bijna

Forms

bijna^[1] Middle Dutch also had binaer and binaest, with the comparative and superlative of na.^[2][3] Bijnaar was still the usual form in Flanders in the early 20th century.^[2][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch bina, formed from bij “near” and na “near”, two adverbs of the same meaning.^[2][5][4] The forms ⟨binaer⟩ and ⟨binaest⟩ were made with nader and naast, the comparative and superlative of the adverb.^[2] The same compound is Middle Low German bīnā, Old High German bī nāh (modern German beinahe) and West Frisian benei.^[2][3] The parts in the reverse order give nabij “near”.^[2][4]

In the southern dialects the stress falls on the second part, so that the first is reduced and the word is pronounced ⟨bənā⟩.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first records are from a Brabant life of Saint Lutgard of 1276–1300, in bina ouer al, “almost everywhere”, and a Brabant text of 1276 says that Elizabeth had to eat bina dach ende nacht, “almost day and night”.^[2][5][6] The Rijmbijbel of 1285 has binaer.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The literal sense “close by” is rare and was already obsolete by the 17th century, as in by nae de stadt comende, “coming near the town”, of 1598.^[4] The abstract sense “almost” was the usual one in the Middle Ages, and Middle Dutch also used it for “about, roughly”.^[4][7] Early Modern Dutch also had bynaes (1559) and bynaest (1596).^[4]

The word passed into Sranan Tongo bèina, and Afrikaans has byna.^[8][1]

Timeline

• 1276–1300 – Middle Dutch bina ouer al “almost everywhere”.^[2][6]
• 1285 – The form binaer in the Rijmbijbel.^[2]
• 1480 – The form binaest.^[2]
• 1598 – By nae in the literal sense “close to”.^[4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. almost, nearly: het is bijna vier uur.^[9][1][10]
2. Soon, before long: we zijn er bijna.^[1]

Related words

• nabij
• bij
• na
• haast
• German beinahe

Usage notes

Bijna and haast are interchangeable in the sense “almost”.^[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 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 Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
4. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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
6. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
7. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
8. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
9. ^ Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
10. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org