At 14:21 24.1.2001, Haukur wrote:

>(I seem to remember you understanding "vitnir" in another way but that
>shouldn't change the meaning of "grafvitnir".)

You are actually remembering something, but not
quite correctly. Of course the word "vitnir" usually
means "wolf", but I think I have pointed out to you
and others, that in the Icelandic Etymological
Dictionary ÁBM suggests that the original meaning was
"hinn þefvísi, skynugi" (one with sharp senses, one with
a sharp sense of smell, etc.). Such a meaning of the word
may have been readily apparent to a 10th (or even 12th)
century Icelander. (Even the modern Icelander can easily
sense such a shade to the word - the word VIT still carries a
meaning of "senses" - cp. "skilningarvit" - the five senses.)

Best wishes
Eysteinn