Hefja

Old Icelandic Dictionary - hefja

Meaning of Old Icelandic word "hefja" in English.

As defined by A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic (Geir Zoëga):

hefja Old Icelandic word can mean:

hefja: (hef; hóf, hófum; hafiðr and hafinn), v.

hefja: 1) to heave, raise, lift (~ stein);

hefja: hann hóf upp augu sin, he lifted up his eyes;

hefja: ~ sik á lopt, to make a leap;

hefja: ~ handa, to lift the hands (for defense);

hefja: ~ höfuðs, to lift the head, be undaunted;

hefja: ~ graut, to lift the porridge, eat it with a spoon;

hefja: 2) to exalt, raise in rank;

hefja: ~ e-n til ríkis, to raise one to the throne;

hefja: 3) to begin;

hefja: ~ mál sitt, to begin one’s speech;

hefja: ~ ferð, to set out on a journey, to start;

hefja: ~ flokk, to raise a party;

hefja: ~ ákall, to raise a claim;

hefja: impers., hefr e-t = hefr upp e-t, it begins (hér hefr Kristnisögu);

hefja: refl., ~st, to begin, originate (hvaðan af hefir hafizt skáldrskarpr?);

hefja: 4) impers. to be carried, drifted (by storm or tide);

hefja: höf skipin öll saman (all the ships were drifted) inn at landinu;

hefja: þeir létu ~ skipin ofan forstreymis, they let the ships drift down the stream;

hefja: 5) with preps.:

hefja: ~ e-t af e-u, to take it off;

hefja: impers., en er af henni hóf öngvit (acc.), when she recovered from her swoon;

hefja: þá hóf af mér vámur allar, all ailments left me;

hefja: refl., ~st af höndum e-m, to leave one;

hefja: ~ á rás, to take to one’s feet (= hafa á rás);

hefja: refl., láta ~st fyrir, to retreat, withdraw;

hefja: ~ munn sinn í sundr, to open one’s mouth;

hefja: impers., Birkibeina (acc.) hefr undan, the B. drew back;

hefja: ~ e-t upp, to lift up (hann hóf orminn upp á hendi sér);

hefja: impers., hóf honum upp brýn (acc.), his face brightened;

hefja: ~ e-t upp, to begin (= ~ 3);

hefja: Egill hóf upp kvæðit, E. began his poem;

hefja: impers., hér hefr upp Konunga-bók, here begins the K.;

hefja: refl., ~st upp, to begin (hér ~st upp landnám);

hefja: ~st upp til ófriðar (með ófriði), to begin warfare;

hefja: láta ~st við, to lay to (naut.).

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᚼᛁᚠᛁᛅ

Abbreviations used:

e-t: eitthvat.

impers.: impersonal.

e-u: einhverju.

acc.: accusative.

e-m: einhverjum.

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This headword also appears in dictionaries of other languages closely related to Old Icelandic.

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