Here's an ON word I've been in a discussion about lately. It's pretty
controversial in some circles and I'd like a historical/linguistic position
on it.

The word is 'Ergi'.

The reason it's controversial is because it is root that shows up in several
other words and languages and it shows up in Modern Icelandic under a
different definition.

The word appears to have 4 distinct meanings, but the question of 'which
came first' helps define the word itself. One meaning could be the primary
definition, of which it's use has led to connotations of the other 3. Or it
could be more or less complicated than that.

Those 4 meanings apear to be
1. crying/bawling/whining
2. annoying
3. 'Wicked' (in a moral sense)
4. lustful

The most important quote I can think of is its use in Ynglingasaga, whereby
Snorri uses it to explain why men do/should not practice a form of magic
known as 'Seidhr'.

from http://www.snerpa.is/net/snorri/yngl-sag.htm:

"En þessi fjölkynngi, er framið er, fylgir svo mikil ergi að eigi þótti
karlmönnum skammlaust við að fara og var gyðjunum kennd sú íþrótt."

My attempt at translation is stuck here:

"But this [multi-knowledge {witchcraft}] , when (it) is employed, (it)
supports such great ERGI that (it is) not thought manly and (is)shameless,
(so) go and warn (against?) priestesses teaching this [expert-knowledge
{skill}]."

If the primary definition is 'lustful' then it has a
sexual connotation. If it's primary definition is 'wicked' then one must
wonder 'why is it wicked?' and the question then becomes 'because it is
lustful?' The most common and uniform use of the term appears to mean
'crying/bawling' and is used insultingly like calling someone a 'Cry Baby'
in America. If the primary meaning of the word is 'crying' then it suggests
that the practice of the magic is painful/strenuous and that the unmanly
part has to do with either the strain of the task or the emotional response
to that strain.

Lastly, it is entirely possible that the word itself is not as important as
the context in which it is in. Something about the practice of Seidhr magic
may be considered 'unmanly' in a completely different context (such as the
'unmanly' concern for one's fate) and the term has been blown out of
proportion.

Are there any thoughts on this from a purely academic perspective (this is
not a topic for modern practioners of Seidh, who may use their own modern
redefinition of the term).

-Lazarus