älta

Swedish

Etymology

According to Nationalencyklopedins ordbok, the noun definition is attested since 1635, originally meaning "something". The verb comes from the Old Swedish ælta (“to drive, to hunt; to stir, to knead”), from Old Norse elta (“to drive, hunt, knead”), from Proto-Germanic *alatjaną (“to drive, move”), related to Ancient Greek ἐλαύνω (elaúnō, “to drive”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛlˌta/

Noun

älta c

1. (archaic, colloquial) General term for several child diseases, especially the rickets.

Declension

Verb

älta (present ältar, preterite ältade, supine ältat, imperative älta)

1. to repeatedly ponder over or discuss an issue without reaching a constructive solution; to brood, to harp

   Hon ältade alltid gamla misstag när hon var deprimerad.

   She always brooded old mistakes when she was depressed.

2. to vigorously stir or knead something

   Du måste älta murbruket tills det får en jämn konsistens.

   You have to work the mortar until it has an even consistency.

Conjugation

Related terms

• ältning

Further reading

• älta in Svensk ordbok.