líkn

Merkingar

f. [lækna is the healing of the body, líkn the soothing of the mind or heart; the words seem to be identical: in very early usage líkn seems to denote bodily healing also, and particularly of relief in labour, hence the words líknar-galdr, -spor, -lófi in the old poems Sdm. and Hm., as also the líknar-belgr, although now only used of the caul of animals]:

1. 1.

   healing, remedy; hvat er til líkna lagt Sigurði? Skv. 1. 30; leitaða ek í líkna, at letja ykkr heiman, I sought for means to let you from coming. Am. 46.

2. 2.

   relief, mercy, comfort; sú erumk líkn, that is my comfort, Ls. 35; til leiðréttu ok líknar, Stj. 149; veita líkn, to relieve, soothe; hann lét þá næra með allri líkn (mercy, tenderness), Fms. ii. 226; biðja e-m líknar eðr lífs griða, vi. 113.

3. 3.

   mercy, eccl.; biðja líknar sinni misgerning, Mar.; synda líkn, forgiveness of sin, id.; hann bað Guð líknar þegar hann féll í nokkura sök, Sks. 734; Drottinn minn gefi dauðum ró | hinum líkn er lifa, O my Lord, grant rest to the dead, relief to the living, Sól. 82.