Etymologically
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moeilijk

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈmui̯.lək/[1]
  • Informal: [ˈmu.lək][1]

Forms

moeilijk (comparative moeilijker, superlative moeilijkst)[1] Until the 20th century it was often spelt moeielijk.[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch moeyelijc, formed with the suffix -lijk from the Middle Dutch noun moeye (“trouble, sorrow, burden”) or from the verb moeien “to trouble, vex”, so that the first meaning was “causing someone trouble”.[3][4][5][1] The same formation is Middle Low German mōielik and Middle High German müelich.[5][6] The noun corresponds to Old High German muoī, modern German Mühe (“effort”), and is rare in Middle Dutch texts, so the adjective probably existed before the Middle Dutch period.[6][2][7]

That verb goes back to Proto-Germanic *mōjaną (“to trouble, torment”), and moe “tired” and moeite “effort” belong to the same family.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record is from West Flanders in 1287, in Jacob van Maerlant's natural history: the buck es arde fier ende starc ende i. moilic dier, “is very wild and strong and a troublesome animal”.[3][4][8] About 1420 it is said of things, van desen moyeliken anxte, “from this tormenting fear”.[3]

Semantic evolution

The old active sense, “troublesome, vexing, unpleasant”, was usual until the 17th century and is now obsolete: a text of 1512 calls digging een moeylic dync, “a wearisome thing”.[2] By 1600 the word was said of what puts obstacles in one's way, as in moyelijcke wegen, “difficult roads”, and since the mid-17th century of what can only be done with effort, the main modern sense.[3][2] Of people it meant “hard to get on with, peevish” (1632), and in the phrase iemand moeilijk vallen “to bother someone” (1642), now obsolete.[2] In the south, applying it to persons, as French difficile is used, was criticised as a gallicism.[9]

The proverb alle begin is moeilijk goes back to a 17th-century rhyme, ’t Begin van alle dingh is swaer, and to a medieval Latin saying.[10] In colloquial Dutch moeilijk is also an intensifier, “terribly, very”.[1] The word was taken into Sranan Tongo as muilek, into Negerhollands, Javindo and Petjo, and Afrikaans has moeilik.[11][1]

Timeline

  • 1287 – Maerlant calls the buck i. moilic dier, “a troublesome animal”.[3][4][8]
  • c. 1420 – Said of a tormenting fear.[3]
  • 1512 – Een moeylic dync “a wearisome thing” shows the old active sense.[2]
  • 1600 – Moyelijcke wegen, “difficult roads”.[3][2]
  • 1632 – Said of people: “hard to deal with”.[2]
  • 1657 – The sense “hard to do” is recorded.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. difficult, hard, needing effort or patience: Die rekensom was te moeilijk voor de klas.[12][13][1]
  2. awkward, troublesome, hard to deal with: Hij is een moeilijke klant.[12][2]
  3. (moeilijk doen) to make difficulties, raise objections.[12]

Adverb

  1. with difficulty: Ze kon moeilijk ademen.[12][2]
  2. (colloquial) as an intensifier: extremely.[1]

Word family

  • moeilijkheid
  • bemoeilijken
  • moeien
  • moeite
  • moe
  • German Mühe

Usage notes

Het er moeilijk mee hebben means to find something hard to cope with or accept.[12] The colloquial pronunciation drops the glide: [ˈmu.lək].[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 f g h i j k 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 c d e f g h 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
  4. ^ a b c 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
  5. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
  7. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
  8. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
  9. ^ Vreese, Willem de (1899), Gallicismen in het Zuidnederlandsch, Gent: Siffer
  10. ^ Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
  11. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
  12. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
  13. ^ Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org