sitja
The Old Norse verb for 'sit' is sitja.
The verb describes a person being in a position where the upper body is upright and the legs are supported.
Meaning: of a person, be in a position in which the upper body is upright and the legs are supported (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form is sitja. For the present indicative, use sitið when addressing a plural 'you'. In the past tense, "he sat" is sat and "they sat" is sátu.
Did you know?
- The Old Norse verb sitja shares a common ancestor with the English word 'sediment', as both come from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'sit'.
- In Old Norse poetry, sitja was often used metaphorically to describe a ruler 'sitting' on a throne to denote their legal authority rather than their physical posture.
- The root of sitja is also found in the word 'sedentary', which English speakers use to describe people who spend much of their time sitting.
Examples in context
- Þú sitr á stóli.You sit on a chair.
- Sitja við brennanda eld.To sit by a burning fire.
Example conversation
Ivar and Gunnhild are arriving at a feast.
- IvarSjá, hér megum vér sitja.Look, we may sit here.
- GunnhildJá, þetta er gott sæti.Yes, this is a good seat.
- IvarViltu sitja við borðit?Do you want to sit at the table?
- GunnhildEk vil sitja þar.I want to sit there.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sitja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
