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geweldig

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Etymology and origin of the Dutch word geweldig

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
901–1000, Wachtendonck Psalms
Ultimate origin
Proto-West Germanic *waldōn

Pronunciation

  • /ɣə.ˈʋɛl.dəx/[1]

Forms

geweldig (comparative geweldiger, superlative geweldigst)[1] Earlier Dutch sometimes had the form weldig.[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch gheweldich, inherited from Old Dutch giweldig (“powerful”), formed from Old Dutch giwalt (“power”) + -ig.[4][1][5][6] Its base noun, the ancestor of geweld, is a West Germanic derivative with the prefix gi- of the verb waldan (“to rule”), from Proto-West Germanic *waldōn (“to govern, rule”).[4][1] Köbler connects the verb with a root Proto-Indo-European *wal- (“to be strong”).[7]

The same adjective is Old Saxon giweldig, Old High German giwaltīg (modern German gewaltig) and Old Frisian weldech; modern West Frisian geweldich comes from Dutch.[4][8] The adjective has umlaut, and with the umlauted forms of the noun it spread ⟨-eld-⟩ to the noun, beside the regular Middle Dutch ⟨ghewout⟩.[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record is in the 10th-century Wachtendonck Psalms, where geweldig werthan means “to gain power over” the psalmist.[4][5][9] About 1100 the Egmond Williram says that the bridegroom is gewaldigh, able by his divinity, to give his followers the gifts of the Holy Spirit.[5] In Middle Dutch a Limburg glossary of 1240 renders Latin violentus with geweldeg, and in 1265–1270 God is addressed as geweldech vader, “mighty Father”.[4][6]

Semantic evolution

Middle Dutch gheweldich meant powerful or ruling over something, strong, and violent.[6][10] Kiliaan (1599) gives “violent, impetuous”, and in the 17th century the word came to mean in general “great, strong, grand”: geweldige beloften (about 1635), geweldige droefheid (1646).[4][2] In biblical style rulers and giants are geweldigen, “mighty ones”.[2]

All the older meanings have since died out.[4] In the 20th century “very great” moved towards “excellent”: in 1913 a text on aviation speaks of onze geweldige techniek, “our marvellous technology”.[4] As an adverb the word became a mere intensifier, already in gheweldich cout “terribly cold” (1598) and geweldig zorgeloos (1687); German gewaltig went the same way.[4] Danish vældig, Norwegian veldig and Swedish väldig “huge, extremely” come from Dutch or Low German, and Petjo and Javindo have haweldih and geweldeg.[3][1]

Timeline

  • 901–1000 – Old Dutch geweldig “having power over” in the Wachtendonck Psalms.[4][5][9]
  • c. 1100 – Gewaldigh “powerful” in the Egmond Williram.[5]
  • 1240 – Middle Dutch geweldeg glosses Latin violentus.[4][6]
  • 1265–1270 – Geweldech vader “mighty Father”.[4][6]
  • 1598 – Gheweldich cout “extremely cold”, an early intensifying use.[4]
  • 1646 – Geweldige droefheit “great sorrow”.[4][2]
  • 1913 – Geweldig in the sense “excellent”.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. enormous, tremendous: extremely great or strong.[11][12][1]
  2. wonderful, great: very good or enjoyable.[11][12][1]
  3. violent, vehement: with great force: een geweldige klap.[11][12]
  4. Very loud.[12]

Adverb

  1. Very, extremely: het was geweldig druk.[11][12]

Word family

  • geweldigaard
  • geweld
  • German gewaltig

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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
  5. ^ a b c d e Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ Köbler, Gerhard, Altniederfränkisches Wörterbuch, online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling
  8. ^ Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  10. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  11. ^ a b c d Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  12. ^ a b c d e Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
Cite this entry

“Geweldig.” Etymologically, 21 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/nl/geweldig. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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