vemod

Danish

Etymology

From Middle Low German wēmōt, whence also German Wehmut (which see). Analysable as ve (“woe”) +‎ mod (“mood”).

Noun

vemod n (singular definite vemodet, not used in plural form)

1. melancholy, sadness

Declension

Declension of vemod

neuter gender	Singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	vemod	vemodet
genitive	vemods	vemodets

Derived terms

• vemodig
• vemodsfuld

References

• “vemod” in Den Danske Ordbog

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Middle Low German wēmōt, whence also German Wehmut (which see). Analysable as ve (“woe”) +‎ mod (“mood”).

Noun

vemod n (definite singular vemodet, uncountable)

1. sadness

References

• “vemod” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Middle Low German wēmōt, whence also German Wehmut (which see). Analysable as ve (“woe”) +‎ mod (“mood”).

Noun

vemod n (definite singular vemodet, uncountable)

1. sadness

References

• “vemod” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Swedish

Etymology

From Middle Low German wēmōt, whence also German Wehmut (which see). Analysable as ve (“woe”) +‎ mod (“mood”). See also Old English wéamód (“angry, wrathful”).

Noun

vemod n

1. melancholy, sadness (calm, often wistful sadness)
   • 1984, Ted Ström (lyrics and music), “Vintersaga [Winter tale]”, in Mica‎^[1], performed by Monica Törnell:

     I Malmö rispas dimman av färjornas sirener, och på andra sidan sundet börjar världen. En ensam Volvo sliter i motvinden på Tjörnbron. Bion i Pajala ger "Den sista färden". Lapplandspilen råmar som ett vilddjur genom natten. Gårdarna släcker sina ljus. Ett stormpiskat Marstrand ber sitt Pater Noster. Stockholm City svajar i sitt rus. Det är då som det stora vemodet rullar in. Och från havet blåser en isande, gråkall vind.

     In Malmö, the fog is scratched by the sirens of the ferries, and on the other side of the strait, the world begins. A lone Volvo struggles [toils, labors] in the headwind on the Tjörn bridge. The cinema in Pajala is showing Deliverance [The final journey]. The Lapland Arrow [defunct train service between the south and north of Sweden] lows [moos] like a wild animal through the night. The country houses [(country) estates] are turning off their lights. A storm-whipped Marstrand prays its Pater Noster. Stockholm City sways in its rush [intoxication, excited state]. That is when the great melancholy rolls in. And from the sea blows an icy, gray-cold wind.

Declension

Declension of vemod

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	vemod	vemods
	definite	vemodet	vemodets
plural	indefinite	—	—
	definite	—	—

Related terms

• vemodig

References

• vemod in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• vemod in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• vemod in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• ve (2) in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)