Etymologically
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bijna

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈbɛi̯.naː/[1]

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]
  • 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