Last updated: 26 August 2026
Transparency about where our data comes from is part of how we want this site to be judged. Here is what our Old Norse dictionary is actually built on.
Primary reference
Our dictionary data primarily draws on Richard Cleasby and Guðbrandur Vigfússon’s An Icelandic-English Dictionary (commonly known as Cleasby-Vigfússon), first published in 1874. It remains one of the most widely cited historical references for Old Norse and Old Icelandic vocabulary, and much of it has entered the public domain, which is why it underpins many online Old Norse resources, including ours.
What this means for accuracy
- Cleasby-Vigfússon is a 19th-century academic dictionary. Some entries reflect scholarship from that period and may not incorporate the most recent linguistic research.
- We have not independently re-verified every entry against modern academic Old Norse scholarship. Where we’re aware of a specific gap or error, we correct it and log the change on our Changelog.
- Our tools are a starting point for exploring Old Norse vocabulary, not a substitute for a published academic dictionary or a qualified Old Norse scholar.
Rune data
Rune transliterations follow commonly used modern conventions for representing the Younger Futhark and related rune rows. We are working toward clearer sourcing and documentation for this data as the site develops.
See our Methodology page for how this data is used to generate translations, and our Corrections Policy if you’d like to flag a source or entry you believe is inaccurate.