ook

Forms

ook^[1] Many dialects have ok, with the vowel shortened in unstressed use.^[2]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch ooc, inherited from Old Dutch ōk, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *auk, inherited from Proto-Germanic *auk.^[3][1][4] The same word is Old Saxon ōk, Old High German ouh (modern German auch), Old Frisian āk, Old English ēac (modern English eke), Old Norse auk (modern Swedish och (“and”)) and Gothic 𐌰𐌿𐌺 (auk, “for”).^[3][5] In most of these languages it means both “also” and “and”.^[3]

Its further origin is disputed.^[3][6] The EWN and Kroonen take it as a combination of particles, Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu-ǵe, comparing Ancient Greek αὖγε (aûge, “again”): the first part is also in Latin aut (“or”) and αὖ (aû, “on the other hand”), the second in γε (ge, “at least”) and in the ⟨-k⟩ of 𐌼𐌹𐌺 (mik, “me”) and 𐌸𐌿𐌺 (þuk, “you”).^[3][4][2] An older view, which the WNT calls the usual one, connects it with the verb 𐌰𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽 (aukan, “to increase”) and Old Norse auka, and so with Latin augeō (“to increase”) and Dutch wassen “to grow”.^[3][6][7] De Vries thought there might be separate sources for “also” and for “for, but”, the first from the verb meaning “increase” and the second matching the Greek particle.^[5][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The oldest record is in the Wachtendonck Psalms of the 10th century, where it is written hoc with an added h-, glossing Latin quoque.^[3][9] In 1001–1050 gi ok gisund “(may) you too (be) healthy” is recorded.^[3][10]

Semantic evolution

Old Dutch used the word for “also, moreover”, “likewise” and “accordingly”, and ne ōk rendered Latin nec “nor”.^[9] In Middle Dutch it could also mean “even”, “however” and “certainly”.^[2][5][11]

The WNT records niet alleen …, maar ook “not only …, but also” from 1688.^[6] In modern Dutch the word also follows the question words in concessive clauses, “-ever”, and serves as an emphatic particle in wishes and exclamations.^[12][1] It lives on in Afrikaans ook, Negerhollands ook, Berbice Dutch oko and Sranan owktu.^[1][13]

Timeline

• 901–1000 – Hoc is recorded in the Wachtendonck Psalms.^[3][9]
• 1001–1050 – Gi ok gisund is recorded.^[3][10]
• c. 1100 – The Willeram has the High German form ouch.^[3][9]
• 1200 – Middle Dutch ooc is recorded in Limburg.^[11]
• 1580 – Oock “moreover” is used in a text.^[6]
• 1688 – Niet alleen …, maer oock is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Moreover, besides.^[12][1]
2. Likewise, too: Mijn buurvrouw gaat ook mee.^[12][1]
3. With a negation, either: Ik snap het ook niet.^[1]
4. Even.^[12]
5. In concessive clauses, -ever: Wie er ook belt, ik ben niet thuis.^[12][1]
6. Accordingly, as might be expected, often in dan ook.^[12]
7. Perhaps, by any chance, in questions: Heb jij ook mijn bril gezien?^[12]
8. Strengthening a wish or an exclamation: Wat ben je ook een sufferd!^[12][1]

Word family

• alsook

Related words

• German auch
• English eke

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 Kroonen, Guus (2013), Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 11, Leiden / Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
8. ^ Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 272
9. ^ a b c d Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
10. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
11. ^ a b 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
12. ^ a b c d e f g h Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
13. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)