Verðandi

Old Norse

Etymology

From verðandi, present participle of verða (“to become, to happen”). Thus literally becoming, happening.

Proper noun

Verðandi f

1. (Norse mythology) one of the three Norns
   • Vǫluspá, verse 20, in 1867, S. Bugge, Norrœn fornkvæði: Sæmundar Edda hins fróða. Christiania, page 4:

     Þaðan koma meyjar / margs vitandi
     þrjár, ór þeim sal / er und þolli stendr;
     Urð hétu eina, / aðra Verðandi,
     skáru á skíði, / Skuld ina þriðju;
     þær lög lögðu, / þær líf kuru
     alda börnum, / örlög seggja.

     Thence come maidens / much knowing
     three from the hall / which under that tree stands;
     Urd hight the one, / the second Verdandi,
     on a tablet they graved, / Skuld the third;
     Laws they established, / life allotted
     to the sons of men, / destinies pronounced.

Declension

Verðandi is in the accusative. Other forms are unknown.

Coordinate terms

• Skuld
• Urðr

Related terms

• verða