Inherited from Old Swedish hemsker (“foolish”), derived from hem (“home”). The original meaning was "who has only stayed at home" or "who has not been out in the world", thus "stupid" or "easily terrified". Cognate of Icelandic heimskur. Compare English homely.
Audio: | (file) |
hemsk (comparative hemskare, superlative hemskast)
Inflection of hemsk | |||
---|---|---|---|
Indefinite | Positive | Comparative | Superlative2 |
Common singular | hemsk | hemskare | hemskast |
Neuter singular | hemskt | hemskare | hemskast |
Plural | hemska | hemskare | hemskast |
Masculine plural3 | hemske | hemskare | hemskast |
Definite | Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
Masculine singular1 | hemske | hemskare | hemskaste |
All | hemska | hemskare | hemskaste |
1) Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine. 2) The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative. 3) Dated or archaic |