Sæl, Sarah!

I usually don't feel any need to comment
on your posts since everything you say,
even when you are uncertain, seems to be
correct.

>> Allir heita hér góðu um
>> All of them swore by the gods...
>
> This sounds great, but I'm not sure if we
> can fit it into the original! Looking at
> the declension patterns alone, I believe
> góðu must be a weak plural adjective ending,
> from góðr. I don't think it can be indefinite
> dative plural of guð with the 'm' dropped because
> there would need to be a vowel shift as well.
> My lecture notes tell me this is an expression
> meaning to promise faithfully (although I'm
> still rather unclear as to why it should be
> góðu and not gott) - can anyone enlighten us here?

The answer is simple. The verb 'heita' (in the sense
of "pledge" or "promise") takes dative rather than
accusative; thus you get 'góðu' (dative singular neuter
indetermined).

Kveðja,
Haukr