Ragnarök
/ˈræɡ.nə.rɒk/noun
In Norse mythology, the foretold catastrophic battle and destruction of the gods, followed by the renewal of the world.
Did you know?The Old Norse word rök means “fate” or “doom,” while the modern association with “twilight” comes from the variant ragnarøkkr, meaning “twilight of the gods.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“To straighten, direct, or govern; a proposed ancient root behind the “rule” element in the divine name.”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*raginō
“A decision, counsel, or ruling power; the ancestral source of Old Norse regin, “gods” or “ruling divine powers.””
Viking Age
Old Norse
ragna rök
“The fate or doom of the gods; ragna is the genitive plural of regin, and rök means fate, course, or doom.”
13th Century
Old Norse
Ragnarök
“The apocalyptic battle and destruction described in texts including the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda.”
13th Century
Old Norse
ragnarøkkr
“A variant form interpreted as “twilight of the gods,” helping create the famous poetic image of divine darkness.”
Modern English
English
Ragnarok
“A final catastrophe or apocalyptic collapse; also the mythological destruction and renewal of the Norse cosmos.”