Icelandic edit

Etymology edit

From Old Norse mikill, from Proto-Germanic *mikilaz, from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh₂-.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

mikill (comparative meiri, superlative mestur)

  1. large in quantity or number
  2. much
  3. great
    Alexander mikli.
    Alexander the Great.

Inflection edit

Derived terms edit

Old Norse edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Germanic *mikilaz (great, many), from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh₂- (big, great). Cognate with Old English miċel, Old Saxon mikil, Old Dutch mikil, Old High German mihhil, Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃 (mikils).

Adjective edit

mikill (comparative meiri, superlative mestr)

  1. great, tall of stature
  2. great, large, in bulk or size
    áin var mikilthe river was swollen
  3. (of quantity) much
  4. prominent

Inflection edit

This word seems to have a suppletive inflection, using another root in the comparative and superlative forms, than in the positive form (albeit one inherited from earlier Proto-Germanic). Note also the otherwise irregular nn-ending in the accusative singular masculine form (mikinn), as well as the t-ending in the nominative and accusative singular neuter forms (mikit).

Descendants edit

References edit

  • mikill”, in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • meiri”, in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • mestr”, in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press