mæle

See also: Maele

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse mæli (“speech”) and mæla (“to speak”), both from mál (“language, speech, matter, affair”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛːlə/, [ˈmeːlə]

Noun

mæle n (singular definite mælet, not used in plural form)

1. speech, voice

Verb

mæle (imperative mæl, present mæler, past mælte or mælede, past participle mælet or mælt)

1. utter (to say)

References

• “mæle” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “mæle,2” in Den Danske Ordbog

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology 1

From Old Norse mæli (“speech”) and mæla (“for the verb, to speak”), both from mál (“language, speech, matter, affair”).

Noun

mæle n (definite singular mælet, indefinite plural mæler, definite plural mæla or mælene)

1. speech, voice

Derived terms

• ettermæle

Verb

mæle (imperative mæl, present mæler, past mælte, past participle mælt)

1. to utter (to say)

Etymology 2

Uncertain.

Verb

mæle (imperative mæl, present mæler, past mælte, past participle mælt)

1. to punch, throw or kick something or someone hard and without purpose or aim

References

• “mæle” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology 1

From Old Norse mæli n (“utterance”). Related to mæle in Etymology 2, deriving ultimately from Proto-Germanic *maþlą.

Alternative forms

• Mæle (obsolete capitalization)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²meːlə/

Noun

mæle n (definite singular mælet, indefinite plural mæle, definite plural mæla)

1. voice
2. ability to speak
3. (in compounds) speak, words

Derived terms

• einmæle
• ettermæle
• motmæle

Etymology 2

From Old Norse mæla (“to say, utter”), from Proto-Germanic *maþlijaną (“to speak”).

Alternative forms

• mæla (a-infinitive)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²meːlə/

Verb

mæle (present tense mæler, past tense mælte, past participle mælt, passive infinitive mælast, present participle mælande, imperative mæl)

1. to say, utter

Etymology 3

Unknown.

Alternative forms

• mæla (a-infinitive)

Verb

mæle (present tense mæler, past tense mælte, past participle mælt, passive infinitive mælast, present participle mælande, imperative mæl)

1. (transitive, colloquial) to kick, throw, or beat (a ball) forcefully and aimlessly

Etymology 4

From Old Norse mæla (“to measure”), from Proto-Germanic *mēlijaną (“to mark, stain, paint”).

Alternative forms

• mæla (a-infinitive)

Verb

mæle (present tense mæler, past tense mælte, past participle mælt, passive infinitive mælast, present participle mælande, imperative mæl)

1. to measure ((pre-2012) alternative form of måla)

Etymology 5

From Old Norse mælir m (“measure”).

Alternative forms

• Mæle (obsolete capitalization)

Noun

mæle m (definite singular mælen, indefinite plural mælar, definite plural mælane)

1. an old unit of measure