meðal

See also: medal, Medal, and methal

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse meðal, from Proto-Germanic *midlą (“middle”). Compare Danish middel (“means, something used to cure”), which was instead probably borrowed through Low German.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛːðal/

  Rhymes: -ɛːðal

Noun

meðal n (genitive singular meðals, nominative plural meðul)

1. a medicine, a drug
2. (archaic) means

   Tilgangurinn helgar meðalið.

   The end justifies the means.

Synonyms

• (drug): lyf
• (means): aðferð, leið

Derived terms

• tilgangurinn helgar meðalið

Preposition

meðal

1. (governs the genitive) among, amongst

   Ég er meðal mikilmenna.

   I am amongst great men.

Adverb

meðal

1. average

Usage notes

Usually always written as a prefix (meðal-), but often written separately when the following word is long (meðal fótboltamaður) although such usage is proscribed.

May in informal speech stand by itself (Ég er bara meðal. (“I'm just average.”)).