What is the origin of the word norn in Norse mythology?
The word norn derives from an Old Norse verb meaning to become. Etymologists trace the origin further back to Proto-Germanic *wurdiz and even Proto-Indo-European roots related to turning.
Questions about Norns
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who are the three main norns that emerge from beneath Yggdrasil at dawn each day?
Three maids named Urðr Verdandi and Skuld emerge from beneath the ash tree Yggdrasil at dawn each day. They carry water from the well Urðarbrunnr to sprinkle over the great tree to keep it from withering or rotting away.
How many different races do norns belong to according to Fafnir's explanation to Sigurd?
Fafnir told Sigurd that norns are sundborn meaning separated in birth with no common kin binding them together. Some belong to æsir-kin while others claim elf-kind as their home and Dvalin's daughters form another group entirely among the dwarf norns.
When did Snorri Sturluson write his Prose Edda containing descriptions about Norse deities?
Snorri Sturluson wrote his Prose Edda during the thirteenth century drawing on older pagan sources. His work Gylfaginning contains retellings descriptions and commentaries about Norse deities including the Poetic Edda which preserves even earlier material.
What legal association does the phrase norna dómr have in the poem Ynglingatal by Hvini?
The phrase norna dómr appears in Ynglingatal describing King Halfdan receiving judgment at Borró meaning judgment of the nornir. This legal association suggests death serves as final decision regarding human life.