syðri

• syndri

Originally a comparative form of the adverb suðr, sunnr. From Proto-Germanic *sunþrizô (comparative of *sunþraz (“south”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥ (“sun”).

syðri (comparative syðri, superlative synstr)

1. (comparative) more southerly
2. (superlative) most southerly
   • liggja þessi lǫnd synst

     these lands lie most to the south

This word is one of a little handful of adjectives with defective inflection, existing only in the comparative and superlative forms.

• eystri, nyrðri, vestri

• sól f (“sun”)
• suðrœnn (“southern”)
• sunna f (“sun”)
• sunnan (“from the south; on the south side”)
• sunnar (“more to the south”, adv comp)

Note that the Norwegian adverbs meaning south or southward, are derived from syðri, and not Old Norse suðr.

• syðri in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “syðri” in The Bokmål Dictionary.