eerder

Forms

eerder (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Dutch eer + -er, a new comparative of the adverb eer “before, sooner”, formed when the old comparative eerre was no longer recognised as one.^[2][3][1] The regular comparative ending /ər/ takes an epenthetic /d/ after /r/ in Dutch, as in zwaarder; the same /d/ grew between ⟨l⟩ and ⟨r⟩ in kelder and between ⟨n⟩ and ⟨r⟩ in donder, but only after /r/ is it still productive.^[2][4]

The old form, Middle Dutch eerre (“former”), continuing Old Dutch *ēriro and Proto-Germanic *airizô (“earlier, former”), was an adjective built on the comparative adverb Proto-Germanic *airiz (“earlier”).^[2][1] The same adjective is Old High German ēriro, Old Frisian ērra and Old English ǣrra.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Middle Dutch eerre “former, previous” is quoted from 1391, of the children of a man's former wife, and the EWN dates it to 1423.^[5][2] The new form eerder is first recorded in the States Bible of 1637, at Hebrews 13:19: op dat ick te eerder u-lieden magh wedergegeven worden “that I may be restored to you the sooner”.^[6][3][7]

Semantic evolution

The Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek notes that as an adjective eerder had gone out of use, and the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal calls the adjective unusual in 1916, but Van Dale lists it again in the sense “previous”.^[5][3][8] As an adverb it means “at an earlier time” and, comparing two possibilities, “more likely, rather”, as in a text of 1676 on sea creatures that seemed rather to fly than swim.^[3][8] Negerhollands borrowed it as eerder, ēdǝr, redǝ “earlier, rather”.^[9][1]

Timeline

• 1391 – Middle Dutch eerre “former” is quoted.^[5]
• 1637 – Eerder is first recorded, in the States Bible.^[6]
• 1676 – The adverb is used in the sense “rather, more likely”.^[3]
• 1811 – The adjective eerder “former” is quoted, a rare use.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. earlier, previous, former: bij een eerder bezoek.^[8][1]

Adverb

1. earlier, sooner, at a former time: Kom morgen wat eerder.^[8][1]
2. with more reason, more likely: Dat lijkt me eerder een vergissing.^[8][10]
3. rather, sooner (of preference).^[8][1]

Word family

• eerdergenoemd

Related words

• eer
• eerst
• English ere

Usage notes

Wiktionary also lists two rare nouns spelled eerder, both formed with -er from the verbs eren: one who honours, and a ploughman.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 c d e f 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
4. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b c Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; 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. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
8. ^ a b c d e f Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
9. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
10. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org