bedoelen

Forms

bedoelen (weak: past bedoelde, past participle bedoeld)^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from Dutch be- + doelen (“to aim”), from the verb doelen, itself formed from doel “target, aim”; the dictionaries allow either as the base.^[3][2][4][5] The verb ⟨doelen⟩ is Middle Dutch, in the sense “to shoot at a target”.^[3] The noun first meant a ditch marking the boundary between fields (1258), and then the mound of earth that served as a target; it goes back to Proto-Germanic *dōljō-, in ablaut with the word for “dale”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb is first found in 1675, in ik kon … mijn oogwit niet bedoelen, “I could not set my aim”.^[3] In 1679 a writer speaks of what the Apostle bedoeld, has in view, in his letter.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The first meaning was “to aim at, to have as one's purpose”: an author of 1734 writes that such authors seek winst en eer, “gain and honour”.^[2][3] With a thing as subject it meant to have as its aim, as in wat bedoelt uw komst? “what is the purpose of your coming?” (1821).^[2]

The sense “to refer to, to mean (with words)” is recorded from 1777, and in 1784 a letter speaks of a cause die gy bedoelt, “which you mean”.^[3][2] Zoo was het niet bedoeld, “that is not how it was meant”, is quoted from 1895.^[2] The noun bedoeling “intention, meaning” is formed from it.^[2]

Sranan took the verb as bedul “to mean; meaning”, which Surinamese Javanese took over from Sranan.^[6][1] Afrikaans has bedoel.^[1]

Timeline

• 1675 – Bedoelen “to set as one's aim” is first recorded.^[3]
• 1679 – It is used for what a writer has in view.^[3]
• 1731–1735 – Van der Sijs dates the verb to these years.^[7][5]
• 1777 – The sense “to refer to, to mean” is recorded.^[3]
• 1895 – Zoo was het niet bedoeld “it was not meant like that” is quoted.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To mean, to refer to with a word or a hint: Welke film bedoel je?^[8][1]
2. To intend, to do something with a certain purpose: Het was als grap bedoeld.^[8][1]

Word family

• bedoeling
• bovenbedoeld
• eerstbedoeld
• goedbedoeld
• goedbedoelend
• laatstbedoeld
• onbedoeld
• welbedoeld
• welbedoelend

Related words

• doel

Usage notes

Ik bedoel maar is said to drive home a point already made.^[8] Zo was het niet bedoeld is an apology for words that gave offence.^[8][2]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
4. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
5. ^ a b 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. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
7. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
8. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers