belangrijk

Forms

belangrijk (comparative belangrijker, superlative belangrijkst)^[1]

Etymology

It is a derivative from Dutch belang + -rijk, formed in the 18th century.^[2][3][1] The Philippa dictionary takes the second part as the adjective rijk “rich”; the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal notes that speakers hardly think of that meaning, so that the second part here comes close to a suffix, and some pronounce it with a weak vowel.^[2][4]

The base noun belang is belanc (“advantage, gain”), recorded from 1265–70, derived from the verb belangen (“to long for”), which was formed from be- and the adjective lang.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Philippa dictionary dates the adjective to 1785, but an earlier superlative belangrykste was found in a periodical of 1774.^[2] The first quotation in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, from 1784, has the old sense “arousing interest and sympathy”: Welk een belangryk gelaat!, “what a touching face!”.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The adjective first followed the senses of belang “interest, concern”, meaning roughly what French intéressant means; that sense is now obsolete.^[4] From the 1790s the main sense was “weighty, of great importance”, mostly of things, less commonly of a person of standing.^[4] By 1840 it could express degree, “considerable, rather large”, and, from the late 19th century it was used as an adverb, “to a great extent”, as in a fortune increased considerably (1896).^[4]

In young people's language the ironic lekker belangrijk means “totally uninteresting”.^[5] Afrikaans has belangrik.^[1]

Timeline

• 1774 – The superlative belangrykste is the earliest known record.^[2]
• 1784 – Belangryk in the sense “touching, arousing interest”.^[4]
• 1793 – The sense “of great importance”.^[4]
• 1840 – The sense “considerable”, of a double chin.^[4]
• 1896 – Adverbial belangrijk “considerably”.^[4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. important, of great significance: Dit gesprek is belangrijk voor de toekomst van het bedrijf.^[5][3][1]
2. considerable, sizeable.^[5][6]

Adverb

1. To a great extent, considerably.^[5][4]

Word family

• belangrijkheid
• onbelangrijk

Related words

• belang
• belangstelling
• rijk

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e 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
3. ^ a b Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
5. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
6. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org