The Old Norse compound word ragnarok has a long history of interpretation. Its first element is clear: ragna, the genitive plural of regin (n. pl.) 'the ruling powers, gods.' The second element is more problematic, as it occurs in two variants, -rök and -røkkr. Writing in the early 20th century, philologist Geir Zoëga treats the two forms as two separate compounds, glossing ragnarök as 'the doom or destruction of the gods' and ragnarøkkr as 'the twilight of the gods.'[6] The plural noun rök has several meanings, including 'development', 'origin', 'cause', 'relation', 'fate.'[7] The word ragnarök as a whole is then usually interpreted as the 'final destiny of the gods.'[8]