elkaar

Forms

elkaar (genitive elkaars)^[1] The full form elkander is now formal;^[2] mekaar is common in speech, especially but not only in Belgium.^[2]

Etymology

It is a contraction of elkander, from Dutch elk + ander.^[2][3][1] In Middle Dutch they were still written separately: elk was the subject and ander was inflected, as in ⟨elc stac andren⟩ “each stabbed the other”.^[2][3][4] Compare German einander and English each other.^[5]

The short form is at home in the coastal dialects and spread from there into the standard language.^[2] Vercoullie explained its ⟨-aar⟩ as the Frisian and Saxon form of ⟨ander⟩ without ⟨n⟩;^[6] the Philippa dictionary says that the old North Sea Germanic loss of ⟨n⟩, as in muiden beside mond, has nothing to do with it, though the change is similar.^[2]

The variant mekaar developed in the same way from malkaar and malkander, whose first part is Middle Dutch mallic, manlic (“everyone”), from man and the word that gave gelijk, like Old High German mannilīh.^[2][6][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record is a charter of 1252–1253 with helc es anders borghe, “each other's surety”.^[2] In the Wrake van Ragisel (1260–1280) knights would gladly elc andren steken “stab each other” to the ground, and the Rijmbijbel of 1285 has elc stac andren.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The joined form elkander is in use from the 16th century, as in a text of 1530 on beams bolted in elc andren “into each other” with iron bolts.^[4] With prepositions it expresses close joining or quick succession: in malkander “curled up together” (1714).^[4] The older aan elkander komen, to come to blows, has gone out of use.^[4]

In writing the contracted form appears only in the 19th century, first as elkaâr with a circumflex for the lost sounds; by the end of that century elkaar prevailed.^[2] It must be much older in speech, for the 1750 record is in the dialogue of a comedy.^[2] Malkander is recorded from 1260–1270 and malkaar from 1621.^[3][7]

Timeline

• 1252–1253 – Helc es anders “of each other” in a charter.^[2]
• 1260–1270 – Malliec andren in the Boeve van Hamtone.^[3][7]
• 1285 – Elc stac andren in the Rijmbijbel.^[2][7]
• 1530 – In elc andren “into each other”.^[4]
• 1621 – Malkaar appears.^[3]
• 1750 – Elkaâr in the dialogue of a comedy.^[2]
• 1835 – Door elkaar “mixed up”.^[2]

Meanings

Pronoun

1. each other, one another: Ze kennen elkaar al jaren.^[8][9][1]
2. After prepositions, expressing a mutual relation, joining or quick succession: drie dagen achter elkaar, three days in a row.^[8][4][9]

Related words

• elk
• ander
• mekaar
• German einander

Usage notes

Iets voor elkaar krijgen is to manage to get something done.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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 Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
4. ^ 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
5. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 120
6. ^ a b Vercoullie, Jozef (1925), Beknopt etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 3rd ed., 's-Gravenhage / Gent: Nijhoff / Van Rysselberghe & Rombaut
7. ^ a b c d Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
8. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
9. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org