norðustum norðustum norðustum
genitive norðustu norðustu norðustu

Coordinate terms

  • norðan (from the north, adverb)
  • norðrœnn (northern)
  • norðarr (farther north, adverb)

Descendants

  • Norwegian Nynorsk: nordre; nørdre (comparative), nørdst (superlative)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: nordre; nørdst

Further reading

  • Zoëga, Geir T. (1910) “norðarri”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 315; also available at the Internet Archive
  • “nordre” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.