ú-svifr

(not úsvífr), adj. (the r is radical); [the latter part, which only exists in this and the following compds, answers to A. S. syfer, O. H. G. subar, Germ. sauber, Engl. sober, Lat. sobrius, meaning clean; úsvifr = A. S. unsyfre]:—prop. unsober, unclean, but only used in a metaphorical sense.

2. ‘unwashed,’ coarse, overbearing; Austmenn vóru heldr úsvifir, Sturl. ii. 233; úsvifir ok íllorðir, Fms. iii. 143; hann var úsvifr við sér minni menn, Eb. 42; ú. ok harðgörr, Fas, ii. 470: Ósvifr and Úsyfr (not Ósvífr, for vi changes into y, not ví), Landn., Ld., Sturl. (Ósvifr the Wise).