sannindaman (OSw) sannendeman (ODan) sannanarmaðr (ON) sannaðarmaðr (ON) sanindaman (OSw) sanundaman (OSw) noun

Literally ‘man of truth’. In ODan JyL, the king appointed a permanent board of eight landowning sannendemæn in each hæreth (see hæraþ), who, at the thing (see þing), made decisions by oath in certain serious cases such as killing, rape, church-theft and disputed field boundaries. Their decision could, however, be overruled by the bishop and ‘the best men of the area’ (bæste bygdemæn). In OSw, the status and function of sannindamæn seems more temporary; they could replace members of a næmd (q.v.) when absent (OSw SdmL), or be appointed in pairs by the priest in matters of guardianship of orphans (OSw HL). In OIce Grg, sannaðarmenn appear as two oath-helpers who at the þing ‘assembly’ confirmed previous oaths, specifically for verifying genealogies when appointing a judge.

honest man OSw HL Äb
man of truth ODan JyL 1−3
OSw SdmL Till
man to vouch OIce Grg Þsþ 25, 35 Vís 110 Bat 113 Ómb 130 Feþ 147 Lbþ 215 Misc 248
righteous man OSw HL Äb
OSw ÖgL Rb
true and honest man OSw KrL SmbI
OSw MEL SmbI
true and just man OSw KrL Rb
OSw MEL Rb
trustworthy man OSw UL Jb
OSw VmL Rb Refs:

Andersen 2014; Cleasby and Vigfússon s.v. sannaðr, sannaðar-maðr; Tamm 2002a, 93−94; Tamm and Vogt, eds, 2016, 309