nodig

Forms

nodig (comparative nodiger, superlative nodigst)^[1] The older spelling is noodig.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch nôdich, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *naudīg, inherited from Proto-Germanic *naudīgaz (“necessary; forced”), a derivative of the noun Proto-Germanic *naudiz (“need”) with the suffix that became -ig.^[1][2][3] It can be analysed as from Dutch nood + -ig.^[3][4][5] The WNT notes that the derivative is already Common Germanic.^[2] The same word is Middle Low German nodich and Old High German nōtac (modern German nötig); compare English needy.^[6][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Middle Dutch nodich first meant “needy, in want”, as in a 14th-century Flemish or Brabant text that calls a rich man foolish who is nodich and will not give.^[6] The same text uses it as a noun, den nodichen girichen, “the stingy miser”.^[6]

Semantic evolution

From “needy” Middle Dutch nodich moved to “stingy, mean”, and it could also mean “strict, sparing no one”.^[6][3] Plantin (1573) and Kiliaan (1588) still translated it with Latin words for “needy”, but that sense was soon obsolete.^[2]

In the 17th century noodig meant “inevitable”, as in een noodich quaet, “a necessary evil” (1605), and above all “required, needed”, opposed to what is merely useful: het onderscheyd van noodigh, en van nut (1625).^[2] The second sense is the modern one.^[7][4]

The word was borrowed into Negerhollands, Kupang Malay and Papiamentu (nodo), and lives on in Afrikaans nodig.^[8][1]

Timeline

• 14th century – Middle Dutch nodich “needy, stingy” is recorded.^[6]
• 1605 – Een noodich quaet “a necessary evil”.^[2]
• 1625 – Noodigh “necessary”, set against nut “useful”.^[2]

Meanings

Adjective

1. necessary, needed, required: Voor die reis is een paspoort nodig.^[7][1][5]
2. (with the definite article) Inevitable, the usual: de nodige problemen.^[1]

Adverb

1. Urgently, badly, in the set phrase nodig moeten, to need the toilet urgently.^[7][1]

Word family

• benodigd
• broodnodig
• onnodig
• noodzakelijk

Related words

• nood
• node
• nodigen
• English need
• German nötig

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 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 Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
5. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
6. ^ a b c d e Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
7. ^ a b c Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
8. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)