Etymologically
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eigen

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈɛi̯ɣə(n)/[1]

Forms

eigen (comparative eigener, superlative eigenst)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch eighen, inherited from Old Dutch *eigan, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *aigan, inherited from Proto-Germanic *aiganaz (“own”).[1][2] The adjective was probably at first the past participle of a preterite-present verb Proto-Germanic *aiganą (“to own, possess”), so that it meant “had, owned”.[2][3][4][5] The same adjective is Old Saxon ēgan, Old High German eigan (modern German eigen), Old Frisian ēgen, Old English āgen (modern English own) and Old Norse eiginn, and Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌲𐌹𐌽 (aigin) is a noun, “property”.[2][3]

The verb survives in Middle Dutch eigen (“to have to have, receive”); related are Old English āgan, whose descendants are owe and ought, eiga and 𐌰𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (aigan), all “to have, possess”.[2][3][6] Outside Germanic it is probably related to Sanskrit ईशे (ī́śe, “owns, rules”) and Tocharian B ⟨aik-⟩ “to know”, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyḱ- (“to own, be able”).[2][3][1] Vercoullie rejects a link with Ancient Greek ἔχω (ékhō, “to have”).[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record is a noun: an Old Dutch gloss of 951 renders Latin praedia “estates” with egan “property”.[8][2] The adjective “of the subject itself” is first dated about 1100, in the Egmond Williram,[9] and Middle Dutch eighin as an adjective follows in 1268.[2]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch eigen served as verb, adjective and noun, and many of its senses passed to newer words.[2] The adjective also meant “unfree, belonging to a master”, a sense taken over by the compound lijfeigen (1573), later lijfeigene.[2][3] The verb meant “to have to have, receive” and, with te and an infinitive, “ought to”, like English ought; only zich toe-eigenen remains, and the adverb eigenlijk covers much of the old verb's load.[2][10] The noun eigen “property” (1236) gave way to eigendom, and the sense “owner” (1460–1514) to eigenaar.[2][11]

From the 16th century the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal records eigen goed “freehold property” (1520), eigen huis (1648), zijn eigen dood sterven “to die a natural death” (1602) and zijn eigen man zijn “to be one's own master” (1682).[10] As a reflexive pronoun, zijn eigen “himself”, the word is dated 1624–1625; it is now colloquial and especially southern.[9][2][1] The potato variety eigenheimer was bred and named in 1890 by the Groningen grower Geert Veenhuizen, as grown on his own farm.[12]

The adjective was borrowed into Sranan Tongo (eigi), Saramaccan, Negerhollands and Berbice Dutch, and through Afrikaans into South African English own “characteristic, local”.[13][1] Afrikaans has eie.[1]

Timeline

  • 951 – Old Dutch egan “property” in a gloss.[8][2]
  • c. 1100 – The adjective in the Egmond Williram.[9]
  • 1236 – Middle Dutch eighen “property”.[2]
  • 1240 – Eigenmaken “to appropriate” in the Bernardus glossary.[2]
  • 1268 – Middle Dutch eighin as an adjective.[2]
  • 1520 – Eyghen goeden “freehold property”.[10]
  • 1573 – Lijfeygen “serf”.[2]
  • 1624–1625 – Zijn eigen as a reflexive pronoun.[9]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. own, belonging to or coming from oneself, not shared: Ze heeft nu een eigen kamer.[14][1]
  2. characteristic, typical of someone or something: Die humor is hem eigen.[14][1][15]
  3. Familiar, intimate: Ze voelde zich daar snel eigen.[14]

Pronoun

  1. (colloquial, with a possessive, especially in the south) -self, as a reflexive pronoun: Hij heeft zijn eigen bezeerd.[14][2][1]

Word family

  • eigenaar
  • eigendom
  • eigenlijk
  • eigenschap
  • eigenaardig
  • eigengereid
  • eigenwijs
  • eigenzinnig
  • eigennaam
  • lijfeigen
  • toe-eigenen

Usage notes

Eigen baas zijn is to be independent, in eigen beheer means without third parties, and zich iets eigen maken is to learn or master something.[14] Er is meer gelijk dan eigen, “likeness is no proof of identity”, is already in Bredero in the 17th century.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r 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 Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  4. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  5. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  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. ^ Vercoullie, Jozef (1925), Beknopt etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 3rd ed., 's-Gravenhage / Gent: Nijhoff / Van Rysselberghe & Rombaut
  8. ^ a b Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  9. ^ a b c d Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  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. ^ 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
  12. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 118
  13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  14. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  15. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
  16. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme