syðri
Old Norse
Alternative forms
- syndri
Etymology
Originally a comparative form of the adverb suðr, sunnr. From Proto-Germanic *sunþrizô (comparative of *sunþraz (“south”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥ (“sun”).
Adjective
syðri (comparative syðri, superlative synstr)
- (comparative) more southerly
- (superlative) most southerly
- liggja þessi lǫnd synst
- these lands lie most to the south
Inflection
This word is one of a little handful of adjectives with defective inflection, existing only in the comparative and superlative forms.
Declension of comparative of syðri
| singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | syðri | syðri | syðra |
| accusative | syðra | syðri | syðra |
| dative | syðra | syðri | syðra |
| genitive | syðra | syðri | syðra |
| plural | masculine | feminine | neuter |
| nominative | syðri | syðri | syðri |
| accusative | syðri | syðri | syðri |
| dative | syðrum | syðrum | syðrum |
| genitive | syðri | syðri | syðri |
Strong declension of superlative of syðri
| singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | synstr | synst | synst |
| accusative | synstan | synsta | synst |
| dative | synstum | synstri | synstu |
| genitive | synsts | synstrar | synsts |
| plural | masculine | feminine | neuter |
| nominative | synstir | synstar | synst |
| accusative | synsta | synstar | synst |
| dative | synstum | synstum | synstum |
| genitive | synstra | synstra | synstra |
Weak declension of superlative of syðri
| singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | synsti | synsta | synsta |
| accusative | synsta | synstu | synsta |
| dative | synsta | synstu | synsta |
| genitive | synsta | synstu | synsta |
| plural | masculine | feminine | neuter |
| nominative | synstu | synstu | synstu |
| accusative | synstu | synstu | synstu |
| dative | synstum | synstum | synstum |
| genitive | synstu | synstu | synstu |
Coordinate terms
- eystri, nyrðri, vestri
Related terms
- sól f (“sun”)
- suðrœnn (“southern”)
- sunna f (“sun”)
- sunnan (“from the south; on the south side”)
- sunnar (“more to the south”, adv comp)
Descendants
Note that the Norwegian adverbs meaning south or southward, are derived from syðri, and not Old Norse suðr.
- Norwegian Nynorsk: søre; sør
- Norwegian Bokmål: søndre, søre; syd, sør
References
- syðri in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “syðri” in The Bokmål Dictionary.