skærsild

Danish

Etymology

From Old Danish skærseeld, skæræseld, a compound of skærelse (“purification”, obsolete) +‎ ild (“fire”), a calque of Medieval Latin ignis purgatorius. Compare also Old West Norse skírslareldr, Norwegian skjærsild, Swedish skärseld. The first part is a verbal noun from the (obsolete) verb skære (“to shine”). See also skær (“pure”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skɛːrsilˀ/, [ˈsɡ̊ɛɐ̯ˌsilˀ]

Noun

skærsild c (singular definite skærsilden, not used in plural form)

1. (religion) Purgatory (the phase of purification after death)

Declension

Declension of skærsild

common gender	Singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	skærsild	skærsilden
genitive	skærsilds	skærsildens

References

• “skærsild” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “skærsild” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog