From Old Norse lygn, from Proto-Germanic *lugnijaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright”), referring to shining water. Germanic cognates include English lown, Danish lyn (“lightning”), Swedish lugn (“calm water”).
lygn (comparative lygnari, superlative lygnastur)
strong declension (indefinite) |
singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
---|---|---|---|---|
nominative | lygn | lygn | lygnt | |
accusative | lygnan | lygna | ||
dative | lygnum | lygnri | lygnu | |
genitive | lygns | lygnrar | lygns | |
plural | masculine | feminine | neuter | |
nominative | lygnir | lygnar | lygn | |
accusative | lygna | |||
dative | lygnum | |||
genitive | lygnra | |||
weak declension (definite) |
singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
nominative | lygni | lygna | lygna | |
acc/dat/gen | lygna | lygnu | ||
plural (all-case) | lygnu |
strong declension (indefinite) |
singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
---|---|---|---|---|
nominative | lygnastur | lygnust | lygnast | |
accusative | lygnastan | lygnasta | ||
dative | lygnustum | lygnastri | lygnustu | |
genitive | lygnasts | lygnastrar | lygnasts | |
plural | masculine | feminine | neuter | |
nominative | lygnastir | lygnastar | lygnust | |
accusative | lygnasta | |||
dative | lygnustum | |||
genitive | lygnastra | |||
weak declension (definite) |
singular | masculine | feminine | neuter |
nominative | lygnasti | lygnasta | lygnasta | |
acc/dat/gen | lygnasta | lygnustu | ||
plural (all-case) | lygnustu |
Attested in Icelandic since the 16th century. Possibly inherited, but likely a loanword from Old Saxon lugina, in either case ultimately from Proto-Germanic *lugīnō, itself from *leuganą (“to lie”). Doublet of ljúga.
lygn f (genitive singular lygnar, no plural)
singular | ||
---|---|---|
indefinite | definite | |
nominative | lygn | lygnin |
accusative | lygn | lygnina |
dative | lygn | lygninni |
genitive | lygnar | lygnarinnar |
lygn f (definite singular lygna, indefinite plural lygner, definite plural lygnene)