Kunna

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

kunna Old Icelandic word can mean:

kunna

(kann, ~, ~t), v.

kunna

1) to know, understand (þú kannt margt þat er eigi kunnu aðrir menn);

kunna

2) to know (by memory);

kunna

ljóð ek þau kann, er kannat þjóðans kona, I know songs, such as no king’s daughter knows;

kunna

3) to know a person;

kunna

unni honum hverr maðr, er hann (acc.) kunni, every man that knew him loved him;

kunna

4) spec. phrases;

kunna

~ hóf at um e-t, ~ hóf sitt, to know the proper mean, to behave with moderation;

kunna

uxarnir kunnu þó heim, the oxen found their way home;

kunna

~ enga mannraun to have no experience of men;

kunna

~ e-m þökk, aufusu, to be thankful, obliged to one;

kunna

5) ~ sik, to know oneself (sá er svinnr, er sik kann); to behave well (G. kveðst mundu meiða hann, ef hann kynni sik eigi);

kunna

6) ~ sér e-t, to understand, have clear knowledge of (something as concerning oneself or touching one’s own interest);

kunna

~ sér margt, to be skilled in many things;

kunna

~ fyrir sér = ~ sér; also ellipt. know how to conduct oneself;

kunna

7) with dat. to know;

kunna

ek kan skapi Gunnhildar, I know Gunhild’s temper;

kunna

8) ~ e-n e-s or um e-t, to blame a person for a thing (eigi hugða ek, at hann mætti mik þessa ~);

kunna

eigi er hann um þat at ~, he is not to be blamed for it;

kunna

9) to be pleased or not with a thing;

kunna

Eyjúlfr lézt því nafni mundu vel ~, E. said he should be well pleased with that name;

kunna

10) to be able, with infin.;

kunna

þú skalt eigi ~ frá tíðindum at segja, thou shalt not escape to tell the tale;

kunna

11) to chance, happen;

kunna

hvar sem þik kann at at bera, wheresoever thou may happen to arrive.

Possible runic inscription in Younger Futhark:ᚴᚢᚾᚾᛅ

Also available in related dictionaries:

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

• Old Norse - Cleasby & Vigfusson Dictionary
• Old Norwegian - Johan Fritzner's Dictionary
• Old Swedish - K.F Söderwall's Dictionary