--- In norse_course@yahoogroups.com, "kat D" <hotkat46@...> wrote:

> Can anyone tell me what vafalaust and viðurværi mean?
> Thank you to anyone that can be of help to me.

Have you got the zoëga URL handy?

I notice here, that for me the question about etymology
always comes up. It seems to be a more efficient way to learn.

laus means "loose", that is easy, because it is almost
the same as in English.

vafa seems to be more difficult.
I have seen it in the Edda as vafr-logi, the ring of
flames through which Sigurd had to ride his horse.
There is also a giant called Vaf-þrúðnir.

The vafr-logi is a flickering flame.
In German they say Waberlohe.

Well, I cannot say it "vafalaust" at the moment,
but I do retain an impression of a connection with
weaving. That would then be like a motion that goes
back and forth: whence also the "flickering" of a flame.
I also seem to recall ideas about spiders and their webs.

Ah yes, of course! In English we also speak of "wavering",
or "to wave a flag" or even to wave bye-bye.

Someone who wavers is irresolute, he hesitates.

vafalaust would then mean "without wavering", hence
without doubt or unquestionably.

The opposite idea would then be vafasamt, i.e.
uncertain and questionable.

The second word you asked about, is however not listed
in Zoëga, as far as I can see. Are you SURE it is a genuine
Old Norse word? In modern Icelandic it seems to mean "food",
but I do not understand the rationale behind it.

If you have the possibility, please try to check the
ideas against an etymological dictionary, since I do
not have mine with me today, and vafalaust is of course
always better than vafasamt.

Best
Xigung.