eigenlijk

Forms

eigenlijk (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch eigenlijc, formed from Middle Dutch eighin (“own, independent”) + -lijc, the ancestors of eigen and -lijk.^[2][3][1] The same formation is Middle Low German egentlik, Middle High German eigenlich (modern German eigentlich), Old Frisian egenlik (“own”), Old English āgendlīce and Old Norse eiginligr; modern Swedish egentlig was taken from Middle Low German or Early New High German.^[2][4][5]

Middle Dutch also had the form eigentlijc, with a /t/ inserted between /n/ and /l/, as often happened before ⟨-lijk⟩.^[2] When the final /n/ of ⟨eigen⟩ was no longer pronounced, the /t/ disappeared as well, in speech and then in spelling; where the /n/ stayed, as in ordentelijk and in German ⟨eigentlich⟩, the /t/ remained.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The adverb is first recorded around 1240 in a Limburg glossary, where eigenleke renders Latin proprie, “in the proper sense, specifically”.^[3][2][6] The adjective follows in 1295 in Holland, in eighinlijc goet, property owned outright.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch used the word in several senses near its source: “in the manner of a bondman” (an eigen man), “selfishly”, “as one's own property”, and in mystical texts “in reality, truly”.^[7][8] As in German, the meaning moved early from the literal “own, of itself” to “real, actual”.^[2] A Limburg text of 1391 calls a word of Moses deigelicste wort, the truest word that was spoken about God.^[7]

In the 17th century the adjective meant “deserving its name, in the strict sense” (1635) and also “true, exact” (1598), a use now obsolete.^[9] The adverb came to mean “when one looks at it closely, strictly speaking” (1630) and, with concessive force, “all things considered” (1647).^[9] In modern Dutch the adjective is mostly written, while the adverb is very common in speech and is turning into a modal particle that softens a question.^[2]

Danish, Norwegian and Swedish took the word from Dutch or Low German, and it lives on in Negerhollands eigentlik, Papiamentu eigenlijk and Afrikaans eintlik.^[10][1]

Timeline

• 1240 – Eigenleke glosses Latin proprie in Limburg.^[3][2]
• 1295 – The adjective eighinlijc “own”.^[3]
• 1380–1400 – Eighenleke “himself, in person”.^[2]
• 1479–1517 – Properlic of eigentlick, “specifically”.^[2]
• 1598 – The adjective “true, exact”.^[9]
• 1647 – The adverb “all things considered”.^[9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Real, actual, proper; in the strict sense of the word: in eigenlijke zin, literally.^[11][1][12]

Adverb

1. actually, really, all things considered: eigenlijk had ze gelijk.^[11][1]
2. In questions, softening or pressing the question: wat doe je hier eigenlijk?^[2][12]

Word family

• oneigenlijk
• eigenlijkheid

Related words

• eigen
• ordentelijk
• German eigentlich

Usage notes

Waar wil je eigenlijk heen? asks what someone is driving at.^[11] The older form eigentlijk, with ⟨t⟩, is now obsolete.^[2][9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e 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
4. ^ Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ Haeringen, C. B. van (1936), Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal: Supplement, 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
6. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
7. ^ a b Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
8. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
9. ^ 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
10. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
11. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
12. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org