Etymologically
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anders

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈɑn.dərs/[1]

Forms

anders[1] In dialects it is also contracted to aars.[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch anders, formed from Dutch ander + -s with the adverbial ending ⟨-s⟩.[4][5][6] Middle Dutch had the same form as the genitive singular of the pronoun, and the Middle Dutch dictionary warns against confusing the two.[7] The same formation is Old High German anderes (modern German anders), Middle Low German anders and Old Frisian ōtheres (modern West Frisian oars).[4][8][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest records are from the Lower Rhine in the first quarter of the 13th century, with the senses “otherwise” and, in anderis nuwet, “nothing else”.[4][6] A Ghent statute of 1236 uses it for “in another way”: married people are not to be admitted unless the aldermen think anders of it.[6][4]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch used anders as an adverb of manner (“in another way”), with anders dan “otherwise than”, and of place (“elsewhere”).[6] It also stood before nouns where the inflected adjective andere would now be used: anders huus, “another house”.[7] The modern senses “at other times, usually”, “in other circumstances, or else” and the use as a predicate adjective, dat is anders, “that is different”, are all in Van Dale.[9][3] A euphemistic sense “homosexual” is recent.[9]

In southern Dutch some writers used anders for “much more”, after French autrement;[10] De Vreese counted this among the gallicisms.[10] Negerhollands took over anders, and a Javanese dialect had andhers.[11]

Timeline

  • 1201–1225 – First records, from the Lower Rhine.[4][12][6]
  • 1236 – Anders “in another way” in a Ghent statute.[4][6]
  • 1301 – Anders huus “another house”, with anders before a noun.[7]
  • 1528 – Earliest quotation in the WNT.[3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In another way, differently: Zij pakt het dit jaar anders aan.[9][1]
  2. At other times, usually: Anders is hij nooit te laat.[9][13]
  3. In other circumstances, otherwise, or else: Neem een jas mee, anders word je nat.[9][1][13]
  4. For another reason, or as a reservation: Het is anders wel een goed idee.[9]

Adjective

  1. (predicative) Different in kind or character: Deze stad is anders dan ik dacht.[9]
  2. (euphemistic) Homosexual.[9]

Word family

  • andersom
  • anderszins
  • andersdenkend
  • andersgezind
  • andersheid

Usage notes

The first name Anders is a different matter: it is the Frisian, Low German and Scandinavian form of Andreas.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  3. ^ a b c Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
  4. ^ a b c d e f Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
  5. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  6. ^ a b c d e f Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
  7. ^ a b c Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  8. ^ Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  10. ^ a b Vreese, Willem de (1899), Gallicismen in het Zuidnederlandsch, Gent: Siffer
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  12. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  13. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
  14. ^ Schaar, J. van der (2004), Prisma voornamen, Utrecht: Het Spectrum