yndi

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse yndi, from Proto-Germanic *wunjō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪntɪ/

  Rhymes: -ɪntɪ

Noun

yndi n (genitive singular yndis, no plural)

1. delight, joy, pleasure

   Synonyms: gleði, lukka, unun

Declension

Declension of yndi (sg-only neuter)

	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	yndi	yndið
accusative	yndi	yndið
dative	yndi	yndinu
genitive	yndis	yndisins

Old Norse

Alternative forms

• ynði
• *ynni (based on Swedish descendants compared with cognates)
• *yn, *ynn (based on Swedish descendants compared with cognates)

Etymology

Probably to Proto-Germanic *wunjō f. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to love”).

The form yndi probably stems from an earlier form, ynni, to a Proto-Norse *ᚹᚢᚾᛁ (*wuni /⁠wunni⁠/), as seen in Swedish Swedish ynne, or earlier Proto-Norse *ᚹᚢᚾᚦᛁ (*wunþi), with the dh appearing in the shift from n–i. In the 8th century, w in front of u or o fell away: *wunni → *unni → *ynni; alt.: *wunði → *unði → ynði/yndi; compare Proto-Norse *wulfaʀ → Old Norse ulfr (“wolf”).

Noun

yndi n (genitive yndis)

1. delight, happiness

Declension

Declension of yndi (strong ija-stem)

neuter	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	yndi	yndit	yndi	yndin
accusative	yndi	yndit	yndi	yndin
dative	yndi	yndinu	yndum	yndunum
genitive	yndis	yndisins	ynda	yndanna

Derived terms

• yndifall n (“bereavement”)
• yndiliga (“charmingly”)
• yndiligr (“pleasurable”)
• yndisbót f (“increase of bliss”)
• yndisstaðr m (“place of bliss”) (of Eden)

Descendants

• Icelandic: yndi n
• Middle Norwegian: ynde n
• Norwegian Bokmål: ynde n
• Norwegian Nynorsk: ynde n
• Old Danish: ynde
  • Danish: ynde
• Old Swedish: ynni n
  • Swedish: ynne n (obsolete)
  • ⇒ Swedish: ynneligen (obsolete)
• ⇒? Old East Norse: *yndist, *ynnist (intermixed with unna, compare unnasta)
  • Old Danish: yndest
    • Danish: yndest
  • Old Swedish: ynnist
    • Swedish: ynnest, ynst

Further reading

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910), “yndi”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press; also available at the Internet Archive