Etymologically
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bedoelen

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Pronunciation

  • /bəˈdulə(n)/[1]

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
  • 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