kæra (OSw) kære (ODan) kera (OGu) kæra (ON) bekera sik (OSw) verb

Literally ‘to complain’. When used of the injured party’s declaration of having been wronged often referring to the initiation of a legal procedure (at the þing ‘assembly’), and translated as for example ‘bring a case (before the Thing assembly)’, ‘prosecute’, ‘sue’, ‘take action’. Sometimes focusing on the identification of an alleged culprit (‘accuse’, ‘charge’), or on the request for justice (‘claim’, ‘demand’, ‘petition’). The right to kæra typically belonged to the injured party (including the bishop’s lænsmaþer (q.v.) as the representative of the Church when it was considered the injured party).

accuse ODan ESjL 2
OSw HL Rb
OSw ÖgL Kkb 18:2
bring a case (against) ONorw MLL Þfb 4 Mah 20
OSw DL Kkb, Bb, Gb, Rb
OSw ÖgL Eb
bring a case before the Thing assembly OSw DL Tjdb
bring a charge OSw KrL Bb
OSw MEL Bb Rb
OSw MESt Rb
bring a complaint ODan SkL 226
bring a prosecution OSw UL Mb, Rb
OSw VmL Mb, Rb
bring an action (against) OSw KrL Bb DbI
OSw MEL Bb DbI DbI DbII
OSw MESt Bb DbI DbII
challenge ODan JyL 2
charge ODan ESjL 3
ODan SkL 98
OSw KrL Rb Eb Hb SmbI
OSw MEL Rb Eb Hb SmbI
OSw MESt Eb SmbI
claim ODan SkL 51, 67, 83
OSw ÄVgL Jb
OSw YVgL Jb, Föb, Utgb
complain ODan ESjL 1
ODan JyL 1, 2
ODan SkL 15, 44, 49, 75, 187, 214
ODan VSjL 24, 71
OSw DL Tjdb
OSw HL Kkb, Äb
OSw MESt Add
conduct a prosecution OSw DL Rb
demand ODan JyL 2
OSw ÖgL Bb
dispute OSw MEL Jb
lay a claim OSw MEL Kgb
lay a complaint OGu GL A 23
make a claim ODan ESjL 2, 3
make a complaint ODan ESjL 2
OSw UL Kkb, Äb, Mb, Jb
make an accusation OGu GL A 22
OSw UL Kgb
make charges ODan ESjL 3
petition OSw ÖgL Kkb
OSw YVgL Föb
plead OGu GL Add. 1 (B 4)
present a claim ONorw FrL Intr 15
proceed OSw MEL Tb
prosecute OSw DL Kkb, Mb, Bb
OSw HL Kkb
pursue ODan ESjL 2, 3
raise a claim ODan JyL 1
ODan SkL 14
OSw ÖgL Eb, Db, Gb, Äb, Jb, Kmb, Bb
raise a complaint ODan ESjL 3
ODan JyL 1, 2
ODan SkKL 3
ODan SkL 8, 173
ODan VSjL 18, 25, 78
start accusation ODan ESjL 2
sue ODan SkBL
OSw BjR
OSw HL Mb
OSw KrL Kgb
OSw MEL Kgb
OSw MESt Kgb
OSw ÖgL Kkb, Eb, Kmb, Rb, Bb
OSw SdmL Kkb, Kgb, Äb, Bb, Kmb, Mb, Rb
OSw YVgL Add
take action ODan JyL 2
try OSw MEL Kgb
Expressions:

kæra fyrir (ON)

to bring an action before OIce Jó Sg 3, Mah 21

kæra sik (ON)

bring an action OIce Jó Sg 1

kæra til, kæra til, til kæra (OSw)

prosecute OSw UL Kkb, Kgb, Mb, Blb VmL Kkb, Kgb, Mb, Jb, Bb, Rb

kæra æptir (OSw)

bring a prosecution OSw UL Mb, Rb

raise an objection OSw UL Blb VmL Jb

Refs:

Hellquist s.v. kära; Schlyter s.v. kæra, sökia