Etymologically
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blij

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Pronunciation

Forms

blij (comparative blijer, superlative blijst)[1] The older form blijde is still used in set phrases and formal language.[1][2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch blide, inherited from Old Dutch *blīthi, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *blīþī, inherited from Proto-Germanic *blīþi-.[3][1][4] The modern form lost the ⟨d⟩ between vowels, a regular change, and the older ⟨blijde⟩ survives beside it.[1][2] Old Dutch also had the verb blīthan (“to rejoice”).[3][5] The same word is Old Saxon blīthi (“bright, cheerful”), Old High German blīdi (“cheerful, friendly”), Old Frisian blīthe (modern West Frisian bliid), Old English blīþe (“cheerful, friendly”) (modern English blithe), Old Norse blíðr (“gentle, friendly”) (modern Swedish blid) and Gothic 𐌱𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐍃 (bleiþs, “merciful”).[3][4][6] In the oldest records the word means “gracious, friendly, bright”, but “glad” is also found early.[3]

The adjective exists only in Germanic, and its origin is uncertain.[3][4] The Philippa dictionary takes it perhaps from a verbal stem *blī- (“to shine”), and Van Haeringen likewise links it with blei, taking “bright” as the oldest sense.[3][7] Kroonen calls this possible but uncertain.[4] A connection with Proto-Indo-European *mélit (“honey”), the source of Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌻𐌹𐌸 (miliþ) and Latin mel, has been proposed, with a development from “sweet” to “glad”, but the Philippa dictionary finds it unlikely and notes that it does not explain the long ⟨ī⟩.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adjective is first found in place names: Blidenstat, now Blijdenstein in Drenthe, in 1152, and Blide, a stream near Axel in Zeeland, in 1164.[3][8][9] Middle Dutch blide appears about 1240 in a Limburg glossary, where it renders Latin laetus and hilaris, “glad, cheerful”.[3][10]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch blide meant cheerful and merry, but also bright and shining, of the weather (1390), and blessed, of the dead who are with God (1339).[11] The 13th-century texts often pair it with vro in vro ende blide, “glad and happy”.[10] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal also records it for the vigour of nature, as in blije bloempjens (1605), and many compounds such as blijspel “comedy” and blijmoedig “cheerful”.[2]

De blijde boodschap is the gospel and een blijde gebeurtenis the birth of a child.[12] The Blijde Inkomst was the solemn entry of a ruler into a city, and the charter of privileges granted at it.[12] Iemand blij maken met een dode mus is to delight someone with something worthless; the phrase goes back to an 18th-century saying about rejoicing over a dead sparrow.[12][13]

Dutch passed the word to German dialects (blide, blied), Negerhollands and Berbice Dutch (bli), and to French dialect blit “weakling”.[14]

Timeline

  • 10th century – Old Dutch blīthan “to rejoice” in the Wachtendonck Psalms.[3]
  • 1152 – The place name Blidenstat.[3][9]
  • c. 1240 – Middle Dutch blide glosses Latin laetus.[3][10]
  • 1390 – Blide “bright”, of the weather.[11]
  • 1605 – Blije bloempjens, of flowers full of life.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. happy, glad, in a cheerful mood: de kinderen waren blij met de sneeuw.[12][15][1]
  2. Pleased about something; also relieved: ik ben blij dat je veilig thuis bent.[15][1]
  3. Joyful, bringing joy: blij nieuws.[12][15]

Word family

  • blijdschap
  • blijheid
  • dolblij
  • verblijden
  • blijmoedig
  • blijspel
  • blei
  • English blithe

Usage notes

An archaic noun blij “lead (metal)” is a separate word, Middle Dutch bli (1287), related to German Blei; it was already obsolete in 1903.[10][2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 k l 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. ^ a b c d Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
  5. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  6. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
  7. ^ Haeringen, C. B. van (1936), Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal: Supplement, 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  8. ^ Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  10. ^ a b c d 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
  11. ^ a b Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  12. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  13. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
  14. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  15. ^ a b c Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org