Heil og sæl: Difference between revisions
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Originally a Norse greeting, it had the form ''heill ok sæll'' when addressed to a man, and ''heil ok sæl'' when to a woman. |
Originally a Norse greeting, it had the form ''heill ok sæll'' when addressed to a man, and ''heil ok sæl'' when to a woman. |
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The adjective ''heil'' (also ''hel'') is related to the English adjective ''whole''/''hale''. The verb ''heile'' (also ''hele'') is related to the English verb ''heal'' through their common origin, the Germanic word stem ''*haila-''. The word has likewise clear connections to the German verb ''heilen'' as it is known in the [[Nazi salute|national socialist salute]] “Heil [[Hitler]]”. |
The adjective ''heil'' (also ''hel'') means ''good luck'' or ''Lucky'' in Old Norse, and is related to the Old Norse word ''heilagr'', meaning ''holy''. <ref>{{http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/HEIL}}</ref> |
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It is also related to the English adjective ''whole''/''hale''. The verb ''heile'' (also ''hele'') is related to the English verb ''heal'' through their common origin, the Germanic word stem ''*haila-''. The word has likewise clear connections to the German verb ''heilen'' as it is known in the [[Nazi salute|national socialist salute]] “Heil [[Hitler]]”. |
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The adjective ''sæl'', in Old Norse, means ''happy'' or ''glad''. <ref>{{http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=silly}}</ref> |
The adjective ''sæl'', in Old Norse, means ''happy'' or ''glad''. <ref>{{http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=silly}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 01:09, 5 January 2015
Heil og sæl (English: healthy and happy) was a common greeting in the Norse society.
During the Second World War, the national socialist party in Norway attempted to reintroduce the greeting.
Etymology
Originally a Norse greeting, it had the form heill ok sæll when addressed to a man, and heil ok sæl when to a woman.
The adjective heil (also hel) means good luck or Lucky in Old Norse, and is related to the Old Norse word heilagr, meaning holy. [1]
It is also related to the English adjective whole/hale. The verb heile (also hele) is related to the English verb heal through their common origin, the Germanic word stem *haila-. The word has likewise clear connections to the German verb heilen as it is known in the national socialist salute “Heil Hitler”.
The adjective sæl, in Old Norse, means happy or glad. [2]
In Old English it is documented only in the negated variant unsǣle, meaning wicked [3].
Literature and sources
- Bjorvand, Harald, and Lindeman, Fredrik Otto (2000): Våre arveord : Etymologisk ordbok
- Norwegian Language Council: Kvinnenavn, cup, healing
References
- ^ Template:Http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/HEIL
- ^ Template:Http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=silly
- ^ Hall, John R. Clark. A Concise Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Retrieved 4 January 2015.