idelig

Danish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Danish ithelik, ithælic. Consists of id (“effort, deed, act”). Another possible origin is from Old Danish ith- (“repeated action”), idløs, (obsolete) (futile, fruitless). Compare Old Norse iðuligr.

Adjective

idelig (neuter ideligt, plural and definite singular attributive idelige)

1. (dated) continuous, perpetual, incessant

References

• “idelig” in Den Danske Ordbog

Swedish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Swedish idheliker. Most likely cognate of id (“effort”), and thus related to idas, idka, and idog. For some usages interpreted as idel +‎ -ig. Alternatively, derived from Old Swedish ið- (“repeated action”). Compare Old Norse iðuligr, iðugligr, iðurligr.

Adjective

idelig (not comparable)

1. ever, perpetual, incessant

Declension

Inflection of idelig

Indefinite	positive	comparative	superlative1
common singular	idelig	—	—
neuter singular	ideligt	—	—
plural	ideliga	—	—
masculine plural2	idelige	—	—
Definite	positive	comparative	superlative
masculine singular3	idelige	—	—
all	ideliga	—	—

¹ The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
² Dated or archaic.
³ Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

Derived terms

• ideligen

References

• idelig in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• idelig in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• idelig in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• idelig in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)