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Vættir (Old Norse; singular Vættr) or wights are nature spirits in the Norse religion. These nature spirits are divided up into 'families', including the Álfar (elves), Dvergar (dwarves), Jötnar (giants), and even gods, the Æsir and Vanir, who are understood to be prominent families among them. The term 'families' (''ættir'') is often translated as 'clans' or 'races'. These families sometimes intermarried with each other, and sometimes with humans. Sjövættir (sea spirits) or vatnavættir (water spirits) are guardians of the specific waters. The ''tomte'' or ''nisse'' is a solitary vätte, living on the farmstead. He is usually benevolent and helpful, which can not be said about a mischievous ''illvätte''. However, he can cause a lot of damage if he is angry, such as killing livestock. ==Etymology== The Old Norse term ''véttr/vættr'' and its English cognate ''wight'' are descended from Proto-Germanic '' *wihtiz'' (thing, creature),〔https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Proto-Germanic/wihtiz〕 from Proto-Indo-European '' *wekti-'' ("object, thing").〔http://etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=wight〕 Vættr and wight normally refer to supernatural 'being', especially landvættr (land spirit), but can refer to any creature. The Norwegian ''vette'' is used much in the same way as the Old Norse ''vættr'', as are the corresponding Swedish cognate ''vätte'' (dialect form vätter - Old Swedish vætter)〔http://runeberg.org/svetym/1267.html〕 and the Danish ''vette'' (being). A related form in the Slavic languages can be seen in Old Church Slavonic ''вєшть'', (veštĭ), meaning thing, matter, or subject. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Vættir」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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