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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