Norse

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Connected to the history, languages, or cultural practices of Scandinavian nations during the Viking Age and its aftermath
2. Pertaining to the ancient mythologies, customs, or significant events linked with the northern European regions
3. Related to the languages, traditions, or historical events of the Scandinavian peoples, particularly during the Viking period and its subsequent influence

Etymology: The adjective "norse" is a neat example of a word that took its shape from a neighbouring language's spelling. The English word came in through Dutch "Noorsch," a form of "noordsch" meaning "northern," and from the Danish "norsk," meaning "Norwegian." Both trace back to the same root as "north," with the "-ish" suffix (in the sense of "of or belonging to") added on, so at heart the word simply means "of the north." Because of that shared ancestry, "norse" is a doublet of "Norsk," the Norwegian word for Norway's language and people. English kept the adjective in its older, broader sense of anything northern, then narrowed it to the people and cultures of Scandinavia, and especially the Vikings, their myths, and their language.

Synonyms: scandinavian, vikings