Etymologically
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beloven

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Pronunciation

  • /bəˈloːvə(n)/[1]

Forms

beloven[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch beloven, inherited from Old Dutch bilōven (“to renounce, give up”), formed from Dutch be- + loven, the verb in its old sense “to promise, bind oneself”, which is also seen in verloven “to betroth”.[2][3][4] The same formation is Middle Low German beloven (“to promise, betroth”) and Old Frisian bilovia (“to fix, promise”) (modern West Frisian belove), while Old High German gilobōn (“to approve”) (modern German geloben) has the prefix gi-.[2][4][5][6] Middle Dutch used geloven in the same sense, recorded even earlier (1236); the EWN compares English, where ⟨be-⟩ likewise replaced ⟨ge-⟩ in English believe.[2][5]

Franck–Van Wijk note that simple loven “to promise” and the noun lovede “promise, vow” were mainly northern, like the Frisian and Low German forms without a prefix.[5] For the further history of the base see lof.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The verb is first found around 1100 in the Egmond Williram, in a reflexive sense: wie scal ich nu mich belouuan, “how shall I now free myself”, of renouncing a thing.[3][2] The sense “to promise” is first recorded in the Bernardus glossary of about 1240, where it renders Latin devovere.[2][7][8]

Semantic evolution

In 13th-century Middle Dutch beloven meant to make a solemn promise (1254, Middelburg), to promise a daughter in marriage, and to vow to God (1285); reflexively it meant “to rejoice, be content” (1265, Brabant).[7][2] The 1285 Rijmbijbel also uses it for “to praise, thank”.[2] Geloven “to promise” was pushed out by beloven, and the noun belofte “promise” followed (about 1475; earlier belof, 1285).[2]

Since the 16th century iemand gouden bergen beloven “to promise someone mountains of gold” has rendered Latin montes auri polliceri.[9][10] Het beloofde land is the Promised Land of the Bible.[10][11] De Vreese condemned zich beloven “to resolve; to expect” as a gallicism after French se promettre.[12] The verb was borrowed into Danish (love), Swedish (loven) and Negerhollands (belof).[13][1]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – Old Dutch bilōven “to renounce” is recorded in the Egmond Williram.[3]
  • 1236 – Geloven is used for “to promise”.[2]
  • c. 1240 – Belouen glosses Latin devovere in the Bernardus glossary.[2][7]
  • 1269 – A charter records that people hebben ... beloeft, have promised.[2]
  • 1285 – The Rijmbijbel uses the verb for a solemn vow, and the noun belof appears.[2]
  • c. 1475 – The noun belofte is first recorded.[2]
  • 1548 – Ic beloue hu “I promise you” in ordinary use.[10]

Meanings

Verb

  1. (transitive) to promise, to bind oneself to do or give something: Ze beloofde haar moeder vroeg thuis te zijn.[11][1][14]
  2. (of things) to give reason to hope or fear: Die donkere wolken beloven weinig goeds.[11]

Word family

  • belofte
  • veelbelovend

Usage notes

Beloofd is beloofd “a promise is a promise” is said when someone keeps a promise, or to remind them to.[11] Dat belooft wat! predicts that more is to come.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 c Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  4. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  6. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 66
  7. ^ a b c 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
  8. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  12. ^ Vreese, Willem de (1899), Gallicismen in het Zuidnederlandsch, Gent: Siffer
  13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  14. ^ Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org