SVINNR
lýsingarorð
adj., also sviðr (nn = ð); [Ulf. swinþs = ἰσχυρός; A. S. swið; Hel. swiði; Germ. ge-schwind]:—prop. swift, quick, which sense, however, only remains in svinn Rín, the swift, rapid Rhine, Akv. 27; veg-s., ‘way-swift’ (of a river), Gm. 28.
2. metaph. wise; ins svinna mans, Hm. 162; ú-sviðr, unwise, 20, 22; konan svinna, Korm.; alls þik svinnan kveða, Vþm. 24, 30; ek mun segja þér svinn ór reiðu, Helr. 5; svinna hafði hann hyggju, Hðm. 9; und svinnum sigrunni, gallant, Vellekla: the saying, sá er svinnr er sik kann, he is wise who knows himself, i. e. knows how to moderate himself, Hrafn. 10; sviðr um sik, wise of oneself; heima glaðr gumi ok við gesti reifr, sviðr skal um sik vera, Hm. 102; al-sviðr, fill-wise, the name of the wise dwarf; geð-svinnr, mind-wise; hug-s., orð-s., wise or swift in words (?), eloquent; ráð-svinnr, wise in counsel; ú-svinnr, unwise, and also indiscreet, rude: with gen., in the sense of ready, quick, elsku-svinnr, s. heilags tafns, Edda 51 (in a verse).
3. in mod. usage svinnr (like glöggr) means stingy.
II. as subst. in the phrase, snúa á svinn sínu ráði, to turn to reason, mend one’s ways, Fms. ii. 235.