þǫrf

See also: torv, torf, and þörf

Old Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Norse *ᚦᚨᚱᛒᚢ (*þarbu), from Proto-Germanic *þarbō.

Noun

þǫrf f (genitive þarfar, plural þarfar)

1. need, want, necessity
2. something useful, helpful

Declension

Declension of þǫrf (strong ō-stem, ar and ir-plurals)

feminine	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	þǫrf	þǫrfin	þarfar, þarfir	þarfarnar, þarfirnar
accusative	þǫrf	þǫrfina	þarfar, þarfir	þarfarnar, þarfirnar
dative	þǫrf	þǫrfinni	þǫrfum	þǫrfunum
genitive	þarfar	þarfarinnar	þarfa	þarfanna

Derived terms

• óþǫrf
• þǫrfgi

Related terms

• þarfa
• þarfr (“useful”)
• þurfa (“to need”)
• þurft f (“a need, want, neccessity”)

Descendants

• Icelandic: þörf
• Faroese: tørvur m, tarvur m
• Norwegian:
  • Norwegian Bokmål: tarv m or n
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: tarv f; torv f
• Old Swedish: þarf
  • Swedish: tarv n, tarf (pre-1906 spelling)
• Old Danish: tharf
  • Danish: tarv c or n

Further reading

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910) “þörf”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press, page 523; also available at the [https://archive.org/stream/concisedictionar001857

1. page/523 Internet Archive]