forðum

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word forðum. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word forðum, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say forðum in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word forðum you have here. The definition of the word forðum will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition offorðum, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse forðum. Cognate with Faroese forðum.

Adverb

forðum

  1. formerly, long ago

Old Norse

Alternative forms

Etymology

Etymology obscure, but ultimately from Proto-Germanic *furi- (“formerly”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“forth, over, across, through”), whence also Old Norse forn (“old, ancient”), fjǫrð (“past year”).

According to Stiles 2013 possibly from Proto-Norse *for þaim > *forþam with regular change of *-am to -um.

Adverb

forðum (not comparable)

  1. aforetime, formerly, once, erst
    • verse 47 of the Hávamál
      Ungr var ek forðum, / fór ek einn saman,
      þá varð ek villr vega;
      auðigr þóttumk, / er ek annan fann,
      maðr er manns gaman.
      Young was I once, / and wandered alone,
      And nought of the road I knew;
      Rich did I feel / when a comrade I found,
      for man is man's delight.
  2. of yore, in days of old
    • verse 2 of the Vǫluspá
      Ek man jǫtna / ár um borna,
      þá er forðum mik / fǿdda hǫfðu
      I recall ettins / born long ago,
      who of old / did foster me.

Descendants

References

  • Stiles, P. (2013) The Pan-West Germanic Isoglosses and the Sub-Relationships of West Germanic to Other Branches in NOWELE vol. 66.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia