þegja þunnu hljóði

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 Icelandic 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Proverb 1.2.1 Related terms 1.3 References

[edit] Icelandic

[edit] Etymology

From þegja (“‘to be quiet, to be silent, to say nothing’”) + þunnu (“‘with thin’”) the tækisþágufall (“‘dative of instrument’”) of þunnur (“‘thin’”) + hljóði (“‘archaic meaning; with hearing’”) the tækisþágufall (“‘dative of instrument’”) of hljóð (“‘archaic meaning; hearing’”). Literally meaning "to be silent with a thin hearing" meaning "to be silent with an ear so thin that one can listen well".

This proverb originated from the seventh verse of Hávamál (“‘Sayings of the high one’”) in the Konungsbók (“‘King's book’”) of the Eddukvæði (“‘Poetic Edda’”):^[1]

Icelandic[2][1] 7. Inn vari gestur, er til verðar kemur, þunnu hljóði þegir, eyrum hlýðir, en augum skoðar; svo nýsist fróðra hver fyrir.

English[2] 7. Let the wary stranger who seeks refreshment keep silent with sharpened hearing; with his ears let him listen, and look with his eyes; thus each wise man spies out the way.

English[2] 7. A guest should be courteous When he comes to the table And sit in wary silence, His ears attentive, his eyes alert: So he protects himself.

English[3] 7. The knowing guest who goes to the feast, In silent attention sits; With his ears he hears, with his eyes he watches, Thus wary are wise men all.

[edit] Proverb

þegja þunnu hljóði

1. to hold one's tongue, to say nothing even though one is divided or not happy about something; to be silent even though one is unreconciled, but be still unreconciled; to keep a watchful silence; to listen in breathless stillness

[edit] Related terms

• ósáttur

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} (Icelandic) Hvað þýðir að þegja þunnu hljóði og hvaðan er þetta orðatiltæki komið? (What does sitting in silent attention mean and whence does it originate?)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Hávamál
3. ^ HOVAMOL- The Ballad of the High One an English translation of Hávamál