Norse

[ nawrs ]

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their language.
2. Norwegian ( def 1 ).

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the Norwegians, especially the ancient Norwegians.
2. (used with a plural verb) the Northmen or ancient Scandinavians generally.
3. the Norwegian language, especially in its older forms.

Norse

/ nɔːs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of ancient and medieval Scandinavia or its inhabitants
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of Norway

noun

1. 1. the N group of Germanic languages, spoken in Scandinavia; Scandinavian
   2. any one of these languages, esp in their ancient or medieval forms See also Proto-Norse Old Norse
2. the Norse
   functioning as plural
   1. the Norwegians
   2. the Vikings

Other Words From

• non-Norse adjective noun plural nonNorse
• pre-Norse adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Norse¹

1590–1600; perhaps < Dutch noorsch, obsolete variant of noordsch (now noords ), equivalent to noord north + -sch -ish ¹. Compare Norwegian, Swedish, Danish Norsk Norwegian, Norse

Example Sentences

Some who have touted the idea of the Norse discovery are benignly proud of their ancestry, and curious about exploring it.

From Time

The discovery in 1898 of the Kensington Runestone, with its inscription recording the arrival of a group of Norse explorers in 1362, enabled rural Minnesotans to feel proud that their ancestors had visited the region five centuries earlier.

From Time

In the movies, Elba has mostly learned to do a lot with a little, bringing unstudied glamour to roles like the reptilian villain Krall in Star Trek Beyond and the all-seeing Norse deity Heimdall in several Marvel movies.

From Time

Eivor sees the ancient race as old Norse men and women speaking their language, so that’s how we the players view them as well.

From Washington Post

Nat Wolff stars in Mortal, a new fantasy action film inspired by Norse mythology.

From Ars Technica

He added that Norse has good relations with the FBI and has consulted with them on other crime cases.

From The Daily Beast

From afar, the confab known as the World Economic Forum in Davos looked a little like Asgard, the mythical home of the Norse gods.

From The Daily Beast

In Norse mythology, Loki is a shape-shifting god who enjoys the occasional turn as a woman.

From The Daily Beast

Did naming your car after a Norse, shape-shifting god help you avoid speed traps?

From The Daily Beast

Why did the Norse not turn back and find a way to warmer climes, but instead map the North Sea and the coastline?

From The Daily Beast

No sooner was the man there than he shouted somewhat in broad Norse sea language, which made our skipper start and knit his brows.

From Project Gutenberg

William Bowie; probably from Gaelic buidhe, yellow, and so not Norse at all.

From Project Gutenberg

The Norse of old were born, bred, and buried—if they escaped being killed and cut to pieces—in the midst of alarms.

From Project Gutenberg

At last he spoke Norse, and told us that he had found vines and grapes in great abundance.

From Project Gutenberg

At this point a vigorous sally from the fortress, and a deep-toned Norse cheer, settled the question for the time being.

From Project Gutenberg