Hi all,

First, thanks for sharing so much knowledge! I've been on the list for a
while, puddling along quietly as and when I get time. Still very much a
beginner though...

Second, I have a question that seems simple, but I've been going in circles.

"Kona" - literally means "woman", right? However, it's often used to
connote "wife". So, if I'm reading and find "So-And-So Somebody's-kona", do
I automatically take that to mean "wife", as opposed to any other female
connection? And any other relative would be "frændkona"?

How do I differentiate an intimate or familial relationship from "servant",
"relation", "under the protection/administration of", etc? I guess I'm
trying to understand the more subtle distinctions between words like "hi?n"
(domestic context?), "svæinn" (younger or junior servant?), "gængiR"
(follwers, cronies?). Do these terms have feminine forms?

(Some context: I'm looking at translations of runic grave markers & church
inscriptions, mostly.)

Thanks for bearing with my waffling. :)

Regards,

Em